Guide to NARA Collection

Social Security Textual Records in NARA II

Part 3: Detailed Inventory
SSA's Filing Codes

SSA has always used a system of formal numerical codes to label its documents as they are being filed and housed within the agency. The numerical codes correspond to various topical categories. For example, the numerical code 058.1 refers to material related to the financing of the Social Security system. The presence of this code as a box label is thus an indicator that the subject of the material in the box involves financing issues.

This filing system is long and complex, and its usage has varied considerably over the years. In some periods, the filing system was used as titles on the records shipped to NARA. Sometimes, these codes are the only available descriptive content for a box of records. It can therefore be of vital importance to have a listing of the codes and their topical meanings.

Be aware, however, that the filing codes in use in the early years of the agency are not the same as those presently in use, and in fact, the coding scheme has changed more than once over the years. However, the following chart lists the codes in use in the early years at SSA. Unfortunately we cannot determine precisely when the coding scheme changed. However, these codes can still be useful indicators of topical content when no other information is available.

SOCIAL SECURITY BOARD SUBJECT DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION (circa 1938)

(See Table 2 for a more slightly more detailed breakdown of the categories of the decimal classification scheme. Click the links in Table 2 for the full-detail of the complete classification system.)

Table 1: Top-Level Headings
000 GENERAL
100 FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING
200 PERSONNEL
300 ADMINISTRATION
400 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND WELFARE
500 UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
600 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
700 OLD AGE INSURANCE
800 WAR EMERGENCY WELFARE SERVICE


Table 2: Breakdown of Major Headings of Decimal Classification Scheme
000 GENERAL
000 General
010 Laws and Legal Matters
020 Social Security Board (powers, functions, etc.)
030 President and Congress of the United States
040 Executive Departments of the United States
050 Research and Statistics
060 Informational Service
070 (no records)
080 Societies and Associations
090 Local Affairs
092 States and Territories
095 Alphabetical File (Proper Name File)
100 FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING
100 General
110 Appropriations
120 Funds, Disbursement
130 Accounting for Funds (money)
140 Accounting for Property, Supplies, Stores, etc.
150 Claims and Accounts
160 Contracts
200 PERSONNEL
200 General
210 Entrance Into Service
220 Appointments
230 Status, Changes, Transfers Within the Board
240 Duties and Services
250 Privileges and Welfare
260 Separations
270 Titles and Grades
280 Salaries, Wages, and Allowances
300 ADMINISTRATION
300 General
310 Business Methods and Procedures
320 Organization and Administration of the Board
330 In-Service Education
340 Supplies, Equipment, and Buildings
350 (no records)
360 Travel and Transportation
370 Conferences, Conventions, and Congresses
400 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND WELFARE
400 General
410 State Legislation
420 Federal-State Relations
430 Finance
440 Statistics and Studies
450 Personnel
460 State Administration
470 Child Welfare Programs
480 Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's Programs
500 EMPLOYMENT SECURITY
500 General
510 State Legislation
520 Federal-State Relations
530 State Administration and Operation
540 Employment Security Statistics and Studies
600 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
600 General
610 State Legislation
620 Federal-State Relations
630 Finance
640 Statistics and Studies
650 Personnel
660 State Administration
670 Operating Standards and Practices
700 OLD-AGE AND SURVIVORS INSURANCE
700 General
710 Contributions
720 Coverage
730 Registration
740 Wage Records
750 Benefits
800 WAR EMERGENCY WELFARE SERVICES
800 General
810 Legislation
820 Organization and Functions
830 Administration
840 Operations
850 Construction
860 Transportation