This just came over the Russell list and I thought I would pass it on for your information. If you need any SS Application copies, you better do it quick! Sue The U.S. government, ever our benefactor, has decided to increase the cost of  SS-5 (social security application)copy requests from $7 to $27, effective 1 July 2001. You can read about the increase at:     http://genealogy.about.com/library/tips/bissrates.htm If you have SS-5 copies for your ancestors buried in your research, please get them out and transcribe the information for others via RootsWeb, following the instructions below.  We will all be in your debt. 1. Go to: http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi 2. Enter the name of the person who is on the form you have into the search engine. 4. When the right entry comes up, go over to the far right and click on "Add Post-Em" link. 5. The "Fill in the blank" form will come up and you can type in the information just like it's printed on the form you have in your hands! 6. Include all the information in the order that it is entered on the form, so that others have the advantage of all that information. NOTE: You don't have to type in the SS Number for the person as the Rootsweb program includes it. You can also find out how to protest the increase (or anything else you don't like about what they're doing) via your elected officials at:     http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/congress.html A former Missouri State Rep on another mailing list suggests the following:     1.) DO NOT send e-mail (he never answered his as a State Rep)     2.) DO call your local officials' offices.     3.) DO follow up with by snail mail until you feel that someone             is listening.