Some genealogical researchers are worried about the destruction of the original government forms that people completed to request Social Security numbers.

We can understand the concern about the loss of information of possible historical value when the 'Application for a Social Security Number Card' is destroyed. However, we can assure everyone that precautions have been taken to make certain that no critical information is lost.

The Social Security Administration, which is requited by law to keep records confidential, can release copies of Social Security card applications for deceased individuals because the dead are deemed to not have any privacy rights, therefore, if a person has applied for a Social Security card, SSA can generally provide a copy of the application that shows the person's name, date and place of birth and parents' names that were given when he or she applied for the Social Security number.

Genealogists often find this a valuable starting point in their research.

While federal agencies such as SSA may select records for destruction, the records may not be destroyed unless the agencies have received written approval from the Archivist of the United States. This approval is granted only after the records have been appraised and it has been determined that their historical value does not warrant keeping them permanently.

Since the Social Security program began in 1935 more than 355 million Social Security numbers have been issued. This is a huge volume of paper, and we found it very difficult to maintain all of the original documents.

In 1977, SSA obtained approval from the U.S. Archivist to destroy original Social Security card application forms. But information from all of the original application forms was entered into a computer data base and the face of the form was filmed. The reverse side of the document was not filmed because it contains only the instructions for completing the form.

Anyone interested in conducting genealogical research through SSA records should write the Office of Public Inquiries, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Md. 21235. Fees are charged for researching agency records.

(THIS LETTER FROM SSA WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS)

Dear Mr. and Mrs.

This is in response to your request to obtain from our records information for genealogical research.

To receive the information you want, we need certain identifying information in order to search our records. Our records are filed by Social Security numbers rather than by names. If you can provide the person's Social Security number, we will search our records for any information we might have. Without a Social Security number, we will need the person's 'full name, date and place of birth, and parents' full names to locate the record. If you can provide the necessary identifying information, we will search for the number. You may send your request to the Office of Public Inquiries, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

You will be charged the cost of searching our records even if we are unable to locate any information on the person you are asking about. The fee for searching our records is $7 when the Social Security number is known and $16.50 when the number is unknown or is incorrect. The check should be made payable to the Social Security Administration.

A deceased person does not have any privacy rights. Therefore, if he or she applied for an Social Security number, we can generally provide a copy of the Application for a Social Security Card (form SS-5). This document contains the person's name, date and place of birth, and parents' names that were given when he or she applied for the number.

The Social Security Administration did not begin keeping records until 1936; therefore, we have no records about people who died before then.