| Q.1.1 | What is the history behind the Social Security Service? |
| Q.1.1.1 | What are the prefix (eg. "W" or "A") letters in front of the social security number? |
| Q.1.2 | Is the Social Security Records a public record? |
| Q.1.3 | I see commercial usages of Social Security numbers, how come? |
| Q.1.4 | What is the meaning of each segment of the Social Security Number? |
| Q.1.5 | How do I know someone indeed had a Social Security Number? |
| Q.1.6 | Did Everyone who had a Social Security Number appears on the SSDI? |
| Q.1.6.5 | Did people who did NOT have a Social Security Number appear on the SSDI? |
| Q.1.7 | When was the Social Security Number first used on tax returns? |
| Q.1.8 | I recall hearing that when Social Security was initially started it was against the law to use the SSN for any purpose other than Social Security. There was a fine if the SSN was used for a purpose other than Social Security. Is this true? |
| Q. 2.0 | How can I obtain a Social Security Number of a deceased person? |
| Q.2.0.0.5 | Since when were most of the records in the Social Security Death Index? |
| Q.2.0.1 | What information can the Social Security Adminstration give out to genealogist or family members? |
| Q.2.0.2 | How can I contact the Social Security Administration? |
| Q.2.0.3 | What are the fees for requesting a record extract or copy? |
| Q.2.1 | "Once I have the information I need from the Social Security Death Index, what do I do with it?To whom and where do I go to next and what kind of information should I expect to receive?" |
| Q.2.1.3 | I filed the L-997 form requesting a copy or extract of the SS-5 form. What should I fill in the Taxpayer Signature line? The person is dead... |
| Q.2.1.5 | What if the deceased person died outside the USA? |
| Q.2.2 | Can I write a letter to the SSA or should I use a form? |
| Q.2.3 | What will the copy of the SS-5 form include? |
| Q.2.3.1 | In the transcript there are codes like CYL, COD etc: What do they stand for? What about codes for beneficiaries like F1 and W1? |
| Q.2.3.2 | I haven't heard from the Social Security Administration! Should I call? Should I write? What to do? |
| Q.2.4 | What to do if the form does not show all the information I wanted or the printout is partial? |
| Q.2.5 | How does the Social Security Adminstration finds the correct copy of the SS-5 Form? What if I only know some information? |
| Q.2.5.1 | Is there a SS-5 form for a spouse receiving benefits from another person's Social Security Benefits? |
| Q.2.5.2 | I have a SSN, what can I do with it (other than ask for the copy of SS-5 form)? |
| Q.2.6 | Can I read the Social Security Administration and Social Security Death Index On Line? How? |
| Q.2.7 | Can I get information by visiting a local Social Security Office? |
| Q.2.3.1 | What's a NUMIDENT? |
| Q.3.0 | ("Motivation question") Why does the Socail Security Adminstration have this a service to locate a missing person, and can I use this service for genealogical research? |
| Q.3.1 | Can the Social Security Adminstration tell you about living relatives? |
| Q.3.2 | Does Letter forwarding cost any money? |
| Q.3.2.5 | What information should I give to the Letter Forwarding Service? |
| Q.3.3.1 | Will I hear from the SSA once my letter is received? |
| Q.3.3.2 | I have requested a letter forwarding service from the SSA, |
| Q.3.3.3 | I know that when someone applies for SSN, they have to provide documents as proofs. Do any of these documents remain with the SSA? |
| Q.3.3.4 | Could these documents be obtained for genealogical purposes? |
| Q.3.4.1 | REQUEST FOR SOCIAL SECURITY EARNINGS INFORMATION - What and how can I use it for genealogical purposes? |
| Q.3.4.2 | Can I get employment information from the Social Security? |
| Q.3.5 | I called the Social Security Office and they didn't know what I am talking about, what should I do? |
| Q.4.1: Not directly related to SSA, can the Census Bureau be of any help other than 1800s through 1920? |
These are the common denotation. However, there are other letters for other classes of benefits: B, C, D, W, E's - all of these letters may or may not have a number after them, e.g., D - widow; D1 - widower; D6 - divorced widow - several others D2, D4, D9, etc - each has a particular meaning). B - wife; B6 - divorced wife, etc.
