I remember when I got my first job. I was 16 years old, and it was at my local public library. If I recall correctly, the wage was 75 cents per hour—a magnificent sum when a movie cost around a quarter and bus fare was seven cents.

I filled out my Social Security application form, sent it in, and received my Social Security card. I never gave any thought as to why and how the Social Security program came about. As a genealogist, I often use the Social Security Death Benefit Index and give little thought as to how the index came about.

In 1935, in the aftermath of the Great Depression, Congress passed the Social Security Act. It was intended to provide limited assistance to the elderly. In 1936, the first Social Security numbers were issued to covered workers. These were people working in commerce and industry. The initial payroll withholding was 1% on the first $3,000 in wages. I went to the inflation calculator on the Columbia Journalism Review website [http://www.cjr.org/resources/inflater.asp] and found out that $3,000 is worth $36,765 in 2001 dollars.

The first payment of benefits occurred in 1940.Over the next decades, changes were made in the Act. In 1950, regularly employed farm and domestic workers were eligible for coverage. This was followed in 1954 with coverage to self-employed farmers and professionals - except for most medical and legal persons. In 1956, the military and the remainder of professionals, except physicians, were included in the program. In 1965, physicians joined the program, and other groups came in at various times.

In 1965, people over age 65, without Social Security numbers, were given Social Security numbers for Medicare entitlement purposes. Now-a-days, infants are given a Social Security card.

The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a file of individuals that the U.S. Social Security Administration reports as deceased. [First requirement.] Most of the death dates are for people who died after 1962. [Very important to remember.]

The SSDI is an excellent resource for finding information on individuals who died after the 1960s. The index includes the individual's Social Security number, the state of residence when the number was issued, last name, first name, date of birth, and date of death.

You can find the Index on CD at Family History Centers and on the Internet at RootsWeb. [http://www.rootsweb.com]

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.