What happens when social security uses up all the possible numbers?

just had a stray thought while i was filling out a form today. social security numbers have been around a long time. when all the possible numbers have been used up, do they recycle them and re-assign numbers of deceased people? or will they do something like the phone companies did when they ran out of x0x and x1x area codes, and change the system?





please answer if you know, the guys at work don't want to hear any more about this!What happens when social security uses up all the possible numbers?
The Social Security Administration says the numbering system will provide enough new numbers for several generations into the future - despite the fact that more than 400 million have been used, with 6 million more issued a year.





The number of possible combinations is 10 to the 9th power. This equals 1,000,000,000 possible combinations. There are approximately 600 million left. At the current rate that would leave enough for 100 years.





Unfortunately, Social Security is predicted to remain 100 % solvent only until 2041 and then only be able to pay out 74% after that. There will have to be some reform in the future if Social Security is to survive until the numbers run out.





See the source below for some other interesting Q and A on Social Security numbers. Te secod source addresses the solvency questions.What happens when social security uses up all the possible numbers?
How did you think new countries were born ! ;p
I think the plan is to add a letter at the beginning or end of the number with all the current numbers being A the next batch will be B and so on. For example A-999-99-9999 would be followed by B-000-00-0001
I think your time would be better spend in trying to figure out what happens when Social Security uses up all the............ money!!~~
with 9 numbers there are alot of possible SS numbers. Did you know that the first 3 digits are relative to the state that you were born in. I'm 434 - Louisiana in 1983. I'm sure that once someone has been dead for long enough they could recycle their number...but then again, maybe not.





But I would be more concerned with what happens when all of the possible FUNDS get used up...I'm all for SS reform (abolishment)!
The possible combination of numbers is ';infinite.';
they won't run out, will just expand the amount of numbers