What is a SSN?
SSN is the widely accepted acronym that stands for Social Security Number. A SSN is a 9-digit, personal identification number issued to U.S. citizens and permanent residents by the United States Social Security Administration. The SSN is one of the most important numbers an individual can have. You must have a social security number to apply for a job, receive any government assistance, file taxes, and obtain a mortgage or credit. For all of these reasons, a SSN is also one of the most private pieces of personal information an individual uses, and should be kept private. Though SSNs weren’t issued until 1936, they were originally created as part of the New Deal Social Security Program and were used only for tax purposes. This meant that most children weren’t required to have a SSN before the age of 14. However, in 1986, a new law was instated requiring children over 5 to have a SSN before they could be claimed as dependents by their parents. Today, children need a SSN before their firs
