What happens when the US runs out of SSNs? - eviltoast

SSN numbers are good for 999,999,999 people alive or dead. At some point the US will hit that, right? Do we start reusing numbers? Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

  • AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.worldEnglish
    42·
    2 months ago

    They are regularly recycled.

    Not according to the SSA’s Q&A:

    Q20: Are Social Security numbers reused after a person dies?

    A: No. We do not reassign a Social Security number (SSN) after the number holder’s death. Even though we have issued over 453 million SSNs so far, and we assign about 5 and one-half million new numbers a year, the current numbering system will provide us with enough new numbers for several generations into the future with no changes in the numbering system.