Social Security records can often provide a lot of genealogy information. Applications for a Social Security card typically provide name, date, and place of birth and (usually) the names of the parents of the applicant. The Social Security Administration was formed during the depression of the 1930s, and many of the early applicants were born in the mid to late 1800s. You may find information on Social Security applications that is difficult to find elsewhere. Unfortunately, the agency has announced a significant increase in the fees they charge to search records.

Quoting from the agency’s Web site:

FOIA Fees

The FOIA fee schedule has different provisions for different types of requesters. We will tell you what we will charge after looking at your request. Also, we will let you know if your request will cost more than $250 before starting a search. The FOIA fees are based on the grade of the employee doing the work and the amount of time spent on the request, plus 10 cents per page for photocopying.

We are increasing these fees effective 1 July 2001. The new hourly fees are:

Search by Grade:

GS-1 through GS-8: $16
GS-9 through GS-14: $33
GS-15 or above: $59.00

Requests for records of Social Security number (SSN) holders, claimants, and wage earners, are covered by a separate fee schedule. This fee schedule is based on the full cost of processing the request. We use an average fee for some frequently requested records. We are increasing some of these fees beginning 1 July 2001. We analyzed the costs for providing these records and services; and we computed the new fees on that basis. These fees were last increased in 1988, so some of the increases are substantial.

Fees For Processing Requests For Individual’s Social Security Record Effective 1 July 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

We have not increased the following rates:

• Search for a claim file—$14 (Please note that claim files usually are destroyed soon after the death of the last person receiving benefits on a record, and sometimes sooner, in accordance with the applicable records retention schedule.)
• Photocopying material(s)—10 cents per page plus postage

Full information can be found at: www.ssa.gov/foia/foia_guide.htm

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