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1990-05-26
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How to Get Data from Social Security Applications
by Clifford Sayre
18 Feb 1990
------------------------------------------------
The application for a Social Security Number has a great
deal of family data on it (see below). The disadvantage of the
information is that it is self-reported and can thus contain
errors because of a lack of knowledge on the part of the
applicant or fabrications (such as an incorrect birthdate) that
may be used to coverup adverse information. The present process
does require some documentation, but it is obvious from newspaper
accounts of undocumented aliens that the verification process can
be circumvented. Nevertheless, the application may provide some
information in the absence of any, or provide corroboration of
other data. In addition, some of the earlier forms of the
application had information about current or previous employers
that may not be easily obtained.
The Application for a Social Security Account Number has the
following information (from a 1941 version):
1. Applicant's full name
2. Name used at work if different
3. Worker's address
4. Have you ever had a Social Security card before ?
5. Age 6. Birthdate 7. Place of birth 8. Sex 9. Race
10. Marital status
11./12. Name and address of present employer
13. Father's full name 14. Mother's full name before marriage
15. Name and date last previous full time employment
16. How were you paid ? (daily, salary, commission)
17. Date 18. Signature of applicant
I also have two 1936-vintage applications which do not include
items 15 and 16 about previous employment.
The assigned SS Number is in the upper right.
There are apparently two routes to follow in trying to
obtain a copy of the SSN application: a regular inquiry or a
freedom of information request. I was successful in obtaining
two SSN applications by the "regular" inquiry route when I knew
the person's SSN (see sample page 3). It took from four to eight
weeks for a response. An attempt to get an application for my
grandfather, without knowing his SSN, was unsuccessful. In fact,
no response was received. I then submitted a "freedom of
information" request (page 4) with a fee of $ 16.50 (and death
certificate) and obtained the application in about four weeks.
One way to obtain the number may be from the death
certificate. The number is generally about half-way down the
certificate, at or near the left side. See item 7 or 16 in the
samples of death certificates below.
Below is shown a sample letter following the "regular"
route. A death certificate was enclosed in proof of death of the
individual and was returned. Obviously all of the information
may not be known to the requester. The more that is known, the
less likely that an error will be made.
After that is a sample letter requesting the information
using the "freedom of information" format. Note the different
address. The FOI request is supposed to be accompanied by a fee
of $16.50 if the SSN is not known or $8.50, if the SSN
is known. In view of my success, I would certainly try the free
"regular" method first, if the number is know.
Sample Letter for "No Cost" Request. Likely to work only if SSN
is known:
Social Security Administration
Metro West
7E6 Tower
Baltimore, MD 21201
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am requesting a copy of the Social Security application
of my father, ________________ . I am enclosing a death
certificate for my father to indicate that he is deceased.
I wish to have a complete copy of the application that
shows the statement of the parents of the applicant. I am doing
family research and need some documentation as he does not have
a birth certificate.
Information for my person:
1) SSN: if known
2) Name:
3) Name on Soc Sec card:
4) Name at birth:
5) Date of birth:
6) Place of birth:
7) Sex:
8) Name of mother:
9) Name of father:
10) Date and place of death:
I will appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
I read someplace the fee was $16.50, if SSN unknown, $8.25
if known. The following example is for unknown SSN.
Social Security Administration
Attn: Freedom of Information Officer
Mr. Timothy D. Robertson
4-H-8 Annex Bldg
6401 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21325
Dear Sir:
I am requesting a microprint copy of the Social Security
application, of my grandfather __________________ . My
grandfather's birthdate is __________ and he died _________ .
I wish to have a complete copy of the application that
shows the statement of the parents of the applicant. I am doing
family research and need some documentation as he does not have
a birth certificate.
Information for my person:
1) SSN: number not known, not certain whether he had a SSN
2) Name:
3) Name on Soc Sec card: not known
4) Name at birth:
5) Date of birth:
6) Place of birth:
7) Sex:
8) Name of mother: not known, believed to be
9) Name of father: not known, believed to be
10) Address at time of filing, if he filed:
probably
11) Date and place of death:
Copy of his death certificate is enclosed.
I am enclosing a check for $ 16.50 which I understand is the
fee for this search. I will appreciate your assistance in this
matter.
Sincerely,
* Origin: NGS/CIG BBS - Arlington, VA (703) 528-2612 *DHST/V.32*
---------------------------------------------------------------
Social Security Information
by Barbara Bennett
25 Nov 1987
I have worked for the Social Security Administration for the last 15
years. I worked in various local offices as a claims representative
for 9 years, and have spent the last 6 years as a computer systems
analyst at headquarters, 4 1/2 years of that in the Enumeration
Systems Branch. I have put together several messages which will
address the questions you have about getting information from the
Social Security Administration for genealogical purposes. Sysops may
wish to combine the messages into a file for people to download.
Although I am employed by SSA, I am sending these messages as a
private individual, not as a representative of the Social Security
Administration. I hope they clear up a lot of the confusion about
what is and isn't available and how to go about getting what is
available.
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
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.
REQUEST FOR EXTRACTS OF PRIOR SSN APPLICATIONS
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.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ This file appears on The Source of Magic BBS, Ridgefield CT │
│ 203-431-4687, specializing in genealogy, radio, and writing. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