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Archiver > LEWIS > 1999-07 > 0933207100


From: "Jim Thomas" <>
Subject: [LEWIS-L] Social Security Death Indexes
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 20:11:40 -0400


Let me add a litle bit more information about the Social Security'
numident listing. This is the database that has social security numbers,
name, parents' name, date of birth, place of birth, date of issue, date of
death (if dead) and currently if someone is a citizen.
All applications were orginally completed on paper and are signed by the
individual, parent or guardian. Even those currently completed on computer
are printed and signed. The real early ones, 1937 to mid 40's and sometimes
later were somtimes completed at the employer's business, signed by the
individual and turned in. The date of birth may be wrong as no proof of age
was required until the mid 80's, and many either changed their age to be old
enough to work (16 seemed to be the magic number) or plain didn't know when
they were born. Remember the southern states didn't have birth certificates
statewide until the early 1900's. (NC 1914, SC 1915, GA 1919 are the three
that I recall) Until Social Security came around there was no national
program requiring attainment of specific ages to be eligible for benefits.
There were many cases where individuals receiving benefits, didn't have a
social security number. These disappared in the early 1980's when benefits
became taxable after a certain income theshold was obtained and 1099's were
issued and reported to IRS.
In the mid 1970's when an individual filed for benefits and the earnings
record was requested from Baltimore, MD, the orginial social security card
applications were stapled to the earnings record when received in the local
security office. This record was included in the claims file. After there
was no activity (payment) or potential claim for approx 10 years, the file
was destroyed. In the early 1980's when the social security card file was
entered on the computer system, the applications for numbers belonging to
individuals who filed claims in the period mid 70's - early 80's were not
available. The only available data entered was social security number, date
of birth, name and maybe date of death. Parents and place of birth are not
available. You may have ran or will run into this if you request a copy of
the numident for someone who filed a claim in that period.
Also the law for filing for the lump sum death benefit was changed about
1982. Prior to 1982, social security paid a lump sum death benefit on
anyone who met the quarters of coverage requirements. One quarter of work
for each year since 1952, or the year the individual turned age 22 whichever
was later, to the year prior to death, not to exced 40 quarters. This was
paid to anyone who paid the funeral expences, including funeral homes.
After 1982 and currently, the death benefit is paid to 1) living with
spouse, 2) entitled spouse ie. one who is eligible for benefits on the
deceased in the month of death even if not living with and 3) entitled
children ie. under 18, 18-19 full time student in high school and disabled
adult children (disabled prior to age 22 and receiving on the deceased
parents record. (the deceased must have met the work requirement mentioned
previously). The funeral home can not claim the benefit on behalf of
anyone. All they do is notify Social Security of the date of death and name
and address of the Widow(er).
Therefore no record will exist in the social security death index
available to the public unless a lump sum was paid to someone. If fact,
earlier payments of the Lump Sum Death Benefit only may not even show on
Social Security's internal online systems. I forget when these started
showing online, (mid 80's) as it was never a major concern as a claim had to
be filed within two years of the date of death and the local office usually
kept paper indexes of claims filing that long. It is all on computer now.
I hope this helps you to understand some of the limitations of the
publically available social security death indexes.
Jim Thomas

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