We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal of recent stories that have involved Social Security. Some are tidbits and some are important things that should be known in the world of retirement or disability and others are just interesting stories and nothing more.
Redesigned Social Security Statements
Earlier in October 2021, Social Security provided newly redesigned Social Security statements to people who have signed up for an online my Social Security account. The redesigned statements are an initiative from Social Security’s Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi. In a press release from Social Security, Kijakazi said the redesigned statements were one of her priorities as acting commissioner.
“One of my top priorities is to provide information to people in clear and plain terms about Social Security’s programs and services,” Kijakazi said. “The streamlined Social Security Statement contains clear messaging and makes it easier to find information at a glance, helping to simplify our complex programs for the public.”
Below is information from Social Security that describes the new redesigned statements.
The agency conducted extensive research, review, and testing to make the updated Statement easy to understand. The new Statement is shorter, uses visuals and plain language, and includes fact sheets tailored to a person’s age and earnings history. It also includes important information people have come to expect from the Statement, such as how much a worker and family members could expect to receive in Social Security benefits and a personalized earnings history, in a clear, concise manner. Examples of the new Statement and fact sheets are available at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount/statement.html.
How Social Security Numbers Are Assigned
Over the years there have been many rumors and conspiracy theories about Social Security numbers. We do not give credence to conspiracy theories, but it is interesting to learn just how Social Security numbers are assigned to people.
There are no sinister motives when it comes to how Social Security numbers are issued. Below is information that describes how numbers are issued. As you will read, numbers are based in part on geographical location and other numbers are more randomly assigned.
The Social Security Administration as of 2008 had issued over 450 million Social Security Numbers. Since then, the US population has grown by nearly ten percent. In 2011 the agency changed the way it issued new numbers using a “randomization” process. This was to “help protect the integrity” of the numbers and “extend the longevity of the nine-digit SSN nationwide.”
Prior to the change, the nine number scheme was divided into three number categories; area, group and serial. The first three digits represent a geographical region of where the application for the card was made. The second set of two digits “has no special geographic or data significance” according to the agency. The “group numbers” were not assigned in consecutive order and are “used to break the numbers into blocks of convenient size” for processing and control the quantity of numbers assigned to states and regions. The administration began with odd numbers and then used even numbers.
The last four digits run consecutively from 0001 to 9999 within each group assigned, so those who enter a new group first have a lower number.
