What is SSN Starting Sequence Number

There actually isn't a concept of an "SSN Starting Sequence Number" in the modern Social Security Number (SSN) issuance process. Previously, there was some regional allocation based on the first three digits (area number) of the SSN, but this practice was discontinued in 2011. Here's a breakdown of SSN issuance:

Historical Area Number Allocation (pre-2011):

• In the past, SSNs were assigned based on the applicant's geographical location. The first three digits (area number) corresponded to specific regions.
• This system wasn't perfect, and some areas ran out of numbers faster than others.

Current SSN Randomization (post-2011):

• To address these issues and improve security, the Social Security Administration (SSA) switched to a random number selection process in 2011. This means:
  • The first three digits (area number) no longer hold any geographical significance.
  • SSNs are issued in a random order from a pool of available numbers.

Current Structure of an SSN:

An SSN is a nine-digit number formatted as "AAA-GG-SSSS":

• Area Numbers (First Three Digits): As mentioned, these are no longer geographically assigned.
• Group Numbers (Middle Two Digits): These range from 01 to 99, but they are not issued sequentially. The SSA follows a specific issuance pattern to distribute group numbers within an area number to avoid predictability.
• Serial Numbers (Last Four Digits): These are unique identifiers issued sequentially within each group number for a specific area number. However, the issuance starts from a random number, not necessarily 0001.