Consider the possibility that you made a typographical error on that application. The number on your existing accounts may be correct, while the number on the application was not.

If you want to investigate further:

1) If you tell them your correct Social Security number will they tell you (yes/no) if that is the number in their records? I would work on this on weekday during normal business hours, because front line customer service agents probably cannot see that detail.

2) Have you contacted the Social Security Administration to check if your number has been erroneously reported as deceased?