Rachael

Your best bet is to post your request on Frenchentree, or LivingFrance websites, as although we live in France, we are retired so might inadvertently give you the wrong information. We obtained our social security numbers from CPAM, the state medical health institution, but normally speaking it is your employer who provides this for you.

You should get in touch with the CPAM from your "département", for you I guess that would be the Bourg en Bresse one for Pays de Gex or probably Annecy or Annemasse or else for Hautre-Savoie.

I found this link for English speakers. 

To obtain the Social Security Number, they will need mnimum your date and place of birth.  Over the phone, they should either redirect you to another web link or give you a list of what to provides and where to send it to.

Good luck!

Thank you both for your help. Is there an english speaking number I could call does anybody know. Thanks again

Sorry...  forgot to click "past"... here you go

http://www.ameli.fr/assures/votre-caisse-paris/nous-contacter/english-speakers-your-special-advice-line_paris.php

Thank you very very very much I really appreciate it

We have all our invoices/payments etc. submitted to an office in Annecy although they are somewhat cagey about their telephone number. However, if you search under CPAM Annecy, it seems to be some form of centre for foreigners in the Haute Savoie districts.

Good luck again