The Genealogy Forum: Beginners' Center: Using Social Security for Genealogy

Using Social Security for Genealogy

A very helpful tool for genealogists is using social security records. If you have a relative who was working any time after 1935 they probably had social security. When they applied for their account they had to fill out an application form called an SS-5. The form consisted of:

The applicants full name
The applicants address
The applicants age and birthday
Their place of employment
Their place of birth
The names of his/her parents including his mothers maiden name
Their sex
Their race
The date of application
Their signature

To obtain SS-5's for deceased people send a note with:

Your full name and address (Self addressed stamped envelope)

The applicants name, place of application for social security, SS# if known, birthdate (if known) and maiden name if a woman.

To find out a deceased persons social security number take a trip to your local FHC, On the Family search computer go to the social security database follow the instructions and you should be able to find your person. (It may be a good idea to call ahead to make sure they have Family search).

You will need to include a check or money order for these records — currently $27 if you have the Social Security number or $29 without the number. To verify current rates, please visit http://www.ssa.gov/foia/foia_guide.htm#_Toc517745431

Send all the information along with your payment to:

Department of Health and Human Services
Social Security Administration
Baltimore, MD 21235

It usually takes 4-8 weeks, but they are very busy and it may take longer. Please be patient! You will be happy with what you recieve.

If you need to get the application of a living person send a note to the address above asking for *SSA-L997. You may also be able to get these at your local Social Security office or an FHC.

*Note: This form requires the signature of the person for whom records are being requested.

As you probably know a social security number is made up of 3 parts:
(XXX-XX-XXXX)
the area, group, and serial number.

The area is determined by where the person applied for a SS#. The numbers below represent the area the applicant applied for a SS#:

000 unused 387-399 WI 528-529 UT

001-003 NH 400-407 KY 530 NV

004-007 ME 408-415 TN 531-539 WA

008-009 VT 416-424 AL 540-544 OR

010-034 MA 425-428 MS 545-573 CA

035-039 RI 429-432 AR 574 AK

040-049 CT 433-439 LA 575-576 HI

050-134 NY 440-448 OK 577-579 DC

135-158 NJ 449-467 TX 580 VI Virgin Islands

159-211 PA 468-477 MN 581-584 PR Puerto Rico

212-220 MD 478-485 IA 585 NM

221-222 DE 486-500 MO 586 PI Pacific Islands *

223-231 VA 501-502 ND 587-588 MS

232-236 WV 503-504 SD 589-595 FL

237-246 NC 505-508 NE 596-599 PR Puerto Rico

247-251 SC 509-515 KS 600-601 AZ

252-260 GA 516-517 MT 602-626 CA

261-267 FL 518-519 ID * includes Guam, American Samoa,

268-302 OH 520 WY * Northern Mariana Islands,

303-317 IN 521-524 CO * and Philippine Islands

318-361 IL 525 NM

362-386 MI 526-527 AZ

627-699 unassigned, for future use

700-728 Railroad workers through 1963, then discontinued

729-899 unassigned, for future use

900-999 not valid SSNs, but were used for program purposes when state aid to the aged, blind and disabled was converted to a federal program administered by SSA.

This may help determine where a person was living at the time of application for social security. There is a computer program in the America On-Line library which I truly recommend. It is called Social Security Number and may be found under keyword "filesearch" then "Social Security".

There are many other uses helpful to genealogists that are worth enquiring about.

Best of Luck in all of your searching,
Michael A. Cassara
AOL (MCASSARA)

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000 unused	387-399 WI	528-529 UT
001-003 NH	400-407 KY	530 NV
004-007 ME	408-415 TN	531-539 WA
008-009 VT	416-424 AL	540-544 OR
010-034 MA	425-428 MS	545-573 CA
035-039 RI	429-432 AR	574 AK
040-049 CT	433-439 LA	575-576 HI
050-134 NY	440-448 OK	577-579 DC
135-158 NJ	449-467 TX	580 VI Virgin Islands
159-211 PA	468-477 MN	581-584 PR Puerto Rico
212-220 MD	478-485 IA	585 NM
221-222 DE	486-500 MO	586 PI Pacific Islands *
223-231 VA	501-502 ND	587-588 MS
232-236 WV	503-504 SD	589-595 FL
237-246 NC	505-508 NE	596-599 PR Puerto Rico
247-251 SC	509-515 KS	600-601 AZ
252-260 GA	516-517 MT	602-626 CA
261-267 FL	518-519 ID	* includes Guam, American Samoa,
268-302 OH	520 WY	* Northern Mariana Islands,
303-317 IN	521-524 CO	* and Philippine Islands
318-361 IL	525 NM
362-386 MI	526-527 AZ
627-699 unassigned, for future use
700-728 Railroad workers through 1963, then discontinued
729-899 unassigned, for future use
900-999 not valid SSNs, but were used for program purposes when state aid to the aged, blind and disabled was converted to a federal program administered by SSA.