Historically, Social Security numbers (SSNs) have been used as an identifying number for the Social Security Administration (SSA), Medicare, and other organizations. But in recent years, concerns have been raised about individual privacy and identity theft.
These concerns have led to many organizations discontinuing the use of SSNs as personal identifiers on statements and other paperwork.
A beneficiary notice code or beneficiary notice control number (BNC) is a 13-character encrypted alphanumeric code that helps organizations like the SSA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identify both the notice and the beneficiary. This helps eliminate the use of SSNs.
In 2018, the SSA and other agencies began replacing SSNs with BNCs on notices and mailings. The CMS also began using BNCs on benefit verification letters.
The SSA may request your BNC if you’re contacting them for specific reasons, such as an estimated earnings change or a change to your direct deposit account.
You can find your BNC on any letter the SSA sends you about your benefits.
Generally, when you contact Medicare, they’ll require your Medicare number, not your BNC. However, any statements or mailings that used to have SSNs on them will now have BNCs instead.