Brass Social Security Card

Q: I have a brass Social Security card that belonged to my great-grandfather. It’s dated 1935 and may be one of the first cards issued. Could you shed some light on this?

A: The Social Security Act was passed in1935, but the first Social Security cards were not issued until November 1936. Numbers were assigned and cards typed up at over 1,000 post offices. A low number on the card doesn’t mean it was one of the first, since the first three numbers are based on the state or area where the card was issued, with states in New England having the lowest numbers. It’s not possible to know who got the first Social Security card, since they were processed at several different post offices at the same time. When the first batch of records was processed in Washington, the record of John D. Sweeney Jr. of New Rochelle, N.Y., was taken off the top. Newspapers stated that he was issued the first card, but he was just the holder of the first record pulled. He never received any money from Social Security because he died in1974 before reaching retirement age. Social Security cards today are made of banknote paper. Metal and plastic Social Security cards have been made as more durable alternatives, but they are not “official.” There have been at least 34 versions of the design on Social Security cards. The earliest versions had a seal in the middle of the card. The date of issue was on the card, but since no cards were issued before 1936, the date on your card is not the date of issue. Your great-grandfather’s card suggests it may be a “fantasy” version.