Your Social Security number may mean something. Here’s why the government stopped using these hidden codes:

Social Security is not just a benefit for retirees, the disabled, and their families. It has become so woven into American society that it has become a core part of people’s identity. In fact, smartphones have made remembering phone numbers almost a thing of the past, and the first number many people remember is their Social Security number.

Your routing number is not only important for receiving Social Security benefits. The IRS uses most taxpayers’ Social Security numbers when tracking and reporting tax returns. It is collected by financial institutions when you open a bank account or seek a loan.

Considering how widespread Social Security numbers are, it’s no surprise that many people wonder if there’s any meaning behind their specific Social Security number. And as it turns out, there was actually a little-known code that was used to determine how new Social Security numbers were assigned for more than 75 years. Here’s the secret behind the meaning of your Social Security number. And here’s why the federal government has changed the way it assigns new numbers to eliminate this hidden meaning going forward.

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Hidden code in your social security number

One of the first challenges facing the government after the Social Security Act was enacted in 1935 was how to assign a unique identifier to every American eligible to receive benefits. At the time, a nine-digit number was enough to cover the U.S. population of between 125 and 130 million people.

The first three digits of your Social Security number identify your specific area code. Each state, territory, and possession in the United States is assigned one or more area codes. So when a person went to a Social Security office to apply for a Social Security number, that office’s area code went into that number. In the 1970s, all new number issuance was handled by a central office, so the area code indicated residency status as indicated on the application. A special area code applied for the first time to railroad workers subject to a separate Railroad Retirement Act system.

If you’re familiar with how postal codes are generally assigned, area codes will look familiar. Low numbers start out in New England and the Northeast, with numbers generally getting higher as you go south and west. However, in most cases the initial numbers only go up to 500, so zip codes and area codes rarely match exactly. Additionally, in some areas, new numbers were added as numbers were exhausted.

Two digits of the resident registration number were the group number. This does not represent any kind of demographic group, but simply the order in which the numbers are assigned. The first group numbers were odd numbers from 01 to 09, followed by even numbers from 10 to 98, even numbers from 02 to 08, and odd numbers from 11 to 99.

Finally, the last four digits of your Social Security number indicate strict chronological order within your region and group. The lower the number, the first the number is assigned within the group.

Why Your New Social Security Number Means Nothing

Due to modernization, the Social Security Administration changed the way it assigns new Social Security numbers in 2011. The SSA now randomly assigns Social Security numbers based on certain rules and verification procedures.

This move was made for several reasons. Randomization allowed SSA to better utilize the numbers available. It also provided some identity protection benefits, although it changed the long-standing way financial institutions and other users verify that Social Security numbers are legitimate.

As a result, today’s pre-teens and younger children are unable to find hidden meaning in their Social Security numbers. But for teens and adults, it’s a good idea to take a moment to look at your Social Security number and think about what that number says about your personal history.