As identity thieves and frauds have been using the Social Security Death Indexes for criminal activity, over the last few years there have been some removals (Rootsweb's Free Indexes, now owned by Ancestry.com) and restrictions.
To sincere and honest persons intent on genealogy research this has been upsetting. However, as someone who has been subject to the use of such information for criminal activity, I myself have been wondering when our United States government will begin to restrict the use of all the free or low cost information available on the Internet and on specialty databases that have citizens so easily spying on each other; the exact behavior we loathed back in the day when we heard citizens of the Soviet Union were encouraged to do so.
Socially, it's a real turn off to meet someone for coffee for the first time and have them tell you all the things they found out about you on the net.
I went to a historical site one time where the docent, who apparently took pride in her family's involvement in the region, looked at my signature in the sign in book and then asked, "And what is your maiden name?" (I told her "that IS my maiden name!) She was a bit much. Now, I hold my own family cards closer to my chest.
I've also had the experience of people calling relatives, lying that they are my friend, and then saying that they need my current address and phone number. And these dummy relatives gave that information out!
But since ANCESTRY WORSHIP - GENEALOGY BLOGSPOT is for the sincere and honest researchers, let's talk about the UNITED STATES SOCIAL SECURITY APPLICATIONS and CLAIMS INDEX, which, as provided by Ancestry.com databases, covers the years 1936-2007.
First, you can still send away for the ORIGINAL APPLICATION. Those of us who used to send away to the Social Security Administration for ORIGINAL APPLICATION copies when the cost per each one was relatively inexpensive and reasonable were also upset when the fees went up to about $36 - $38 each. The lesser fee was for those applications in which the SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER of the applicant was known. Using a database you might be able to find that number even if you were not a close family member. (If the information is over 75 years old, it will generally still be available to anyone for the asking.) Of course, in filling out the application the government knows who is asking for it, so if there is criminal behavior involved that is documented. That's good since the sincere and honest researcher is an ethical person who is not using the information for criminal activity or spying. (Anyone involved in PROFESSIONAL GENEALOGY RESEARCH SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE FAMILY THAT IS PAYING FOR THEIR SERVICES EXPECTS THEM TO RESPECT THEIR PRIVACY AS WELL!)
So -
THE APPLICATIONS and CLAIMS INDEX is a VERY VALUABLE database.
It is useful beyond the obvious.
Let's say that you use it by NAME of the deceased and it has this information (a fictional example).
MARIANNA ROSE SCMIDT
born November 15 1925
Germany
Father Greyson Andrew SCMIDT
Mother Rose Ann CRABBE
Death November 15 1999
Original
June 1941
May 1943 Marianna C. SMITH
May 1945 Marianna Rose WEAVER
August 1950 Marianna R. ROSCETTI
Nov 23 1999 Marianna R. ROSCETTI
Here is the information you might be able to deduce from what appears to be "just the facts, mam, just the facts."
Marianna was born on November 15, 1925 in Germany. However, her parents may or may not have been citizens of Germany. They might have just been on a vacation or visiting relatives when she was born. It might be interesting to check the ship records, incoming and outgoing - Germany and the United States where we might find the family.
It follows that she was living in the United States and likely an American Citizen when she went to work in about June of 1941 and made her first application for Social Security as at this point payments to Social Security would have been made from her employer to the government in her name.
A couple years later, it's possible Marianna decided it would do her some good to CHANGE HER NAME from the clumsy Scmidt to the name Smith and that she is using her mother's illustrious Crabbe surname as her legal middle name. Of course we will want to prove that before accepting it.
There may or may not have been a legal name change and if so, it may be on file. Checking around the 1940 census, we can possibly learn if her parents were living, if she was living with them or elsewhere, and where she might have processed a legal name change. We also know that we have to check for Marianna under the name Smith from now on.
It's also possible that the change in name to Smith was because she married. We would want to check the marriage indexes.
In May of 1945 it is very possible that Marianna did marry someone with the surname Weaver.
And it's possible that she married for the 2nd or 3rd time in August of 1950, a Mr. Roscetti. Now we are looking for marriages, deaths, and divorces in each case. In November of 1999, still going by the name Marianna Rose Roscetti, the lady died and at that time she was collecting Social Security.
We would want to follow this up with a search for her death records, civil, cemetery, and/or church.
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