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Until 1986[1] most Americans didn't get a Social Security Number until their first job. In The Matrix (1999) there's a scene where Agent Smith explicitly remar
by jjmarr 8mo ago
Until 1986[1] most Americans didn't get a Social Security Number until their first job.
In The Matrix (1999) there's a scene where Agent Smith explicitly remarks that Neo has an SSN as proof he's a law-abiding citizen in a white-collar job.
[1] when it was made a requirement to claim tax deductions for dependent children. Even today, if you don't want the tax break, you can opt out at the cost of ruining your child's life!
- sejje 8mo agoI was born before that and issued my SSN at birth.
- jjmarr 8mo agoThe first pilot project to issue SSNs with the birth certificate automatically was in 1987. You can read the history here: https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v56n1/v56n1p83.pdf https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v56n1/v56n1p83.pdf Prior to that, getting the SSN required giving your birth certificate to the government. If the family wasn't getting government benefits, many didn't bother.