Genealogy Tip of the Day Major Rate Increase for U.S. Social Security Application Requests If you have been procrastinating sending off for a Social Security application for any of your ancestors, now is the time to do it! Effective July 1, 2001, there will be a major fee increase for processing requests for copies of original applications for Social Security cards and for computer extracts of this information. This has been confirmed with Roger Williams in the FOIA office of the SSA. New Fees (effective July 1, 2001): Copies of the original application for a Social Security card (Form SS-5) will cost $27 if the social security number is provided, and $29 if it is not provided. These fees were previously $7 and $16.50, respectively. Computer extracts of the application will cost $16 with the number and$18 without. Requests postmarked prior to July 1, 2001 will not be subject to the new fees. So, if you've procrastinated on your requests, get them in now! Requests posted on or after July 1, 2001, will be returned if they do not include the new amount and a credit card number has not been provided to charge for additional costs. Social Security Records: Step-by-Step