> > 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. > > > > rpgillis@bellatlantic.net > > 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> The fee is based on the number of years you want searched ... and they must be consecutive years -- you cannot ask for 1942, 1952 and 1962. And, if memory serves, you have to start with the death-date and go backward. You're paying for a real human to pull, read, and copy a real, hard-copy, file. Neither Cheap nor Inexpensive should be used in the description of the cost. (g) I've got a form for it around here somewhere. If I find it, I'll post some examples. [Or I suppose, someone COULD search the archives, because I'm pretty sure I've posted it before.] Cheryl singhals@erols.com