# Any one guilty of NOT knowing your SSN? (Social Security #) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288 "2011-03-03T01:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/21 "2011-03-03T14:49:38Z")
I’ve had mine for 11 years, and I still don’t know it. It was nice when the State of Ohio put it on your driver’s license, but now I either have to dig up that bit of cardboard (which I keep with my passport) or ask my wife (because she wrote it down somewhere that she can find it). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/22 "2011-03-03T14:52:54Z")
When I was sixteen and went to get my learner’s permit they asked for my social security #, and everything ground to a halt because my mom had it and my dad had no clue. I memorized it that week and have never forgotten it. But I am very good with numbers. I also have my checkings account # in my head, as well as my driver’s license and the SEFCU savings account #s. The only one that won’t stick is my savings account at Key. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/23 "2011-03-03T15:06:43Z")
I never tried to memorize anything. I just always know what my Social Security and driver’s license are plus a bunch more. If I ever came to a point where I did not remember any of these numbers, it would be a clear sign to me that dementia was setting in. In fact, a person with dementia may actually remember old things in the early stages. Of course if you never memorized the numbers in the first place, none of this would mean anything. I think it was Einstein who kept notes all over and said, “Why should I remember anything when I can write it down?” Clearly he had a wonderful memory, but did not wish to spend it on mundane stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/24 "2011-03-03T15:12:56Z")
After a career in the military, mine is chiseled into my brain along with my original service number from 1967. I also know my wife’s SSN, my credit card number, bank account number, ATM number, and several online account numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/25 "2011-03-03T17:57:59Z")
In college, we used it all the time, so I memorized it through frequent use. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/26 "2011-03-03T18:09:16Z")
I know mine but I think I lucked out in that there is a repeating pattern of numbers that makes it easy to remember. I’d probably have trouble remembering it if it were 9 different random numbers. I used to know my driver’s license number and credit card but not anymore. I do remember my bank account number but I’ve had the same one for about 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/27 "2011-03-03T18:15:19Z")
I know mine and my wife’s. She sometimes forgets hers (but in fairness, got hers a lot later than I did). I’m hoping that makes up for my failure to memorize any of my family members’ telephone numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/28 "2011-03-03T18:50:08Z")
Etched into the brain during college. Back then it was your ID#, but I think most schools use something different now. I have to mumble through the first 5 digits when asked for the last 4 as security measures on the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/29 "2011-03-03T19:03:26Z")
Yep. And driver’s license number, and bank card. Pi to 11 decimal points too! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/30 "2011-03-03T19:34:16Z")
I always thought I was behind in learning it, in that I didn’t know it by heart until after high school. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/31 "2011-03-03T19:42:16Z")
I used the wrong number for quite a while, till my dad got a very scary letter from the IRS. I know know my correct one, but still remember the old one as well. I also know my husband’s. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288/32 "2011-03-03T19:45:06Z")
My mother was a stickler for making us remember number sequences, so I learned my social security number while still in grade school. I also memorized my driver’s license number the minute I got it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-one-guilty-of-not-knowing-your-ssn-social-security/573288.md?page=1)