Terry Stroh, age 13, of Spokane, Wash., for his question:

WHY DO WE HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS?

Most people in the United States have Social Security numbers because they are tied in to a protection plan that came into effect with the Social Security Act of 1935. The act provided for federally administered old age insurance and also established unemployment insurance on a state by¬ state basis.

In 1965 Congress added hospital and related health insurance benefits under the Social Security Act. A voluntary system of insurance to pay doctors also began with both systems called Medicare. At first they applied only to people 65 or older but now apply also to disabled persons who have received Social Security benefits for at least two years.

Old age, survivor and disability insurance is administered by the federal government with the Social Security Administration directing the programs.