The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a great database for finding 20th, and now 21st century, death information. It contains names of over 70 million deceased people who had a Social Security account and for whom the death benefit was claimed. Social Security came into effect in the 1930s, but very few deaths before the 1960s are found in the Index.

You can also find the index on the Internet. My favorite site is at RootsWeb.

On RootsWeb, you have the option of a simple search or an advanced search. With the simple search, you enter the surname and given name. That gives you a list of people with that name, their birth date and death date, their Social Security number, and the zip code and city where benefits were sent.

If you are searching a common name, it is better to click on the "Advanced Searches" option to narrow the search. You enter some or all of the following: last residence zip; location of last benefit ; zip, state, county, or city; birth information; year, month, or day; death information; year or month; and state where the Social Security account was obtained.

A Columbian reader recently wrote to this column, telling about her search for her deceased father's Korean War military records. To complete her requests for information, she has to have his Social Security number. She is unable to find it.

Her father is listed on the SSDI, along with his Social Security number. Fortunately, our correspondent gave me enough information (name, approximate birth year, and year of death), to assure me the correct man was found.

There are two nice features to the RootsWeb version. One is "Write a Letter." It prints out a letter addressed to the Social Security Administration. Send in the letter and a check for $27.00 to receive a copy of the deceased person's Social Security application ; the one that tells the birth date and place and parent's name ; filled out by the deceased person. The other option is to leave a "Post-em." You leave a note, including your name and e-mail. The next relative who comes across your note can then write to you.

If you are interested in other helpful articles, go to my Columns page.

© 2000–2009

Connie Lenzen, CG^SM

CG, Certified Genealogist, is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certified genealogists after periodic evaluation, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.