[The above parargaph(s) was received from: jatkisso@mail.coin.missouri.edu (Judy Atkisson)]
| 000 | unused |
| 001-003 | NH |
| 004-007 | ME |
| 008-009 | VT |
| 010-034 | MA |
| 035-039 | RI |
| 040-049 | CT |
| 050-134 | NY |
| 135-158 | NJ |
| 159-211 | PA |
| 212-220 | MD |
| 221-222 | DE |
| 223-231 | VA |
| 232-236 | WV |
| 237-246 | NC |
| 247-251 | SC |
| 252-260 | GA |
| 261-267 | FL |
| 268-302 | OH |
| 303-317 | IN |
| 318-361 | IL |
| 362-386 | MI |
| 387-399 | WI |
| 400-407 | KY |
| 408-415 | TN |
| 416-424 | AL |
| 425-428 | MS |
| 429-432 | AR |
| 433-439 | LA |
| 440-448 | OK |
| 449-467 | TX |
| 468-477 | MN |
| 478-485 | IA |
| 486-500 | MO |
| 501-502 | ND |
| 503-504 | SD |
| 505-508 | NE |
| 509-515 | KS |
| 516-517 | MT |
| 518-519 | ID *Guam, American Samoa, |
| 520 | WY Northern Mariana Islands, |
| 521-524 | CO Philippine Islands |
| 525 | NM |
| 526-527 | AZ |
| 528-529 | UT |
| 530 | NV |
| 531-539 | WA |
| 540-544 | OR |
| 545-573 | CA |
| 574 | AK |
| 575-576 | HI |
| 577-579 | DC |
| 580 | VI Virgin Islands |
| 581-584 | PR Puerto Rico |
| 585 | NM |
| 586 | PI Pacific Islands* |
| 587-588 | MS |
| 589-595 | FL |
| 596-599 | PR Puerto Rico |
| 600-601 | AZ |
| 602-626 | CA |
If you are requesting any information about the SS-5 form of a deceased person, you should be able to identify the person with a SSN or with enough details as to avoid ambiguity. The SS Administration will not release an SS-5 if not enought details to identify the deceased are provided
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Q.1.6.5 Did people who did NOT have a Social Security Number appear on the SSDI?
A:
While "grandfathering" work history for benefits was certainly done, and
benefits paid to widows and dependent children, to find the death date of the
spouse in the files may be rough. Social Security always provided a "floor"
benefit for those who could not prove the required work history/tax payments,
but met the other requirements of age or disability. A widow might qualify
under her own account, so no date of death for her spouse would be in the
file. The SSDI is a listing of those who received a death benefit (a lump
sum paid upon death) and you are refering to survivor benefits. Still, a
request under the FOIA may get you some info.
[contributed by Shelley Volk
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Q.1.7 When was the SSN first used for Income Tax Return purposes?
A:
In 1942 the use of a SSN was optional. In 1946 it became
mandatory. However, in our experience the IRS will not release any tax
information whatsoever to individual, regardless of the taxpayers' status
(included long deceased).
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Q.1.8 I recall hearing that when Social Security was initially started it was
against the law to use the SSN for any purpose other than Social Security.
There was a fine if the SSN was used for a purpose other than Social
Security. Is this true?
A:
Not exactly. The law was (and still is) such that you are not required to
provide your SSN to anyone as a form of identification.
I am not a lawyer but I believe this is the law nowadays.
Try applying for a credit card without a SSN and you'll see that its possible!
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Section 2: How to use the Social Security Number of a deceased
person for genealogical
purposes?
Q.2.0 How can I obtain a Social Security Number of a
deceased person?
A: The Latter Day Saints (LDS) Church of Jesus Christ
maintains Family History Centers (FHL)
throughout the U.S. and world wide. In most of these centers a
computer program allows the user
the search the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).
This index shows - if known - the deceased's first and last
name, place of death (by Zip code
locale only), date of death (sometimes just a year), and date of
birth (sometimes this information
is partial or missing). In addition, it provides the state in which
the person had _obtained_ the
Social Security Number, and the number itself. With this
information, a genealogist or researcher
can request the Social Security Administration for a copy or an
extract of the original application
for a Social Security Number (see below).
Link to
Social Security Death Index On Line Search
Everton Publishers: emh.everton.com/ssmdi.html
Ancestryl
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Q.2.0.0.5 Since when were most of the records in the Social Security Death Index?
Although some records were reported (see Q.1.6) since 1937 (See Q.1.5) when the SSA Act was put into effect, most are from 1962, when elctronic requests for benefits became commonly used.
