>From the horse's mouth: *********************************************************************** Special Collections' Social Security Death Benefits Records SCOPE OF THE RECORDS: The Social Security Act of 1935 established a Federally administered program to provide mass old-age insurance and other public assistance benefits to United States citizens. Social Security cards were issued as early as 1937 with the first payments delivered in 1940. Data in the Social Security Administration's (SSA) application records often contain valuable information for the family history researcher . . . In order to enroll, applicants were required to complete form SS-5: "Application for Social Security Number" which included the following questions: * Applicant's full name * Full name at birth (including maiden name) * Present mailing address * Age at last birthday * Date of birth * Sex and race * Birthplace (city, county, state) * Full name of father and mother (regardless of whether "living or dead" at the time of the application) * Ever applied for Social Security/Railroad Retirement before? * Current employer's name and address * Date signed * Applicant's signature REQUESTING COPIES OF THE APPLICATION To obtain a copy of your ancestor's SS-5 form, complete a copy of form SSA-L997: "Social Security Number Record Third Party Request for Extract or Photocopy". Fill out the form as completely as possible. (Social Security number MUST be included.) Strike out the word "extract" in the form's title to indicate that you want a photocopy of the original SS-5. Enclose proof of death, such as a death certificate, obituary, or copy of the entry from one of the electronic databases of Social Security death files. Mail this information to the address indicated on the form. Social Security's policy regarding copying charges has been inconsistent. Sometimes a $7.00 fee is charged, but you will be notified if payment is required. SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEXES ON CD-ROM Three versions of the SSA's death records files are available in cd-rom format in Special Collections. They contain lists of many (but not all) deceased persons who had Social Security numbers and whose deaths were reported to the SSA. Most records on the discs date from 1962, but some records as early as 1937 are included. Both versions are easy to use, and you can print or download information from either. Social Security Death Benefit Records, by Automated Archives: * CD110; volume 1, A-L; volume 2, M-Z * Updated through December 1994 * Searchable by name, Soundex code, Social Security number, birth date, death date, location, etc. Social Security Death Index, by FamilySearch: * Updated through December 1996 * Searchable by name. (Search may be narrowed by birth year, state of issuance or last state of residence.) Social Security Death Master File, by Genealogical Services: * Updated through December 1995 * Windows-based product * Searchable by name, state, birth year or death year * Program also generates a letter requesting a copy of the deceased individual's application for a Social Security card FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A searchable version of the Social Security Death Masterfile is available on the Internet at http://www.ancestry.com/ssdi/advanced.htm Further information about Social Security records and the Railroad Retirement program can be found in the following booklet: 929.373 Desmond Walls Allen and Carolyn Earle Billingsley. A425s Social Security Applications: A Genealogical Resource. Research Associates, 1991. A copy of this booklet is available at the Reference Desk in Special Collections, as well as reproducible copies of the SSA-L997 form mentioned above. Ask a librarian to use this material. Back to: Automating Your Family Tree | Special Collections | Main Library | THPL Home Page Problems? Contact: webmastr@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us Last update: 3/98