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Social Security Death Index
If you seek the birth date, the birth place, and the parents of someone who died after 1937, the Social Security Death Index is the database of choice. With the social security number listing from this index, you can obtain a copy of the individual's original Social Security Application Form SS-5, and/or Form OA-C790. Both forms basically contain the same information, including the name of the applicant, the town and country of birth (even the parish or small town in a foreign country), the date of birth, the names of the parents (usually the mother's maiden name), the home address, the occupation, and the personal signature of the individual you are researching. Those individuals who died before 1962 may be in the file, but a death certificate, obituary, and a social security number, if available, will be needed to prove to the SSA that it would be worthwhile for them to make a search since they may not be listed in the death index itself. Once you receive your Social Security Application Form a list of reporting codes used by the SSA is available at: http://genealogy.about.com/library/bl_ssa_codes.htm Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), SSA will fulfill requests for copies of original SS-5 Social Security Number Applications of deceased persons for $27.00, if you provide the Social Security number. If you do not know the Social Security number, the search fee is $29.00. Be sure to include the person�s Social Security number, full name (including maiden and name at death), sex, date and place of birth, date of death, and parents� names. Provide proof of death, or state that the person is listed in the SSA Death Master File. Include the following statement: �Microprint required�Printout not sufficient.� A computer extract of a Social Security Number Application can be obtained for $16.00, if you provide the Social Security number. If you do not know the Social Security number, a computer extract is $18.00. Personally, I always want to see my ancestor's handwriting if possible. Those individuals not listed on the Social Security Death Index may have worked for the railroad companies or never applied for a social security number. If they worked for the railroad they would have been given a Railroad Retirement number. Try to determine from other vital records if they were employees of the railroad and later you will learn how to obtain these Railroad Retirement records. They are as valuable as the Social Security applications and often contain much more information. |
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