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Q.2.0.1 What information can the Social Security
Adminstration give out to genealogist or family members?
A: Disclosure of information by SSA is governed mainly by the
Social Security Act itself, the Freedom of Information Act of 1974, the Privacy Act of 1974, and the Tax Reform Act of 1976. In general, information about a LIVING person MAY NOT be released to a third party unless the individual has signed a written authorization for release of that information. The fact of an individual's death, date of death, and place of death or burial may be disclosed to anyone. Any other information, other than tax return information, in a DECEASED individual's record MAY BE
DISCLOSED as long as any information in the record pertaining to other living individuals is deleted from the record prior to disclosure. The Tax Reform Act of
1976 prohibits disclosure of tax return information without the consent of the individual to
whom the record pertains. This prohibition continues even after the death of an individual.
Requests for tax return information for a deceased individual may be released to the legal
representative of the estate; surviving relative (spouse, parent, child); or heir at law, next of kin, or beneficiary of the deceased. Proof of one of the listed relationships must be provided with the request for information.
SSA originally maintained paper files of all applications for
original SSN's and applications
requesting a change in the record. In the 1970s, these files were
converted to an electronic
database. The application forms were microfilmed for retention and
the paper forms destroyed.
Current applications are microfilmed; the paper forms are retained
in the Federal Records Center
for 5 years and then destroyed.
There are 2 types of SSN application extracts which can be
furnished upon request.
(1) The Numident printout is a computer printed record which
contains all the information
on the original application form except the address and signature
of the applicant.
(2) A microprint is a print of the microfilmed application
form.
Either of these items may be furnished to anyone upon written
request and confirmation of
death where this is not detrimental to the estate and there does
not appear to be an unwarranted
invasion of privacy of a living person; i.e., the parents of the
deceased who are listed on the
application form.
[Forwarded by: Linda.Edwards@genesplicer.org, written by:
Barbara Bennett]
For cost for application information see Question no.2.1
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Q.2.0.2 How can I contact the Social Security Administration?
The phone number for the agency is 410-965-1727. I gave them
a brief message and they returned my call today, I called yesterday. They looked up what
they had sent me and checked their files while I was on the phone.
They stated there is still a wait up to 5 months as the
backlog is tremendous. There is another phone number which may interest some:
The Federal Information Center, also in Maryland, 800-688-9889
This number connects you for information pertaining to the following: Taxes; Jobs; Social
Security Benefits; Veterans; Savings Bonds; Passports; Selective Service and Student Loans; and Government Publications.
[forwarded with permission of writer: Elaine Behrendt
laneyb@chatlink.com]
The address of the Freedom of Information Offices is:
SSA - FOIA
4 M 5 South Block
300 N. Greene St.
Baltimore MD 21201
[updated: April 1998]
If the SSN is not known, a $29 is required. $27 is the payment if the SSN is known
(see Fees schedule below).
Note: The address below is outdated
These old addresses is no longer valid, as of October, 1996:
Q.2.0.3 What are the fees for requesting a copy or extract of a record?
A: [Source: http://www.ssa.gov/foia/foia_guide.htm
]
Fees For Processing Requests For Individual's Social Security Record Effective July 1, 2001
Request for copy of Original Application for Social Security Card (Form SS-5), SSN Provided $27
Request for copy of Original Application for Social Security Card (Form SS-5), SSN Not Provided $29
Request for Computer Extract of Social Security Number Application, SSN Provided $16
Request for Computer Extract of Social Security Number Application, SSN Not Provided $18
Search for Information about Death of an Individual, SSN Provided $16
Search for Information about Death of an Individual, SSN Not Provided $18
| SEX | Gender, can be M(ale), F(emale) or U(nknown). |
| DOB | Date of Birth |
| DOD | Date of Death |
| DOA | District Office Address |
| MNA | Mother's name |
| FNA | Father's name |
| PLB | Place of Birth |
| CYD/CYL | CYcle Date, the day on which a new social secuiory card is printed/issued/sent out. My guy had three of them...one in the 40s and the others recently.... knowing what CYD meant cleared up a lot of stuff for me. |
| DOC | District Office Code. example: was DOC:180, or Bridgeton, NJ |
| ETC | the Ethnic Code (and there are scads of them....) |
| FMC | : is the code for the person/group/org that requests a SS card. 1 is
for the applicant himself, 6 is for the hospital in which the child was born, etc. |
| IDN | IDentifaction number, the code for the ID the applicant showed to get his papers. n cryptic codes. The codes you are probably interested in are: |
| FCI | Foreign Country Indicator |
DI 21005.050 Beneficiary Identification Code (BIC)
These codes appear on MBR queries and microfiches.
