The SSR Number is a unique identification number used in occupational radiation protection based on the new legal requirements.

In general, the SSR Number is derived from the German social security number in accordance with Section 147 of the Sixth Book of the Social Security Code (SGB VI) and the personal data of the employee to be monitored, by an irreversible cryptographic process at the BfS. For data protection reasons, the social security number is deleted immediately at the BfS after the SSR Number has been generated. It cannot be reconstructed from the SSR Number.

For foreign employees without a German social security number, an SSR Number can be generated based on a suitable personal identification number assigned by a country other than Germany. This number has to be clearly and invariably related to the individual to be monitored over the employee's entire occupational lifetime and must be held available by employee or employer. In most countries these requirements are fulfilled by the so-called National Identification Number or the Social Security Number

In certain cases, the BfS may assign an SSR Number solely on the basis of the employee's personal data if the individual has neither a German social security number nor a suitable foreign identification number.

All individuals subject to registration in the Radiation Protection Register - occupationally exposed individuals and radiation passport holders - need an SSR Number.

In accordance with Section 170 (4) Sentence 4 StrlSchG, the application for the SSR Number at the BfS and the transfer of the necessary data must be ensured by

• the radiation protection supervisor or
• the person in charge under Section 131 (1) or Section 145 (1) Sentence 1 StrlSchG
• or the responsible person under Section 115 (2) or Section 153 (1) StrlSchG.

Applying for SSR Numbers can be delegated accordingly, e.g. to the radiation protection officer or the personnel department.

Since 31 December 2018 the BfS provides an encrypted and password protected web portal for the application for the SSR Number. In a first step, the applicant needs to register in the ssrportal.

The applicant has to transmit the following data on the employee(s) who need(s) an SSR Number:

• German social security number ((§ 147 SGB VI) or suitable foreign identification number (the number which is used in the respective country for radiation protection monitoring, normally the Social Security Number or the National Identification Number)
• Academic degree
• First names
• Surname
• Name at birth
• Date of birth
• Place of birth

After generation of the SSR Number by the BfS, the following data for the employee are returned to the applicant:

• SSR Number
• Academic degree
• First names
• Surname
• Name at birth
• Date of birth
• Place of birth

As part of data output, the data sets can be locally saved as CSV files from the web portal. In addition, a separate PDF document, the SSR Number certificate, is created for every individual which can be downloaded from the web portal. It serves as a personal document to be retained by the employee and therefore has to be delivered to the latter by the applicant.

Moreover, employees have to be informed about the background and significance of the SSR Number (e.g. as part of radiation protection instruction).