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Shaking Your Family Tree

June 25, 1998
	UTILIZING SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, C.G.
One of the largest and easiest to access databases used for genealogical research is the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Its information can be utilized to help you learn more about your ancestors. Clues and facts from the SSDI often can further genealogical research by enabling you to locate a death certificate, find an obituary, discover cemetery records and track down probate records. However, do not assume that the state in which the number was issued is the state of birth. The place of death is not shown in the SSDI, although some show place of residence at the time of death or the place where last benefits were paid, but that does not necessarily mean that is where the person died. The SSDI does not include the names of everyone, even if they had a Social Security number. If relatives or the funeral home did not report the death to the Social Security Administration, or if the individual died before 1962 (when the records were computerized), then they will not appear in this database. Social Security was instituted in 1937 when the payroll tax (FICA) withholding began. Enrollment actually began in 1936 when the first numbers were assigned to cover workers, but payment of benefits did not commence until 1940. People relied heavily upon the 1880 and 1900 federal census to obtain proof of their births (that's why these enumerations were Soundexed -- special index based on sound rather than spelling of a surname). Many delayed birth certificates were filed in order to prove age for Social Security purposes. The SSDI is available on CD-ROM at LDS (Mormon) Family History Centers throughout the country, and some genealogy software programs include it on CDs. You also can search the SSDI (free) online at: http://www.familytreemaker.com/ftossdisearch.html http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search.asp http://rro.everton.com/ssmdi.html To obtain a copy of the original form that your ancestor filled out for a Social Security number, send $7 ($16.50 if you do not know the number) along with the identifying information to: Freedom of Information Office, F-H-8 Annex Building, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 231235. If an individual died in the past five years, it costs $14. It usually takes several months to obtain these records. Railroad workers were enrolled in the same Social Security program, but from 1937 to 1963 they had numbers ranging between 700 and 728 as the first three digits. In 1964 their numbers began to reflect the same geographic location as other workers. Some railroad workers received Social Security benefits, but some did not. However, it is wise to check the SSDI in any case. The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board was created in the 1930s, and has records dating back to 1937, but they exist only for those whose employers were covered under the Railroad Retirement Act. You can obtain information about deceased individuals for genealogical purposes. The records are arranged by Social Security number. If you do not know the number, provide as much identifying information as you have. There is a $16 nonrefundable fee for a search in these records. Send request, along with check or money order, to: Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611-2092. URL: http://www.rrb.gov/ Visit the Social Security Administration website at: http://www.ssa.gov/ (c) 1998, Los Angeles Times Syndicate   Myra Vanderpool Gormley and Julie Case are co-editors of Missing Links, a free weekly genealogy e-zine. To subscribe, send your request to: Missing Links Newsletter   Return to Myra Vanderpool Gormley Main Page Return to Columns Main Page
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