What do the letters after a Social Security or Medicare number mean?
The Social Security number followed by one of these codes is often referred to as a claim number. We assign these codes once you apply for benefits. These letter codes may appear on correspondence you receive from Social Security or on your Medicare card. They will never appear on a Social Security card.
For example, if the wage earner applying for benefits and your number is 123-45-6789, then your claim number is 123-45-6789A. This number will also be used as your Medicare claim number, once you are eligible for Medicare.
|
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 |
NOTE: This list is not complete, but shows the most common beneficiary codes.
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