Genealogy and How

by Steve Johnson

The Social Security Death Index is a database of deceased persons who received Social Security Benefits. Only persons having been assigned a Social Security Card may be represented in the SSDI.

Originally, the Social Security Administration did not intend for the Social Security Number to become an identification number so widely used by many other organizations. Today, the SSN has become the standard identification system for banks, insurance companies, and other private and public organizations. Because of such widespread use, the Social Security Administration created a database product called the Death Master File, and distributes it to such entities as a means to report deaths. In the genealogy world, we call it the Social Security Death Index.

The SSDI is best implemented on the Internet, having taken residency on so many websites. To search the SSDI, vist "Social Security Death Index".

What Information is Found in the SSDI?

First of all, the SSDI contains the deaths of all persons who had received Social Security Benefits. It's not enough to just have a Social Security Number, that person had to have received benefits. Persons who had an SSN, but died before ever receiving SS benefits are not found in the SSDI.

The pieces of information that you can find in the SSDI are:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Date of Death
• Zip Code of Last Known Residence (the residence where benefits were being mailed to at time of death)
• Zip Code of Lump Sum Payment (the residence where a lump sum payment of benefits were sent)
• Social Security Number
• State where person applied for a Social Security Number
• Proof of Verification (whether the death was verified by family member or death certificate)

Most websites offering an SSDI search will allow you to search by name, place, and/or SSN. Therefore, the SSDI is useful to look up someone's date of birth, date of death, a place of residence, or Social Security Number.

Obtaining an SS-5 Form

But perhaps a better use for the SSDI is to obtain the SS-5 Form. This is the form a person fills out to apply for a Social Security Number. For each person found in the SSDI, there is an SS-5 Form on file for that person.

The SS-5 Form can provide the following pieces of information:

• first, middle, and last name of the applicant
• street address, post office, and state of residence
• business name and address of their employer
• date of birth, present age, and place of birth
• father's full name
• mother's full maiden name

So, by using the SSDI, you can eventually find out the names of an ancestor's mother and father, including the mother's maiden name, by requesting the SS-5 Form.

How to Request a Copy of the SS-5 Form

Submit a written letter requesting a copy of the "SS-5 Form" to the Social Security Administration. Such requests are officially classified as a "Freedom of Information Act" (FOIA) request, and as such, must be submitted in writing, on paper, and with your signature. For additional information, visit the Social Security Administration's Guide to FOIA Requests.

• At the top of the letter write, "Freedom of Information Request".

• State a simple request such as, "As provided under the Freedom of Information Act, please send me an archived copy of the SS-5 Form (Application for Social Security Number) submitted by my deceased grandfather Harold William" Anderson

• Note: it is recommended to state your relation to the applicant, as suggested in the above example.

• If possible, provide additional information, including the applicant's date of birth, place of birth, social security number.

• Provide your name and return address on the letter itself. Include your day time phone number and e-mail address.

• In addition to the written letter of request, don't forget to include a personal check to cover costs (see below)

• Do NOT include a return envelope

• On the envelope, write the following below the address: "Freedom of Information Request".

Submit the letter with payment to:

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

Costs for Requesting a Copy of the SS-5 Form

• $27.00 if you provide them with the applicant's Social Security Number
• $29.00 if you do not provide them with the applicant's Social Security Number

  Make your check payable to "Social Security Administration"