| Code | Type | Identification |
|---|---|---|
| &or 0 | Wage Earner and Spouse | Retirement or disability |
| A | Wage Earner (Primary) | Retirement or disability |
| B | Aged Wife | First claimant |
| B1 | Husband | First claimant |
| B2 | Young Wife | First claimant |
| B3 | Aged Wife | Second claimant |
| B4 | Husband | Second claimant |
| B5 | Young Wife | Second claimant |
| B6 | Divorced Wife | First claimant |
| B7 | Young Wife | Third claimant |
| B8 | Aged Wife | Third claimant |
| B9 | Divorced Wife | Second claimant |
| BA (B10) | Aged Wife | Fourth claimant |
| BD (B13) | Aged Wife | Fifth claimant |
| BG (B16) | Aged Husband | Third claimant |
| BH (B17) | Aged Husband | Fourth claimant |
| BJ (B19) | Aged Husband | Fifth claimant |
| BK (B20) | Young Wife | Fourth claimant |
| BL (B21) | Young Wife | Fifth claimant |
| BN (B23) | Divorced Wife | Third claimant |
| BP (B25) | Divorced Wife | Fourth claimant |
| BQ (B26) | Divorced Wife | Fifth claimant |
| BR (B27) | Divorced Husband | First claimant |
| BT (B29) | Divorced Husband | Second claimant |
| C1-C9, CA- CK(C10-C20) | Child | Includes disabled or student child |
| D | Aged Widow | First claimant |
| D1 | Widower | First claimant |
| D2 | Aged Widow | Second claimant |
| D3 | Widower | Second claimant |
| D4 | Widow | Remarried after attainment of age 60 |
| D5 | Widower | Remarried after attainment of age 60 |
| D6 | Surviving Divorced Wife | First claimant |
| D7 | Surviving Divorced Wife | Second claimant |
| D8 | Aged Widow | Third claimant |
| D9 | Remarried Widow | Second claimant |
| DA (D10) | Remarried Widow | Third claimant |
| DD (D13) | Aged Widow | Fourth claimant |
| DG (D16) | Aged Widow | Fifth claimant |
| DH (D17) | Aged Widower | Third claimant |
| DJ (D19) | Aged Widower | Fourth claimant |
| DK (D20) | Aged Widower | Fifth claimant |
| DL (D21) | Remarried Widow | Fourth claimant |
| DN (D23) | Remarried Widow | Fifth claimant |
| DP (D25) | Remarried Widower | Second claimant |
| DQ (D26) | Remarried Widower | Third claimant |
| DR (D27) | Remarried Widower | Fourth claimant |
| DT (D29) | Remarried Widower | Fifth claimant |
| DV (D31) | Surviving Divorced Wife | Third claimant |
| DW (D32) | Surviving Divorced Wife | Fourth claimant |
| DY (D34) | Surviving Divorced Wife | Fifth claimant |
| E | Widowed Mother | First claimant |
| E1 | Surviving Divorced Mother | First claimant |
| E2 | Widowed Mother | Second claimant |
| E3 | Surviving Divorced Mother | Second claimant |
| E4 | Widowed Father | First claimant |
| E5 | Surviving Divorced Father | First claimant |
| E6 | Widowed Father | Second claimant |
| E7 | Widowed Mother | Third claimant |
| E8 | Widowed Mother | Fourth claimant |
| E9 | Surviving Divorced Father | Second claimant |
| EA (E10) | Widowed Mother | Fifth claimant |
| EB (E11) | Surviving Divorced Mother | Third claimant |
| EC (E12) | Surviving Divorced Mother | Fourth claimant |
| ED (E13) | Surviving Divorced Mother | Fifth claimant |
| EF (E15) | Widowed Father | Third claimant |
| EG (E16) | Widowed Father | Fourth claimant |
| EH (E17) | Widowed Father | Fifth claimant |
| EJ (E19) | Surviving Divorced Father | Third claimant |
| EK (E20) | Surviving Divorced Father | Fourth claimant |
| EM (E22) | Surviving Divorced Father | Fifth claimant |
| F1 | Father | |
| F2 | Mother | |
| F3 | Stepfather | |
| F4 | Stepmother | |
| F5 | Adopting Father | |
| F6 | Adopting Mother | |
| F7 | Second Alleged Father | |
| F8 | Second Alleged Mother | |
| G1-G9 | Claimants of Lump-Sum Death Benefits (PIC Only) | |
| J1 | Primary Prouty entitled to deemed HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| J2 | Primary Prouty entitled to deemed HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| J3 | Primary Prouty not entitled to deemed HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| J4 | Primary Prouty not entitled to deemed HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| K1 | Prouty wife entitled to deemed HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| K2 | Prouty wife entitled to deemed HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| K3 | Prouty wife not entitled to deemed HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| K4 | Prouty wife not entitled to deemed HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| K5 | Second Prouty Wife entitled to deemed HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| K6 | Second Prouty Wife entitled to deemed HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| K7 | Second Prouty Wife not entitled to deemed HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| K8 | Second Prouty Wife not entitled to deemed HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| K9 | Third Prouty Wife entitled to deemed HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| KA (K10) | Third Prouty Wife entitled to HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| KB (K11) | Third Prouty Wife not entitled to HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| KC (K12) | Third Prouty Wife not entitled to HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| KD (K13) | Fourth Prouty Wife entitled to HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| KE (K14) | Fourth Prouty Wife entitled to HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| KF (K15) | Fourth Prouty Wife not entitled to HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| KG (K16) | Fourth Prouty Wife not entitled to HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| KH (K17) | Fifth Prouty Wife entitled to HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| KJ (K19) | Fifth Prouty Wife entitled to HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| KL (K21) | Fifth Prouty Wife not entitled to HIB | Less than three quarters of coverage |
| KM (K22) | Fifth Prouty Wife not entitled to HIB | Over two quarters of coverage |
| M | Uninsured | Not qualified for deemed HIB |
| M1 | Uninsured | Qualified for but refused HIB |
| T | Uninsured | Entitled to HIB under deemed or renal provisions |
| W | Disabled Widow | First claimant |
| W1 | Disabled Widower | First claimant |
| W2 | Disabled Widow | Second claimant |
| W3 | Disabled Widower | Second claimant |
| W4 | Disabled Widow | Third claimant |
| W5 | Disabled Widower | Third claimant |
| W6 | Disabled Surviving Divorced Wife | First claimant |
| W7 | Disabled Surviving Divorced Wife | Second claimant |
| W8 | Disabled Surviving Divorced Wife | Third claimant |
| W9 | Disabled Widow | Fourth claimant |
| WB (W11) | Disabled Widower | Fourth claimant |
| WC (W12) | Disabled Surviving Divorced Wife | Fourth claimant |
| WF (W15) | Disabled Widow | Fifth claimant |
| WG (W16) | Disabled Widower | Fifth claimant |
| WJ (W19) | Disabled Surviving Divorced Wife | Fifth claimant |
1 This section reflects duplicated material.
| Added to this file 07/12/2001 | Last Updated: 01/23/90 |
Source: http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/poms?OpenView
There would be a SS-5 form for a person receiving benefits on another person's record. This is particular true if the person received payments in 1965 and after. Most dependents before that date had no need of a social security number if they weren't employed, so for those a SS-5 was probably never completed.
[The above parargaph was received from: jatkisso@mail.coin.missouri.edu (Judy Atkisson)]
[Forwarded with permission from: Elaine Behrendt
laneyb@chatlink.com]
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Return to table of contents
Q.2.5.2 I have a SSN, what can I do with it (other than ask for the copy of SS-5 form)?
A: One idea is finding a commercial service such as
credit bureru or some other enterprize that with a name and SSN will provide
information about an indvidual. You'll pay $20-45 (depends on the service)
-- this will provide, among other things, a last address.
Write to that address, to the voter registration of that area, and to
churches, cemeteries and other agencies in the vicinity to see what you can
dig up.
I don't have a name of such enterprise but perhaps a search in Yahoo.com
would help, for example seach under "Personal Information", or "Credit
Report"
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Detailed below is an extract of SSA form No. SSA-963:
About our Letter Forwarding Service: We will: We will not:
What you should do If you have any questions:
Older applications for benefits (filed over 5 years old ago) will have
supporting documents in them to establish age, citizenship, relationship,
etc. Social Security Administration is now mostly electronic which means
documents are no longer retained in most files - a claims representatives
certifies that a document was seen but no document is retained in the file.
