Social Security Stories Project
http://www.francesperkinscenter.org/stories.html

FAQ: (Frequently Asked Question)
Obtaining a copy of a Social Security Number Application

http://members.aol.com/reginamari/ancestry/ssnfaq.html   

JewishGen FAQ's - Document regarding Social Security info
http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/faq.html  

http://www.familytreemaker.com/fto_ssdisearch.html

"Social Security Death Master File: A Much Misunderstood Index"
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/article.htm

You can write for a Social Security Application Form SS5; there is a charge and you need to mail the form to
Freedom of Information Officer
4H8 Annex Bldg.
6401 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21235

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Why aren't there Social Security Records before 1960?  "Social Security did not create records for genealogists.  Like almost every other record source, the records were made for whatever purpose and genealogists use them.  So there was no reason to spend money inputting millions of records of those who died in the 30's and 40's and 50's in the computer.  Only active accounts at the time of computerization were entered."  From a posting by Sally Bruckheimer.

Pre-1960 Social Security
http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/us-ssa.txt

Social Security Application Information
http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/102/lesson12/course12_08.html

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SSDI (Social Security Death Index)

Established in 1935, when the first Social Security numbers were first issued.  Besides one's death, in order to get one into the Social Security Death index, somebody has to notify the Social Security Administration and to make a claim for survivors benefits.  It was established specifically to pay retirement benefits to retired workers.  There were no death benefits in the early years, nor were there widow's benefits or benefits for minors.

The SSDI is created from the Social Security Master Death Index which is sold to companies who then place it on line for researchers to use.   If you found a person in the SSDI, the associated document one would usually send for is called an SS-5. It is the application the person filled out when he applied for a Social Security number.  It will not provide the information you are asking about, but could be helpful if you don't know anything about the US location of this person. The SSDI lists the state in which the SS# was issued.

It can be very helpful if the person filled it out completely -parents' names, and sometimes exact places of birth.  Name of spouse if married, home & work address. It can also be very incomplete, especially if the only record they still have is the barest of information entered into their files.  It is also one of the more costly records $27.00 US funds

"It is "not" the policy of the SSA FOIA Workgroup to send Numident (computer printouts) in lieu of SS-5 form requests unless, for some reason, the SS-5 is not available.  It is also recommended to put somewhere in your request, "for genealogical purposes".  Future concerns should be addressed to: 410 96 - 4034.  This phone number has an answering machine dedicated to taking messages (and returning calls) specifically regarding FOIA SS-5 issues.  Anyone having received a Numident, believed to have been in error, is urged to either call the above number or write to the FOIA workgroup (below) explaining the problem and asking for the copy of the SS-5 be sent." From a posting by Jeanne Gold

Guide to Freedom of Information Act Requests
http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foi-act.htm

Social Security Administration
OEO FOIA Workgroup
300 N. Greene Street
P. O. Box 33022
Baltimore, Maryland 21290-3022

If you don't know where in the US your person was located, at least it will give you a place to start.  However, you can at least figure out where he applied for his number, by looking at the chart here
http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/geocard.html

The Social Security Administration
Click on the link for history, research & data - on the right side of the page.
http://www.ssa.gov/

The online version of the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) appears to be updated each month
http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com

Finding Aid
http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/lesson10.htm

Social Security E-News
A free monthly newsletter.  You can sign up for updates on disability, retirement, survivors, laws and regulations and more
http://www.ssa.gov/enews/

To view prior issues in HTML format visit
http://www.ssa.gov/enews/prior.htm

My Family
Commercial site that offers Social Security information for a modest fee

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SSDI database  (Steve Morse)

Site allows you to conduct searches on 4 different sites offering SSDI databases with different search options.
http://www.stevemorse.org/ssdi/ssdi.html

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Social Security

Is automatically available to any legal resident of the united States who is employed in this country.  One is not required to be a U.S. citizen to pay into the system.  Therefore, citizenship information would not be pertinent on the application.

