Is it true that the Social Security Act requires workers to obtain a new account number each time they change jobs?

The Social Security Act does not require workers to obtain a new account number each time they change jobs. Once an individual is assigned a Social Security number, it remains their number for life, regardless of job changes or even if they move to a different state. The purpose of the Social Security number is to track an individual’s earnings and contributions to Social Security over their lifetime, so continuity is essential.

Having a consistent number allows for accurate maintenance of records related to benefits and contributions. This system simplifies the administration of Social Security and ensures that benefits are properly calculated based on an individual’s total earnings history. Thus, the assertion that a new account number is necessary when changing jobs is false.