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When researching my blog post, Decoding Your Social Security Number, I came across interesting history/facts about Social Security and Social Security Numbers. Here I share some with you:
When considering ways to assign Social Security Numbers back in the 1930’s, one proposal was to issue metal nameplates, similar to military “dog-tags.” This idea was immediately nixed, but this did not prevent publisher William Randolph Hearst, an opponent of President Roosevelt and the New Deal, from trying to undermine support for Social Security by publishing misleading information that worker would be required to wear “dog-tags.”
The first three digits of a Social Security Number is the “Area Number.” Originally Area Numbers were assigned by state. The numbering system started in the northeast with the lowest numbers and moved west. Although Maine is the most northeasterly state, New Hampshire has the lowest Area Number:  001. This was apparently done so that SSN 001-01-0001 could be given to John G. Winant, a former three-time Governor of New Hampshire and the Social Security Board Chairman. 
Winant declined the honor of the lowest Social Security Number. The number was offered to a federal official in the Boston Region who also declined. Then it was decided to issue the number to the first applicant from New Hampshire. Grace D. Owen of Concord received SSN 001-01-0001. She applied for her SSN on November 24, 1936 and was issued the first card typed in Concord.
The first person to receive monthly benefits was Ida May Fuller of Vermont. She filed for benefits in November 1939 at age 65 having paid $24.75 into the Social Security program in just under three years. Ms. Fuller received the first Social Security check in January 1940, and collected benefits for 35 years until 1975, when she died at age 100. She received at total of $22,888.92 in Social Security benefits.  Now that’s a return on investment!
 
For more information and additional history, visit http://www.ssa.gov/history/


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