The SSN & Address Trace checks whether a Social Security number fits the numbering pattern the Social Security Administration (SSA) used when it issued numbers. It also checks the number against the SSA Death Master File and returns names and addresses tied to the number. It does not confirm that the number belongs to your candidate. This article explains each result and what to do next.
What each result means
Result | What it means | What it does not mean |
Valid | The number fits SSA's numbering structure for numbers issued before June 25, 2011. | It does not confirm the number belongs to your candidate. |
Unable to determine | The trace could not check the number against SSA's older numbering structure. This can happen when SSA issued the number after June 25, 2011, under randomization. We cannot determine the state or year of issue. | It does not mean the number is fake or invalid. |
Death Master File match | The number appears in SSA's death records. | It does not by itself prove fraud or identity theft. |
Why some numbers return “Unable to determine”
Every SSN has three parts: a three-digit area number, a two-digit group number, and a four-digit serial number. For decades, SSA assigned area numbers by state, based on the ZIP code of the mailing address on the card application. That pattern let a trace estimate where and roughly when a number was issued.
On June 25, 2011, SSA changed how it assigns new numbers. SSA calls this change “randomization.” It:
Removed the link between the area number and a state.
Froze SSA's High Group List, so it only covers numbers issued before randomization.
Opened previously unassigned area numbers. SSA still does not assign area numbers 000, 666, or 900 to 999.
Numbers issued after that date no longer carry state or date information. For those numbers, the SSN & Address Trace returns “Unable to determine.” People who received their number before June 25, 2011, kept the same number.
About the Death Master File check
The Death Master File (DMF) is SSA's file of reported deaths. It lists the SSN, name, date of birth, and date of death when SSA has them. The Department of Commerce's National Technical Information Service (NTIS) distributes it.
SSA says its records are not a complete record of all deaths in the country. A number that does not appear in the file is not proof the person is alive.
If the SSN & Address Trace shows a Death Master File match, review it before you act. Check that you entered the SSN correctly, compare the name and date of birth with your candidate's information, and follow your company's review process.
What to review on the report
The results alone do not tell you who uses the number. Review the SSN & Address Trace in two parts:
Names. Compare the names the trace returns with your candidate's legal name. By default, other names the trace returns are searched in the national criminal database search only, not in county searches. You can order alias county searches à la carte in the candidate report. A name that does not match your candidate is the result to look into. See How should name-related discrepancies be handled in background checks?
Addresses. Compare the addresses with the address history your candidate gave you. The addresses also help you decide which counties to search.
If you need to confirm the SSN belongs to the person
Only SSA can confirm that a name, date of birth, and SSN match its records. That check requires the SSN holder's signed consent on Form SSA-89, Authorization for the Social Security Administration to Release SSN Verification. Companies enrolled in SSA's Consent Based SSN Verification (CBSV) service use this form. SSA notes that even this match does not verify a person's identity.
Soon we will offer an Identity Verification product that will provide more robust certainty on the identity of your candidate.
FAQ
Does “Valid” mean the SSN belongs to my candidate?
No. “Valid” means the number fits SSA's numbering structure. It does not connect the number to a person.
Should I reject a candidate because the result says “Unable to determine” or shows a Death Master File match?
Not on that result alone. “Unable to determine” can simply reflect how SSA issued the number. A Death Master File match needs review, not an automatic decision. If anything on the report affects your hiring decision, follow your adverse action process and talk with your legal counsel.
My candidate was born after 2011, or just received an SSN. Is that why?
It can be. SSA assigns all new numbers under randomization, so the trace cannot estimate a state or year for them.
Where can I learn more?
SSA explains randomization on its SSN Randomization page and its Randomization FAQs. SSA describes its death records on its death information page.