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Social Security Sleuthing
Pamela Boyer Sayre, CG, CGL
This lecture describes the history of Social Security from 1935 to the present, and what a Social Security
number can reveal about a possible residence or birthplace. The SS-5, Application for Social Security Number,
provides important details like mother's and father's names, applicant's date and place of birth, and an
original signature. Instructions are provided for successfully ordering a copy of the SS-5.The Social Security
Death Master File is described in detail—who should be listed and who should not, dates covered, and the
kinds of information available from the file. A comparison is made among several versions of the Social Security
Death Index widely available on the Internet or at Family History Centers. Social Security claims files may contain
verifying information to establish birth date and place. The lecture includes instructions and addresses for
obtaining more information from the Social Security Administration.
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