APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2009-07 > 1247037020


From: "Richard A. Pence" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Social Security numbers
Date: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 03:10:20 -0400
References: <986725.9295.qm@web31605.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


"Ray Beere Johnson II" <> wrote:

> The Death Index is not used to determine the numbers of any living
> person. It was used to discover _patterns_, which can then, given a few
> data points such as birth date and place of birth, be used to predict that
> person's number with varying degrees of accuracy. (Those born in smaller
> states, for example, were assigned numbers which can be predicted with
> more accuracy.)

The patterns really only work after 1988, when the SSA began to
automatically issue Social Security numbers at birth.

Prior to that there was (1) no firm relationship between date of birth and
date a card was issued nor (2) place of birth and place card issued (the
study even wrongly states that the Death Master File gives the state of
birth; it does not).

It wasn't until the 1970s (as I recall) that you needed Social Security
numbers for children and then you didn't really need them unless their
financial status was such that you had to file tax information.

Richard

This thread: