My fellow genealogical researchers are telling me that it is no longer worth the $27 per, to send for the Social Security Original Application, in order to bust through blocks in research.
One of these people got a letter back. SS Administration had obliterated the names of the parents on the certificate. They were all blocked out.
It's all about the privacy of the living...
Let me explain. The original application gives the address of the person who applied, their birth date, their mother's maiden name (often providing a link to the next generation), as well as the place they went to work. That is,when the application was prior to the United States' requirement that children be given social security numbers which are now our national ID numbers, like it or not, rather than about working and paying into the system.
To reiterate, it used to be that you applied when you got your first job working for someone, usually in your teens. And for many years not all professions were required to pay into the system. If you worked for the rail road or owned a farm, for instance, it was assumed you would have a pension or be able to take care of yourself in your old age.
When I first started genealogical research I sent for a few of these at about $6. each. Then, perhaps because the system recognized the money they would make off of genealogy buffs, the fees were raised to $27. To order you had to supply some of the information you needed which could often be found on the Social Security Death Index.
Recently another genealogist friend of mine sent her $27 in and got a letter back stating if she did not know when the person was born and died, they would not send the copy.
Anyone who has dealt with identity theft knows what a nightmare that can be, so we must be understanding about this. However, I do believe the Social Security Administration should no longer accept the fee or return it when it is clear that the purpose for request is genealogy.
Linking to the Social Security PDF file on this subject.
