The 5th number in your S.S.

LeLe · #1 03-21-2003, 11:49 PM

A friend of mine recently sent me an email that said most African Americans have an even fifth number in their social security. The email said that this is done so that future employers will know your race by looking at your SSN. I 'm not sure where she seen this but I thoiught it was strange and wanted some input!! Thanks! I did not mean to offend anyone.

SoCalGirl · #2 03-21-2003, 11:56 PM

Then both my parents must be extemely light skinned blacks!

ClassyLady · #3 03-22-2003, 12:21 AM

Well, I have an even number as the 5th digit of my SSN. But, what I'd really like to know if most people, regardless of color, have an even digit in that position. That could be common with most SSNs.

NOWorNEVER · #4 03-22-2003, 01:00 AM

the fifth number in my SS # is odd and I am black

Peaches-n-Cream · #5 03-22-2003, 01:07 AM

My fifth number is even and I am white...at least I think I am.

GRITS · #6 03-22-2003, 02:06 AM

The fifth # in my SS is even and I am black!

Afrochic · #7 03-22-2003, 03:43 AM

Been black all my life and my fifth number is odd. I remember reading some "stuff" like that years ago about race and particular digits...

On another note, you can tell where a person is born by the first digit in the social security number. Many people born in the south have the number 4 as the first digit.

1savvydiva · #8 03-22-2003, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Afrochic
Been black all my life and my fifth number is odd. I remember reading some "stuff" like that years ago about race and particular digits...

On another note, you can tell where a person is born by the first digit in the social security number. Many people born in the south have the number 4 as the first digit.

Not necessarily, I think it depends on what state you were born in. In SC most of the people that I have met in friendship and through work, that were born here SSNs all start with 2. I know that those born in NY, including me, SSNs usually start with 1 or 0. So I think it varies state to state.

CrimsonTide4 · #9 03-22-2003, 10:25 AM

Urban Legend

http://www.hoaxkill.com/urbanlegends.html

KellyO97 · #10 03-22-2003, 10:26 AM

1. I am the most pasty white girl you've ever seen and my fifth number is even

........

2. I am pretty sure that it is where you live when you apply for your SS#, and not where you were born, that determines your SS#.. I was born in Hawaii, but my parents applied for my SS# a few years later after my sisters had been born. All of our numbers are similar, even though they were born in Rhode Island.

Steeltrap · #11 03-22-2003, 10:39 AM

I've got an odd 5th number and I'm black, albeit with cappuccino-colored skin.

DigitalAngel126 · #12 03-22-2003, 04:04 PM

Not to crash the tread, but...

1) My 5th number is even...As a matter of fact, all of my numbers are even except two.

2) I would guess it would have more to do with where you live when you get your SS card, as opposed to where you were born... I was born in St. Louis, but got my soc. card when I lived in NY, and it starts with a 0. Also, on that note, I was at an interview for a job in MI and the guy interviewing was lilke 'are you from upstate NY?? or sometwhere in NY?" and I'm like yeah, why?? and hes likle "your SS number starts with 0".. So yeah. Heh.

Just my $.02

Christian · #13 03-22-2003, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Afrochic
Been black all my life and my fifth number is odd. I remember reading some "stuff" like that years ago about race and particular digits...

On another note, you can tell where a person is born by the first digit in the social security number. Many people born in the south have the number 4 as the first digit.

The first digit depends on the state where you apply. I'm a 4 from Louisiana, my hubby is a 5 from Florida. Most recently I learned that these numbers can cahnge. Newborns in LA are now given a 6.

Virtuous_Violet · #14 03-22-2003, 04:35 PM

The digits in the Social Security number allow for the orderly assignment of numbers. The number is divided into three parts: the area, group and serial numbers. The first three (3) digits (area) of a person's social security number are determined by the ZIP Code of the mailing address shown on the application for a social security number. See <http://www.ssa.gov/foia/stateweb.html> for more information.

Within each area, the group number (middle two (2) digits) range from 01 to 99 but are not assigned in consecutive order. For administrative reasons, group numbers issued first consist of the ODD numbers from 01 through 09 and then EVEN numbers from 10 through 98, within each area number allocated to a State. After all numbers in group 98 of a particular area have been issued, the EVEN Groups 02 through 08 are used, followed by ODD Groups 11 through 99.

Within each group, the serial numbers (last four (4) digits) run consecutively from 0001 through 9999.

Further information about Social Security Numbers that are currently assigned is available on SSA's website at <http://www.ssa.gov/foia/highgroup.htm>.

Afrochic · #15 03-22-2003, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 1savvydiva
Not necessarily, I think it depends on what state you were born in. In SC most of the people that I have met in friendship and through work, that were born here SSNs all start with 2. I know that those born in NY, including me, SSNs usually start with 1 or 0. So I think it varies state to state.

When I said south, I didn't necessarily mean everyone in the south has a SSN with 4. I work for the IRS where I see thousands of SSN's weekly. Just by the first three digits, I can tell where you acquired your card.

The prefixes for some areas in the south, just for reference purposes:

400-407 Kentucky

408-415 Tennessee

416-424 Alabama

425-428 Mississippi

429-432 Arkansas

433-439 Louisiana
659-665

440-448 Oklahoma

449-467 Texas
627-645

486-500 Missouri

261-267
589-595 Florida
766-772

232 North Carolina
237-246
681-690

247-251 South Carolina
654-658

252-260
667-675 Georgia

Certain numbers have been transferred from one State to another, or some areas have been divided for use among certain geographic locations.

SSN's are assigned regionally and in batches. The Area Number, which is the first three set of digits is assigned by the geographical region. Since 1972, the SSA has assigned numbers and issued cards based on the ZIP code in the mailing address provided on the original application form. Since the applicant's mailing address doesn't have to be the same as his residence, his area number doesn't necessarily represent the state in which he resides. For many of us who received our SSNs as infants, the area number indicates the state we were born in.

Generally, numbers were assigned beginning in the northeast and moving westward. So people on the east coast have the lowest numbers and those on the west coast have the highest numbers.