The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a database of death records created from the United States Social Security Administration's Death Master File Extract. Free reggaeton sound kits. Most persons who have died since 1936 who had a Social Security Number (SSN) and whose death has been reported to the Social Security Administration are listed in the SSDI.^[1][2] For most years since 1973, the SSDI includes 93 percent to 96 percent of deaths of individuals aged 65 or older.^[3] It is frequently updated; the version of June 22, 2011, contained 89,835,920 records.^[4]

1. Social Security Records Of Deceased
2. Ssdi Death Index
3. Public Social Security Death Records
4. Death Records Free Search

Unlike the Death Master File, the SSDI is available free from several genealogy websites. The SSDI is a popular tool for genealogists and biographers because it contains valuable genealogical data. It is also useful for medical research such as clinical trials and epidemiology, because where survival data is missing from medical records (for reasons such as loss to follow-up), the SSDI can be used to backfill it.

Social Security Death Index data[edit]

The Social Security Death Index - SSDI. To be listed in the Social Security Death Index, all that is needed is that the person must have had a social security number and his death must have been reported to the Social Security Administration. Social Security payments or a death benefit need not have been paid for a person to be listed in the index. A Social Security Death Record is created when the death of a person with a Social Security number is reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA) by loved ones, funeral homes, or other individuals. On death records, you find the name of the person, age, marital status, cause of death and the date and place of death and burial. The death certificate is the legal record of death, which includes the cause of death. Insurance companies and the social security office will want to have copes of the death certificate as proof of death. As with birth certificates and similar legal documents, a simple photocopy will not do. The Social Security Death Index is a list of deceased individuals whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration. It has been kept since 1962. The index includes a few deaths even before that, beginning in 1937. For more information on what these records contain and how to use them in research, see United States Social Security Death Index. SSDI Contents edit edit source. The Social Security Death Index, commonly referred to as the SSDI, is a database containing the names and dates of birth and death for over 77 million Americans. This massive database is a wonderful resource for genealogists, and is available in many online locations for free search. The file contains over 89 million records of deaths reported to SSA in connection with the filing for death benefits by a family member. Search results include Last name, First name, Social Security Number ( for deaths more than 10 years ago ), SSN State issued, Birth date, Death date, Last residence, and Lump sum payment.

The data include:

• Given name and surname; and since the 1990s, middle initial
• Month and year of death; or full date of death for accounts active in 2000 or later
• State or territory where the Social Security number was issued
• Last place of residence while the person was alive (ZIP code)

Once a deceased person is found in the database, the person's application for Social Security card (Form SS-5) can be ordered from the Social Security Administration. The SS-5 may contain additional genealogical data, such as birthplace, father's name, and mother's full maiden name or that information may be blacked out.

Criticisms[edit]

Given the growing problem of identity theft and the importance of the Social Security number as a personal identifier in the United States, it might seem unusual that these identifiers are released publicly. However, because the documents held by the Social Security Administration are government records, it is required to make the information public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).^{[citation needed]} In fact, the related Death Master File is used to prevent fraud so that no one can steal the identity of a dead person, and take out a credit card or a bank loan in a dead person's name.

A recent government audit revealed that the Social Security Administration had incorrectly listed 23,000 people as dead in a two-year period. These people have sometimes faced difficulties in convincing government agencies that they are actually alive; a 2008 story in the Nashville area focused on a woman who was incorrectly flagged as dead in the Social Security computers in 2000 and has had difficulties, such as having health insurance canceled and electronically filed tax returns rejected. This story also noted that people in this situation can be highly vulnerable to identity theft because of the release of their Social Security numbers.^[5]

In November 2011, due to privacy and identity theft concerns, the Social Security Administration redacted and no longer included death data derived from State sources. This resulted in an approximately 33% drop in reported deaths.^[6]

On December 18, 2011, Ancestry.com, changed access to the SSDI by moving the SSDI search behind a paywall, and stopped displaying the Social Security information of people who had died within the past 10 years. Some of their originally free information is now available via paid subscription only.^[7] However, other sites still provide free access.

In March 2012, the entire Death Master File, edition of November 30, 2011, was made available for download.^[8] A more recent version was made available May 31, 2013. Updates are also available by a subscription service. However, prices for both the full file and the updates are in the business-only range, not what most hobbyists (such as amateur genealogists) would be willing to pay.

A review by the Government Accountability Office in 2013 found that the Social Security Administration and other federal benefit-paying agencies that use data from the Death Master File are potentially vulnerable to making improper payments due to errors or processes that could lead to errors.^[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Death Master File'. National Technical Information Service (NTIS). Retrieved 2018-03-25.
2. ^'Social Security Administration's Death Master File'. National Technical Information Service. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
3. ^Mark E. Hill and Ira Rosenwaike, 'The Social Security Administration’s Death Master File: The Completeness of Death Reporting at Older Ages', Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 64, No. 1 (2001/2002), p. 45.
4. ^'Social Security Death Index Interactive Search'. RootsWeb.(subscription required)
5. ^Amons, Nancy (2008-02-20). 'Government Still Declares Living Woman Dead'. WSMV.com. Archived from the original on 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2008-02-22.Italic or bold markup not allowed in: publisher= (help)
6. ^Sack, Kevin (2012-10-08). 'Researchers Wring Hands as U.S. Clamps Down on Death Record Access'. NY Times. Retrieved 2014-05-08.
7. ^Sterman, Joce (2011-12-14). 'Website stops displaying Social Security numbers for recently dead'. Baltimore: ABC2. Archived from the original on 2012-01-10. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
8. ^'Social Security Death Master File free'. ssdmf.info.
9. ^'Social Security Death Data: Additional Action Needed to Address Data Errors and Federal Agency Access: Report to Congressional Requesters'. Government Accountability Office.

Social Security Records Of Deceased

External links[edit]

Ssdi Death Index

These websites may require subscription/registration to search or get results

Public Social Security Death Records

• United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch.org
• U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935–2014 at Ancestry.com
• Social Security Death Index Records at NewspaperArchive.com
• Social Security Death Index at GenealogyBank.com
• Social Security Death Index at FindMyPast.com
• Searching the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) in One Step at SteveMorse.org
• Social Security Death Index is 89,430,629 Death Records No Fee to Search at MyTrees.com

Death Records Free Search