Note: not everyone who has, or had, a Social Security card will appear on the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).  The SSDI lists only those persons for whom a lump sum death benefit was paid.  Many other enrolled individuals are not listed either because their death was not reported, or they are still living.  If you haven't found your deceased ancestor on the SSDI, but he/she was likely enrolled with the Social Security system, it still may be possible to get a photocopy of his/her original SS-5 form.

"Social Security"
Gives a claim number to anyone applying for benefits.  If a person applies based on their own work, it is their own Social Security number with an "A" at the end - in most cases.  A wife on that record has a claim number that is the husband's Social Security number with a "B" at the end.  The first eligible child gets a claim number of the parent on whose record they receive benefits, with "C1" at the end.  Etc.

These days, anyone applying on the record of another is also assigned their own Social Security number, if they don't already have one.  Virtually everyone has one anyway.  But years ago, a housewife might never have obtained her own Social Security number.  However, the fact that her husband's number appears on her death certificate does not necessarily mean she had no number of her own; it means only that the informant for the death certificate got the number from her Medicare Card or other record that had her claim number and assumed it was her Social Security number."  From a posting by Lynne Shapiro.

You may be able to find the Social Security number in: personal papers; death certificate; funeral home records; records held by financial institutions; voter registration rolls at county courthouse; former employers, etc.  If that doesn't prove of value, the Social Security Administration will provide a research service for $16.50 by contacting them with the full name, date of birth and date of birth to: 
Freedom of Information Officer 
4-H-8 Annex Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

SSA FAQs
http://cpsr.org/prevsite/cpsr/privacy/ssn/ssn.faq.html/  

SSDI
Upgrade with 'middle name' data is available, and includes both middle names and name suffixes of some 21 million people, almost a third of the entire index.  The vast majority of these entries are middle initials only.  The benefit to genealogists is to see extra information about an ancestor that would allow us to discriminate between two potential records.  The site is free of charge and available at
http://www.ancestry.com/ssdi 

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Social Security Database

This index apparently contains the majority of people who died after 1964.  After you get your information, you can write to the Social Security Administration, cite the "Freedom of Information Act", and receive a copy of the individual's application for a Social Security card.  The cost is $30.00
http://www.familytreelegends.com/ssdi

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Information, Applications  
and Forms 
  
Some of the information and links include: Application for a Search and/or Certified Copy of a Marriage Record (Pre 1938) NYC; Census Forms; Tax Photos Order Form/New York City Department of Records; Standard Form 180 - Request Pertaining to Military Records;  Library of Congress Catalogs; County Online Tax Roll Links; Freedom of Information Guide; GOVBOT - Government search engine; Locations of State Vital Statistics Offices and hundreds more of vital links.  If nothing else, this is a veritable goldmine of links.
http://www.scruz.net/~elias/hnoh/OTHERRESOURCES8.html       

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Freedom of Information Form

You can request a form G639 by calling the INS at 1 800 870 3676.  If you need further help, call the INS help line at 1 800 375 5283.  Press 1 for the English option, then wait through the first set of six options and press 9 to talk to an agent.
http://www.rocketlawyer.com/docLanding?docCategoryId=175&utm_source=103&campaign=Beta+Search+Personal&keyword=freedom
%20of%20information%0form&mtype=e&ad=12342704345&doctitle=Freedom+Of+Information+Request&gclid=
CMWwvvzaj68CFcIFRQodom5w1g

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Sample application for Social Security Account

http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/102/lesson12/course

For a sample Application for Social Security Account, you can also go to http://www.familytreemaker.com/

Form SSA-L997 - request for Social Security information of a deceased relative.  The charge for this information is $27.00 You may send requests to:

Social Security Administration
Office of Central Records Operations
FOIA Workgroup
P.O. Box 17772
300 N. Greene Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21290. 

For current search procedures and fee schedule
http://www.ssa.gov/foia/foia_guide.htm 

For Records available from the Social Security Administration
http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/socsec.html 

You can also do a search at
http://ssdi.ancestry.com

If a person knew where he or she was on a Federal Census year they can petition the Census Bureau for a proof of age at the time of the census.  This has been most helpful in the early days of Social Security and Medicare.

