A few words from the Social Security Administration- Beneficiary Codes
The Social Security Administration (SSA) reports that following situation has occurred many times over the years: a client (or an organization) contacts SSA about a letter from SSA which contains a Social Security Number (SSN) followed by the letters “A”, “B”, “E” or other letters, and then asks me to explain what type of benefit is indicated by the letter following the SSN. As this seems to be a common question, SSA thought they should address the question publicly.
NJFA thought the information they shared was valuable and so we are posting it here to our blog.
Letters that come after a SSN are called “Social Security beneficiary codes.” A list of the Social Security beneficiary codes which includes the meaning of each code is located on SSA’s website at Social Security Online. By reviewing the Social Security website, you will find that the SSN followed by one of these beneficiary codes is actually a claim number. Social Security assigns a beneficiary code to a SSN after an application for Social Security benefits is filed. These beneficiary codes may appear on correspondence from Social Security or on Medicare cards. However, the codes will never appear on a Social Security card. For example, if the wage earner applies for benefits and his or her SSN is 123-45-6789, then the applicant’s claim number is 123-45-6789A. This number will also be used as the wage earner’s Medicare claim number, once he or she is eligible for Medicare. If the wage earner’s spouse subsequently files for benefits on the wage earner’s SSN, the spouse’s claim number is 123-45-6789B. A list of the most common Social Security codes and their meanings follow:
| Code | Identification |
| A | Primary claimant (wage earner) |
| B | Aged wife, age 62 or over |
| B1 | Aged husband, age 62 or over |
| B2 | Young wife, with a child in her care |
| B3 | Aged wife, age 62 or over, second claimant |
| B5 | Young wife, with a child in her care, second claimant |
| B6 | Divorced wife, age 62 or over |
| BY | Young husband, with a child in his care |
| C1-C9 | Child – Includes minor, student or disabled child |
| D | Aged Widow, age 60 or over |
| D1 | Aged widower, age 60 or over |
| D2 | Aged widow (2nd claimant) |
| D3 | Aged widower (2nd claimant) |
| D6 | Surviving Divorced Wife, age 60 or over |
| E | Widowed Mother |
| E1 | Surviving Divorced Mother |
| E4 | Widowed Father |
| E5 | Surviving Divorced Father |
| F1 | Parent (Father) |
| F2 | Parent (Mother) |
| F3 | Stepfather |
| F4 | Stepmother |
| F5 | Adopting Father |
| F6 | Adopting Mother |
| HA | Disabled claimant (wage earner) |
| HB | Aged wife of disabled claimant, age 62 or over |
| M | Uninsured – Premium Health Insurance Benefits (Part A) |
| M1 | Uninsured – Qualified for but refused Health Insurance Benefits (Part A) |
| T | Uninsured – Entitled to HIB (Part A) under deemed or renal provisions; or Fully insured who have elected entitlement only to HIB |
| TA | Medicare Qualified Government Employment (MQGE) |
| TB | MQGE aged spouse |
| W | Disabled Widow |
| W1 | Disabled Widower |
| W6 | Disabled Surviving Divorced Wife |
Thanks to David Vinokurov District Manager – Trenton, NJ Social Security Administration for helping to keep us informed!
