The Social Security Number (SSN) is a nine-digit unique identifier issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the United States. It was first created in 1936 as part of the New Deal issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide financial aid and benefits to US citizens.
SSNs are used to track an individual’s earnings and work history for Social Security, identification, social benefits, and financial purposes. They are also used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to track individuals earnings for tax purposes.
Here are some cases in which SSN is required:
- For opening a bank account or credit account
- To apply for a passport
- To enroll in Medicare
- For applying for benefits for unemployment
- To get a driver’s license
- For filing tax returns