This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/WUB.2ACI/1314 Message Board Post: Hello: Does anyone know if the NYC Department of Health "whites out" Social Security Numbers from death certificates when they make copies for genealogy requests?? I have a copy of my great grandfathers death certificate from 1951. In the column for SS Numbers it is just blank. Usually if the person had no SS Number it would often say "none" I could swear that if you hold it up a certain way it looks like it is a little discolored. However, it is hard to tell from the safety paper they use. I would think that he had a SS Number as he was working during the period of time SS Numbers were issued. Just wanted to see because i want to send for a copy of his Social Security Application....however, if you dont have the number it costs a little more for the request. I dont mind that...but what i would hate is to send the money for the request and find he did not have a number. So...this is why i am inquiring regarding whether NYC-DOH does remove the numbers when processing a request. If someone could let me know i would appreciate it. My great grandfather was George S. Booth, Jr and he died in Kings County Hospital on June 26, 1951. Thanks, JIM BOOTH Highland Mills, Orange County, NY jbooth75@optonline.net