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.

    • litchralee@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      261·
      2 months ago

      This does not agree with what the Social Security Administration has published:

      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.

    • tonyn@lemmy.ml
      20·
      2 months ago

      The maximum possible combinations given the current rules set forth by the SSA is 888,931,098.
      The United States population on October 11, 2024 is: 337,248,197 The estimated population of humans on earth is 8,078,345,740

      The social security administration has said they have enough SSNs to last for about the next 70 years, and will address this issue in the future.

      • phoneymouse@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 months ago

        But people have been born and died, no? I’m sure total used is closer to something like 500-600 million?

        • Hegar@fedia.io
          4·
          2 months ago

          Yeah the total number of SSNs already used would be higher than the current population, I would think. It didn’t seem to me that poster was trying to estimate SSNs used/left, just provide some important numbers as relevant context.

          It’s been going since 1936 so ~90 years, and they reckon ~70 years left, so we have roughly 45% duration remaining. I’m guessing the rate of use speeds up over time and that has been accounted for, so probably we have more than 45% of the actual numbers left? I think I’d guess 450 million total used ssns.

    • Chozo@fedia.io
      42·
      2 months ago

      The possible combinations exceed the maximum occupancy of this planet.

      Only one country gets SSNs, not the whole planet.

      • Th4tGuyII@fedia.io
        4·
        2 months ago

        Don’t remind then that America isn’t the world.

        Also, ~999M is a whole lot less than the ~8B population we have now, so that is veritably not true