Regarding getting an SS-5 for genealogy purpose, here's what happened when I ordered one: I had been trying for 10 years to locate three cousins I had lost contact with, especially the one I was closest to when we were kids. Finally, in 2001 I found out through the SSDI that my older cousin had died in 1995--probably. Since there was more than one Barbara BURGESS listed in the SSDI and I wasn't sure of her exact birthdate, I sent for her SS-5 using a form I found on the internet. I can't remember if this form said I needed to include a reason for wanting the information, and I still had a lot to learn about genealogy research even after 10 years of research (as I still do). So I'm not sure if I indicated she was my cousin and that I needed it for genealogical purposes. I also didn't think to state that her father had died in 1965 and that I believed her mother was also deceased. When I received a copy of the form, I found that it was my cousin. However, the names of her parents had been marked out. One reason I wanted it was to find out her mother's maiden name, which I never knew, so the form was little help to me. I later found out her mother's maiden name through the Texas Birth Index. If I had plenty of money to spend on genealogy research, I would find the SS-5's useful. For me, though, they aren't. I can find the information elsewhere. Everyone needs to decide their usefulness for themselves. Laurie Laurie Nelson <lanenelson@rt66.com>