95% of the time anymore, a file will have an application only completed.
Documents have never been retained with the application for a social
security card.
[The above parargaph was received from: jatkisso@mail.coin.missouri.edu (Judy Atkisson)]
Please write us at:
Attn. Mod 12 Et Unit RM. 264.
1150 East Mountain Drive
Wilkes-Barre PA 18702-7997
You can call 1-800-772-1213 to get the address and phone of the nearest office. ...
Return to table of contents
Q.3.3.1 Will I hear from the SSA once my letter is
received?
Q.3.3.2 I have requested a letter forwarding service
from the SSA, and have not heard from them.
How long should I wait?
A: Don't wait. The SSA can neither confirm nor deny the
results of your request.
Adminstrativly speaking, the Letter Forwarding Service is defined
as a 'black hole': the SSA is
not supposed to confirm to you, in any way, the results of your
request. Practically, the SSA is
probably not set to do such a job, in terms of follow up and
correspondance. Therefor, you should
not expect any reply from the SSA. Sometimes, however, when there
is no compelling evidence that
your request should be even considered by the SSA, your letter and
materials will be returned to
you.
Return to table of contents
Q.3.3.3 I know that when someone applies for SSN, they have
to provide documents as proofs. Do any
of these documents remain with the SSA?
Q.3.3.4 Could these documents (3.3.1) be obtained for genealogical
purposes?
A:Yes. See Q.1.5 for more details.
For Q.3.3.2 : This is still an untested method. Any results from
such at attempt will be greatly
appreciated if shared.
However, lately we have receievd this report
from Anita H.
Generally when you get an SS-5, a letter comes with it stating that
if the individual died more than 5 years ago the file was probably
destroyed, and they'll charge you the search money whether they
find anything or not. Naturally, I was reluctant to throw away
$14 dollars. But I decided it was worth a shot for my grandfather's
file, who had died only 4 years previously. What they sent me
was worth the price. I received a copy of his death certificate,
his application for Social Security Benefits, and his Naturalization
Certificate, complete with photo.
Return to table of contents
Q.3.4.1 REQUEST FOR SOCIAL SECURITY EARNINGS INFORMATION - What and
how can I use it for
genealogical purposes?
Q.3.4.2 Can I get employment information from the Social
Security?
A: Contact your local Social Security office and request form
SSA-7050. Yearly totals of
earnings will be provided free of charge. However, for genealogical
purposes, you will want
detailed earnings information. Detailed earnings information
includes periods of employment or
self-employment and the names and addresses of employers. A fee is
charged for the detailed
earnings information because you want it for purposes NOT directly
related to Social Security. The
fee chart is included on the form and varies, depending on the
number of years for which you
request information. The minimum fee is $15 for 1 year, and the
maximum fee is $92 for 52 years.
The fee can be waived if you show that giving the information to
you will benefit the general
public. You must attach an explanation of why the fee should be
waived to the form. (If you are
requesting your own earnings information, there is no fee if you
have reason to believe that your
record contains incorrect information. If this is the case, please
contact your local office and
discuss your problem with them. They will help you resolve any
discrepancies in your earnings
record.)
You can request earnings information from the record of
a deceased person if you are
the legal representative of the estate, a survivor (spouse, parent,
child), or an individual with
a material interest who is an heir at law, next of kin, beneficiary
under the will or donee of
property of the decedent.Proof of death must be included with your
request. Proof of appointment
as representative or proof of your relationship to the deceased
must also be included.
You may have to wait a while for the information. Once
the employer identification
numbers and years worked have been obtained from the master
earnings file, someone will have to
sit at a microfilm reader looking at employers' quarterly and
annual wage reports to find the
individual.
[Forwarded by: Linda.Edwards@genesplicer.org, written by:
Barbara Bennett]
Return to table of contents
Q.3.5. I called the Social Security Office and they didn't
know what I am talking about, what
should I do?
A: Please be aware that the situations described in these
messages are not run of the mill
requests that offices deal with all the time. The person you talk
to may not be aware that
disclosure of the information is allowed or may not be familiar
with the procedures involved. If
the employees at the SSA office refuse to give you the information,
saying it isn't allowed, ask
them to look it up in the manual. If all else fails, as a last
resort, you can write to your
congressman, describing your contacts with the local SSA office,
andinclude a copy of your request.
