4A. Primary Identification Variables  
Several variables, HHID, SSUBHH, PN, OPN, are used in various combinations to  
uniquely identify the nine different level datasets that comprise this data  
release.  
4A1. HHID – Household Identification Number  
In the initial wave of data collection (in 1992 for the HRS sub-sample, in 1993  
for the AHEAD sub-sample, 1998 for the WB and CODA sub-samples, 2004 for the EBB  
sub-sample, 2010/2011 for the MBB sub-sample and 2016 for the LBB sub-sample),  
each sample household was assigned a Household Identifier. HHID is stable across  
waves of data collection and uniquely identifies the original household and any  
households derived from that household in subsequent waves of data collection.  
HHID has six-digits.  
4A2. SSUBHH – 2022 Sub-household Identifier  
In combination with HHID, SSUBHH uniquely identifies a household at the time of  
the 2022 data collection. Sub-household identifiers can be different at each  
wave. RSUBHH has one-digit. For more information, see Examples of Sub-  
Household and Respondent Person Number and Other Person Number Assignments.  
4A3. PN – Person Number  
In combination with HHID, PN uniquely identifies a respondent or respondent’s  
spouse or partner. PNs are unique within an original household (HHID). The PN  
assigned to a particular respondent does not change across waves. PN has three-  
digits.  
4A4. OPN – Other Person Number.  
In the 2022 data collection HHID, SSUBHH and OPN uniquely identify another  
person in the household member and child files; HHID, PN, and OPN uniquely  
identify another person in the helper or sibling files. OPN has three-digits.  
4B. Primary Identification Variables for Datasets at Each of the Nine Levels  
Two identifiers uniquely identify records in the  
o
respondent-level datasets:  
1) HHID  
2) PN  
HOUSEHOLD IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
RESPONDENT PERSON IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
Two identifiers uniquely identify records in the  
household-level datasets:  
o
1) HHID  
2) SSUBHH  
HOUSEHOLD IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
2022 SUB HOUSEHOLD IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
Three identifiers uniquely identify records in the  
helper-level datasets:  
o
1) HHID  
2) PN  
HOUSEHOLD IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
RESPONDENT PERSON IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
3) OPN  
OTHER PERSON NUMBER  
Three identifiers uniquely identify records in the  
household-member-and-child-level:  
o
1) HHID  
2) SSUBHH  
3) OPN  
HOUSEHOLD IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
2022 SUB HOUSEHOLD IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
OTHER PERSON NUMBER  
Three identifiers uniquely identify records in the  
sibling-level datasets:  
1) HHID HOUSEHOLD IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  
o
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February 2024, Version 1.0