I believe someone else answered with good general advice, but, no, my mother received a death benefit when my father died. She is in the Index but she never worked under Social Security. Similarly, two aunts are in the Index based solely on a death benefit. My mother never drew a widow's social security benefit, she died before she reached the eligible age. M. B. O'Brien (by way of Genealogy Records Service ) wrote: > Am I right in assuming that those who "signed up" would have been working at > the time? (vs elderly and retired) > > Maureen O'Brien > > On 2 Jun 98, at 9:07, by way of Genealogy Records S wrote: > > > Social Security began in 1936 and it is possible to find ancestors if they > > lived into the late 1930's or 1940. In the earlier years there was not as > > much of a requirement to sign up. There was a push to do so during these > > early years. There was another major one somewhere around 1950/1952. > > Good Luck. Sharon