Q19: How many Social Security numbers have been issued since the program started?
A: Social Security numbers were first issued in November 1936. To date, 453.7 million different numbers have been issued.
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.
So you have to ask if the X post is a little misleading that it's implying 329.6 million people (398M - 68.4M) are unaccounted for and possibly receiving benefits, or a simple misunderstanding that the SSN gets reused after a person dies.
https://www.ssa.gov/history/hfaq.html
Q19: How many Social Security numbers have been issued since the program started?
A: Social Security numbers were first issued in November 1936. To date, 453.7 million different numbers have been issued.
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.
So you have to ask if the X post is a little misleading that it's implying 329.6 million people (398M - 68.4M) are unaccounted for and possibly receiving benefits, or a simple misunderstanding that the SSN gets reused after a person dies.