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Sample Request Letter

Click on the SSDI and select ANY name (or search any of yours!).  To the right of the name, will be a hotlink to create a letter.
http://www.ancestry.com

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Social Security Administration Office of Central Records Operations

Social Security Administration Office of Central Records Operations
FOIA Workgroup, PO Box 17772, 300 North Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21235.  Request Form SS-5 to obtain a Social Security Number.  (Note that one cannot do all their research on the Internet).  The database called the "Social Security Death Index, SSDI" is incomplete and inappropriately named. Under 'Topics", click on Social Security
www.jewishgen.org/infoFiles

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Social Security Death Index

http://www.familytreemaker.com/fto_ssdisearch.html

Also there is a free service offered by Ultimate Family Tree Website at
www.uftree.com

Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
Latest information is available at
http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/us-ssa.txt

or via E-mail to us-ssa@mail.jewishgen.org

Social Security Death Index
Also offered by Ancestry.com -  If you find the person you are looking for, from the ancestry site; you will find on the right hand side of the page, a box designated "Write Letter".  Click on that and a form letter, with your individual information already imprinted will pop up.  Follow the further instructions.  There is a $7.00 charge per request - if multiple checks, note the check number on each request.  Be aware, when using this form letter, that the letter will indicate the applicant's name as it appeared on the original SSN application, especially true in the case of women who were married more than once.  Include, in your letter, all possible variations of the applicant's name, including maiden name, married surnames and nicknames - and then follow the instructions.
http://ssdi.ancestry.com/
Access the Social Security Index | CD or Online
http://www.ancestry.com/searchelp.htm 

Dolph Klein on the JewishGen Discussion Board made the following statement which may be of interest in your research: "Your gf may not have had a SSN if he had been in a work category not covered by the SSA.  Or, he never applied for coverage.  He may not have been listed in the SSDI if he did not accumulate enough "work units" to receive retirement benefits or for his family to receive the death payment of $255.  And, as you noted, there may have been one or more errors concerning spelling, death dates, etc.

If your gf had a SSN, look for death certificates and other documents (e.g. insurance, medical policies, hospital records, driver's license) that may have recorded the number, or ask members of the family for documents they may have in their possession.  Failing this approach, send the SSA as much information about your gf as you can and request a copy of his original SS-5 application form.  The cost is $29 (2002).  For details,
http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/lesson10.htm

Social Security Death Index Search Engine
If you have the Social Security Number, you can use this web site - (visit the site my clicking on my link below) and their 'Letter Form Option' which generates a form letter to the Social Security Administration with all of the necessary information.  Be sure that the name which appears on the original SSN application, and the one used, are one and the same and include possible variations, including maiden name, all married surnames and nicknames.  Requests for assistance from the Social Security Administration generally take about 6 weeks.
Access the Social Security Index | CD or Online www.ancestry.com

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SS-5 Application

The Social Security Administration makes copies of the original Social Security application form available to third parties who request information on a deceased individual.  The application form (SS-5) contains the following information:

Full Name:
Full name at birth (including maiden name)
Present mailing address
Age at last birthday
Date of birth
Place of birth (City, County, State)
Father's full name "regardless of whether living or dead" Mother's full name, including maiden name, "regardless of whether living or dead"

To write for a copy of this form, contact
Social Security Administration
4 M 5 South Block Street
Baltimore, MD 21201 

Social Security Administration
Office of Earnings Operations
FOIA Workgroup
300 N. Greene Street
PO Box 33022
Baltimore, Maryland 21290

Phone: 410 965 1727. 

Request Form SS-5 (SSA Application For A Social Security Number), or send a letter with a copy of a death certificate or date of death, with your check or money order to

Social Security Freedom of Information Office
4H8 Annex Building
6401 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD. 

If you know the date, enclose $7.00 or your credit card number and expiration date;  if you do not know the number, enclose $16.50 or your credit card number and expiration date.  Some local SS offices will do a quick computer search at no charge.  You can also obtain a copy from the LDS Family History Center at 
http://www.familytreemaker.com/

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