Anna, Yes, I have heard that if no application by a widow or widower is made to collect the measly $255. There will be no record. $255 don't even buy the flowers..Oh well..Anyone can order a Social Security Orginal Application(copy of) It used to be $7 if you knew the # and $14 if you didn't. They raised the price I do believe to $27..Since they did that I haven't ordered any... Milly WARD Piros List Rootsweb Administrator for Anderson Co Tn~Campbell Co Tn and Fentress Co Tn <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/millyella/listofpages.html">A List of All My Pages</A> http://www.geocities.com/millyella/listofpages.html Genealogists live in the PAST Lane