Here is my info on Social Security info most valuable to genealogical researchers. Bill Tarkulich SOCIAL SECURITY If your immigrant was legally employed in the U.S. in 1937 or later, don't forget to petition for a copy of the Social Security Application. It contains their parent's names and place of origin/citizenship. SS began in 1936 and all employees were required by law to obtain one by 1937. Social Security Application If they were working in 1937, and you think they had a Soc. Sec. number (you don't need to know it), you can petition the SSA for their SSA application. It contains their parent's names and place of origin/citizenship. Here http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/ss5.html is what the card looked like. Social Security began in 1936 and all employees were required by law to obtain one by 1937. Folks older than 65 were not required to fill one out. A great explanation of the process can be found here http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/ssncards.html . You will need much patience, as the response may take SEVERAL MONTHS! The Social Security Act became law on January 1, 1937. Initial applications began in November, 1936 to December 5, 1936. Here is a form letter (source: Social Security Administration Office of Earnings Operations FOIA Workgroup 300 N. Greene Street P.O. Box 33022 Baltimore, Maryland 21290 Re: Freedom of Information Act Request Dear Freedom of Information Officer, I am writing this request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 552. I hereby request a copy of the SS-5, Application for Social Security Card, or a corresponding NUMIDENT printout (see below) for the following individual: Lastname, first name SS#aaa-bb-cccc Birth: xx-yyy-zzzz Death: yyy-zzzz This individual is deceased, having been listed in the Social Security Administration's Death Master File. I understand the fee for this service is $27 for copy of original SS-5 application OR $16 for copy of an abbreviated NUMIDENT printout when the Social Security Number is provided. I am requesting a (circle one: SS-5 copy OR Numident printout) Included is a check for $______ made out to the Social Security Administration to cover any administrative costs required by this request. Please respond to my request upon receipt of this initial correspondence. Thank you for your attention and assistance. Sincerely, Yourname Address: Daytime Phone Number: Fees: (effective 7/1/2001) $27 Actual Photocopy of application with Social Security Number $29 Actual Photocopy of application without Social Security Number $16 Computer Extract (NUMIDENT) with SSN $18 Computer Extract (NUMIDENT) without SSN The NUMIDENT record is a computer extract of information from the original application for a Social Security card. Many records of older individuals, primarily those born in 1910 or earlier, are abbreviated records that do not contain the names of the individual's parents and may not contain the place of birth General References: http://www.ssa.gov/ Social Security Administration http://www.ssa.gov/foia/foia_guide.htm Freedom of Information Act for Social Security Administration Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Because the SSDI is so readily available on the Web (i.e., www.ancestry.com avails it for free at http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/3693.htm ), many researchers rely too heavily upon it. The fact is that the SSDI IS AN INCOMPLETE INDEX. You can NEVER assume that if a match was not found that the individual did not have a Social Security Number. MANY deceased people who had SS numbers are NOT listed. http://www.ssa.gov/foia/foia_guide.htm Bill Tarkulich