SOCIAL SECURITY RESEARCH
Class and Website

Los Angeles Regional Family History Center

Jon Schweitzer - Instructor
17 February 2007

This is a Website companion to the class.

Additional information and a copy of this class handout and all the transparencies used for this class may be found in my Red 3-Ring Self-Help Notebook, "Social Security Research". The Notebook is located next to the entrance to the Microfilm Room in this Center. Transparencies are numbered with T numbers. An example is T1.

Obtain a complete list of my 75 Red 3-Ring Self-Help Notebooks across from the elevator or at http://www.larfhc.org/notebooks.htm Most of the notebooks are located next to the entrance to the Microfilm Room in this Center and the titles are in alphabetical order.

Look for the person's Social Security Number (SSN) in military records, Veterans Administration records, Veterans Affairs records, morticians' records, employment records, hospital records and on the death certificate.

There are four areas for research with the Social Security Administration (SSA) Records. The SSA records started in 1936.

1. SSA LETTER FORWARDING SERVICE
If the SSA is to forward your letter, you must have a very compelling reason for contacting the missing living person. An inheritance or death in the family will qualify.

You must be very careful to follow the Social Security Administration (SSA) instructions. You must submit a very short letter stating your message and reason and as much information as you can. In your letter try to give the Social Security Number (SSN), full name, maiden name, date and place of birth, parents' names, and state of issuance of the SSA number.

The letter must be placed in a plain envelope that is unsealed, unstamped and unaddressed except for the missing person's name. That envelope and the completed "Letter To Social Security Requesting Letter Forwarding Service" and check must be placed inside the envelope sent to the SSA. The current cost is $25.00 to inform a person about entitlement to money. There is no charge for a humanitarian purpose.

Makes a copy of both sides of the "Letter To Social Security Requesting Letter Forwarding Service" form in the Social Security Research Notebook or look in the Sales Area for a free copy. T1-T2

2. SSA CLAIM FILE RECORDS
If the person has died within the last five years, you may request copies of the Claim File Records. You must provide the SSN or the person's full name, date and place of birth, parents' names mother's maiden name and a copy of the death certificate.

There is no form to use. Send your request letter with information and your check for $14.00 made out to the SSA. See the fee schedule and sample request letter in the Social Security Research Notebook. The present cost is $14.00 plus $.10 per page plus postage. The SSA will inform you of the costs for copies.

The records may include proof of age, birth records, death records, military records, marriage records, application for benefits, addresses of deceased, new addresses of spouses or claimants after the death of the deceased.

3. SSA DEATH INDEX (SSDI)
This Family History Library's FamilySearch database is on all of the 21 computers in the Computer Area. It has about 68 million persons from about 1962 to present.

The database was made by the SSA from payment records of persons receiving lump sum death benefits.

You may search this database to find the person's birth date, death date, possible death place (residence at death and address last benefits were sent) and Social Security Number (SSN).

Consult the FamilySearch Social Security Death Index 4 page short guide or 13 page "Getting Started" guide in the Social Security Research Notebook. The guides will give you all the methods to be used in searching for persons in this database. Methods include searching by state of SSN issuance and state of death or benefits received.

Using the possible death place (residence at death), it may be possible for you to obtain the death certificate. Attempt to locate and correspond with the person that is the informant on the death certificate.

The most powerful searching tool is the Advanced SSDI Search page on the Internet at http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htmT3-T5

Generate a letter to the SSA at this site. Don’t order a "Computer Extract".

All possible given name, surname, married names, and nickname variations are very important to consider when conducting your search.

There are errors in the index and the surname might have the middle initial as the first letter of the surname or the first letter of the surname is repeated.

4. SSA APPLICATION FOR A SSN
The SS-5 application for a SSN could have been completed any time after Dec 1, 1936.

The application has the applicant's SSN, full name, date and place of birth, parents' full names, employer, address, date signed, signature and more. Before 1947 there will be employment information.

Use the Advanced SSDI Search page at the Web site above in 3. to generate a letter to the SSA requesting a copy of the SSA SS-5 application. T6

If you have the SSN the cost is $27.00 for a copy.

If you don't have the SSN the cost is $29.00 for the search and maybe a copy.

Use the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Request Form in the Sales Area. T7

You may pay using the SSA Credit Card form. T8

5. FEE SCHEDULE
See the fee schedule in the Social Security Research Notebook and at http://www.ssa.gov/foia/html/foia_guide.htm T9

6. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Use the SSN to find the location. If you can find the SSN and you cannot find the person on the SSDI, you can determine where the person filled out the SS-5 by looking at the Area Numbers or the first 3 digits of the SSN. An example 545 is for California.