Notifying Social Security

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Just as a quick update, I got my new SSN card in the mail today (I love how they put such important documents in normal mail, and the envelope having a big "Social Security Administration" sign on the front, so everyone knows....). It had the same number, but obviously a different issue date. Also the number in red on the back (no idea what that refers to) is different.

My old SS card was issued in 1992, and has a "Not valid for employment" restriction on it, but the only difference otherwise is that there's an issue date on the card now on the lower right bottom, if memory serves me.

[NickD 203]

Just as a quick update, I got my new SSN card in the mail today (I love how they put such important documents in normal mail, and the envelope having a big "Social Security Administration" sign on the front, so everyone knows....). It had the same number, but obviously a different issue date. Also the number in red on the back (no idea what that refers to) is different.

So all that hassle with your clerk was for nothing, just giving you a difficult time or corrected by his/her supervisor. Since I have never seen that number on the rear of our cards, really don't know what its for.

Certainly a lot of conspiracy theories about those red numbers on the back of the card. Found this to be the most useful.

"

Red Number Reality

According to a presentation given by Donald F. Walton, United States Trustee for Region 21 (Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands) to a meeting of the American Bankruptcy Institute in April 2009, the number printed on the back of the card is a "sequential control number."

These alpha-numeric codes are printed in red, black or blue ink and help authenticate the card as valid. This information was shared in the context of Bankruptcy Courts checking Social Security cards through the Social Security Administration, to prevent identity theft. The sequential control number, which bears no obvious correlation to an individual's Social Security Number should correspond to the date, area, and application of a particular cardholder.

According to Mr. Walton:

"Sequential Control Number. On the rear of a legitimate card there is a sequential control number. The control number is a combination of alpha and numeric that bears no relation to the actual. social security number on the card. However, the computer records of the Social Security Administration should show a correlation between the control number and the social security number and name on the card."

One blog commenter noted that she and her husband had applied for duplicate cards at approximately the same time, and that their sequential control numbers were identical except for the last two digits. This tends to support the idea that the numbers are generated at the printer before the card is assigned a Social Security Number.

Rumors about the "red number" containing biometric data, such as racial profiles, economic status, and other personal information are false, as are claims about it being a routing number to the Federal Reserve, a special bank account, or any potential source of windfall.

Some internet users have asked if the number can be used to pay bills. Unfortunately, the answer is no. Note: There are comments associated with this question. See the discussion page to add to the conversation.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_the_red_number_on_the_back_of_a_Social_Security_card_mean#ixzz1evcu9O5h"