Social security law changes over the years so that less people qualify to be listed on the SSDindex than in the 60's etc. Be aware that many teachers and sometimes ministers or others who did /do not pay into social security because they have private pension funds will never appear on the list now. Both spouses used to get social security death payment ($255.?)but that is NOT true in many cases. Neither spouse may qualify. When the second spouse dies there is no death benefit unless there is a dependent living who is on social security...ie. new spouse ,dependent child, etc. There are undoubtedly people missing from the SSDI system as well as people on it that should not be. The social security system is a MESS. When my mother died in Aug. 2004 the social security listed my father as dying instead of MOM. They canceled his SS payments, notified the veterans office which affects benefits, etc. Worst of all they sent my mother a letter saying they were sorry to have been informed that her husband was deceased. They paid my mother a death benefit for my DAD although he was alive- later deducted it. Mom would NOT have qualified for a SSD benefit because she did not work 40 quarters-10 yrs. in system. Then in Sept. my father's name shows up on SSDI on internet with his SS number etc. I was back on the phone to get that erased immediately. You would not believe how many phone calls and visits to SS, legal papers, etc. it took to get this straightened out and it took until mid October. When they finally corrected it they replaced my father with my mother on the SSDI-even though she didn't qualify and was paid no benefit. Moral of the story- have all of your birth certificates, marriage, death certificates available if you expect to get social security. Inform the bank or anyone else of a legal nature - of the death ONLY in writing. (Social security -regional office finally slipped- or made up ?? information that the bank had informed them that my father died.) I heard my father make the phone call to the bank when he asked about accounts and he told them my mother died. SSDI is a very helpful genealogical tool and there are lots of ways to enter information, but some people won't be there...including me (someday)- a retired teacher ( who also paid more than 10 years in SS.) Good luck. Twila Smith