Congressional inquiries get special treatment, but the local
offices don't like them.
Anytime you have questions about Social Security issues,
or need help with a Social
Security matter, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE call your local office. You
will get the best information
from them. Please don't waste time speculating or asking neighbors
or friends (unless they work
for SSA). I can still remember being on the receiving end of "but
my Uncle Joe says" or "so-and-so
told me thus-and-so and he ought to know because" and not being
able to convince them that Uncle
Joe and so-and-so didn't know what they were talking about. The
Social Security Law is quite
complicated andencompasses much more than just retirement benefits.
No one can know it all, but
your local office is the place to get official information. That's
what they are there for. End
of sermon.
Each office should have a copy of the Social Security
Laws and Regulations and the POMS
manual (operational instructions to implement the laws & regs).
These manuals, except for portions
related to security procedures, should be available for you to use
at the local office. I would
think that all law libraries would also have copies of the law and
regs and possibly the operations
manuals.
[Forwarded by: Linda.Edwards@genesplicer.org, written by:
Barbara Bennett]
Return to table of contents
Q4.1: Not directly related to SSA, can the Census Bureau be of any help other than 1800s through 1920?
A:
A branch of the Census Bureau will assist researchers in obtaining census
records from the 1930-1990 Federal returns for any person from whom you can
supply proff of death. "Age Search will, for $25, search any two (2) census
records. The search is limited to the person for whom you are requesting
information, but you may ask for other family members to be included for a $2
per person fee. The full line of information from the census return will be
provided with payment of a $6 fee. The basic fee includes ans official
document stating the person's name, age, place of birth, citizenship and
relationship to the head of the household.
Form BC-600which is required may be obtained fromany local Social Security
Office or by writing :
Bureau of The Census
"Age Search"
PO Box 1545
Jeffersonville, IN 47131
[The section above was made availble by Roots-L@rootsweb.com on 97-06-12 03:44:19 EDT]
For more information regarding the census, see question 1.5, towards the end.
Return to table of contents
Links to related sites
Freedom of Information Act (SSA) Guide
Social Security Death Index On Line Search
A Very Helpful (and Official) Security Web Site
A useful Ancestry Article
SSA History Page
National Archives
Everton Publishers
Return to table of contents
Copyrights Notice and Disclaimer
All quoted messages are provided with permission. This information message is not guarnteed to be accurate. Compilation author is not affiliated with SSA. No Liability implicit, explicit, special or otherwise is rendered. Loading this document from a web site is a consent to the Copyrights notice and Disclaimer. 1996-1999 © Yigal Rechtman Rechtman@aol.com. Permission to duplicate this file from above email only.
Copyrights 1996-2000 © Yigal Rechtman (New York)rechtman@aol.com
This page may be copied only by not-for-profit organization after receiving a written permission from the author. Only private use is permitted. Republication without written permission is prohibited.
Version 7/2001
Question 2.3.1 was updated with additional codes of beneficiaries from Microfilm
Question 3.2.5 was updated (letter forwarding)
Question 1.8 was added
Question 2.0.3 was added
Version 2/2000
Question 2.5.2 was added
Version 2/99
Question 1.6.5 was added
Question 2.7 was added
Question 2.3.1 was updated
Version 4/98
Question Q.2.0.2 was updated
Question 2.1 was updated
Question 2.2 was updated
Question 4.1 was added
Version 2/97
Question Q.1.4 had changed to table format (HTML 3.x)
Question Q.2.1.5 was added
Question Q.2.3.1 was added
Version 11/96
Link to: A Very Helpful (and Official) Security Web Site was added.
Question Q.1.5 Was modified.
Question Q.1.1.1 Was added.
Question Q.2.5 Was modified.
Question Q.3.3.3 Was modified.
Links to SSA related sites were added.
Version 9/96
Questions 2.2.0.2 and 2.5.1 were added.
Version 7/96
Question 2.6 was added.
Changes in Version 3/96
Questions 2.0.1,2.4,2,5,3.0,3.2,3.2.4,3.4,3.4.2,3.5
Were either added or revised according to input. Most of these
came from Barbara Bennet,
forwarded by Linda.Edwards@genesplicer.org].
Page visited Since March 26, 2002
(48161 from Feb 2000-March 2002)
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