Margie wrote: > > Do I have to buy my ancestor's social security record at the price > of $27, or can I go somewhere in person just to view it? The SS-5 is the application that a person filled out when applying for a SSN. It is not a vital piece of information if you know his both date and place and parents. It will tell you when and where he applied and who he was working for. At $27 I have not found it necessary to order one. I doubt very much that the SSA Records Center somewhere in the midwest has that facilities for people to drop in and look at the records. If they do, it probably coasts more that the $27 for a copy of the SS-5. Margie, this list is set up to reply to the list. You have your e-mail address in the Reply To box in your preferences in your e-mail program, probably Outlook Express. Having your e-mail address there overrides the rootsweb e-mail software. Unless you are sending your messages from work and want replies sent to your home, then you do not need that Reply To filled out. bob gillis bob gillis <rpgillis@bellatlantic.net>

rpgillis@bellatlantic.net writes: > The SS-5 is the application that a person filled out when applying > for a SSN. It is not a vital piece of information if you know his > both date and place and parents. It will tell you when and where he > applied and who he was working for. I agree with what Bob writes but will add two points of possible interest: (1) the SS application is acceptable to both DAR and UDC as proof of birth and proof of parentage when those vital records are not available elsewhere [perhaps acceptable to other lineage societies but I know of only the two cited]; (2) there is available from SS a record of the deceased's employment. A record of all the jobs held by the deceased since a SS number was obtained, costs a great deal more than $27, but is invaluable as a search tool when one does not know where one's ancestor may have lived at periods of his lifetime. [Fran's note: I do not know how SS bases its fees for the latter type of application. In recent years I know of one that cost $87; one that cost $92; another that cost $74, etc.] Fran powell@closecall.com