Step 1 : Introduction to the question "Approximately how many Social Security numbers have been issued since the first one was issued in 1936?"
Since the Social Security program began in 1936, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued approximately 453 million Social Security numbers. These nine-digit numbers are unique identifiers used to track individuals for tax and benefits purposes in the United States. The Social Security Administration does not reuse Social Security numbers, meaning each number is assigned to only one person. The SSA has a pool of nearly one billion potential number combinations, ensuring plenty of numbers remain available for future generations.