When a date of birth is unavailable, COBOL inserts the preset "minimum date."
That's what's happening.
When a date of birth is unavailable, COBOL inserts the preset "minimum date."
That's what's happening.
The database Social Security works from is written in a programming language called "COBAL." That has a default "minimum date" of, I think, 1875. It was designed to be earlier than anything in the database.
The database Social Security works from is written in a programming language called "COBAL." That has a default "minimum date" of, I think, 1875. It was designed to be earlier than anything in the database.
I don't think it's that they're too lazy or too protective. I think both of those explanations give them too much credit.
I don't think it's that they're too lazy or too protective. I think both of those explanations give them too much credit.