United States » U.S. Social Security » How To & FAQs

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• About the Social Security Number

  Describes how Social Security numbers are formatted.

• Ancestry.com - Learning Center - Learn More

  Thousands of FREE, searchable how-to articles from Ancestry.com publications such as Ancestry Magazine, the Ancestry Weekly Discovery and the Ancestry Monthly Update.

  • Double-Checking with the SSDI

    A Quick Tip article.

  • Even More About Social Security Records

    Article by George G. Morgan.

  • Social Security Death Index - Tip

    A helpful page with searching tips.

  • Social Security Index A Useful Search Tool

    A Quick Tip article.

  • U.S. Social Security Death Index

    Article by Kathi Sittner.

  • Using Social Security Number Application Forms for Genealogy

    Article by George G. Morgan.

  • Using the Social Security Death Index

    Article by George G. Morgan.

  • Using The Social Security Death Index

    Article by Dick Eastman.

• Ancestry.com - Social Security Death Index - FAQ

• DEATH MASTER FILE EXTRACT OUTPUT RECORD SPECIFICATIONS 11/2011**

  For those that download the free Death Master File from http://ssdmf.info/download.html this link provides the record layout for the data.

• FamilySearch Research Guidance - United States Social Security Death Index and Application Files

• How to Find a Missing Person Through Social Security | eHow.com

  The Social Security Administration knows the address for just about everyone in the US. If you need to contact a missing family member, but don't know where they are, SSA can help, by forwarding a letter to them. Here's how it works.

• How to Find Someone's Social Security Number | eHow.com

  Finding the SSN of a relative can be useful for searching their family history, and sometimes essential for obtaining certain records. This article covers sources of information for finding a Social Security Number.

• How to Get a Copy of Your Parents Social Security Application Forms for Family History Research | eHow.com

  Applications are filed by almost every American to receive a Social Security number. These applications are a rich source of genealogical information, and include full names, maiden names, parents names, place of work, and so much more. A great resource to know about.

• I Dream of Genealogy Research - Social Security SS-5 Applications

  Scanned images of some Social Security (SS-5) Applications. Most applications contain parents' names, including mother's maiden name, employment information, birthdate, and residency.

• Lost Persons Letter Forwarding by the SSA

• Major Rate Increase for U.S. Social Security Application Requests

  Genealogy Tip of the Day, from About.com.

• National Genealogical Society | Online Courses

  The courses are open to anyone who wishes to enroll. Members of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) receive a tuition discount.

  • Social Security Sleuthing

    A five-lesson course on CD. This course familiarizes you with the history of the Social Security Act in the United States and how this determines when and where someone may have obtained a Social Security number.

• RootsWeb Guide Lesson Number 10 - Social Security Death Index

• Shirley Hornbeck's This and That Genealogy Tips on Social Security

• Social Security Administration & Genealogy FAQ

  [The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
  

• Social Security Applications: A Source for Finding the Names of Immigrants' Parents

  By Megan A. Smolenyak.

• Social Security Number FAQ

• Structure of Social Security Numbers

• The Social Security Death Index

  Article by Roseann Reinemuth Hogan.

• The SSN Numbering Scheme