Social Security Death Index
Search the SSDI

The Social Security Death Index - SSDI

SSDI--

1. Footnote SSDI   NEW!!
   
   
   • Free.
   • Gives person's birth and death date plus last date of residence
   • Can create a FREE bio page by adding facts, stories, and photo to SSDI page for person. Suggested facts include birthplace, mother's name, father's name and many more.
   • Provides interactive life timeline.
   • See Example
   
   
   
   

   First Name

   Middle

   Last Name

   
   
   
   
   
2. Genealogy Bank Social Security Death Index
   
   
   • Free
   • Updated weekly.
   • By searching in both GenealogyBank's SSDI and Obituaries, you receive the obituary or death notice along with the same name that is in the SSDI database..
   • Gives day of the week of the person's birth and death
   • Gives complete age in years, months and days
   • Provides latitude and longitude
   • Wildcard search (mulitple character) - enter at least the first three letters of the name, followed by an asterisk (*). For example, searching for "Peter*" (no quotation marks) will give you results that include Peter, Peters, Peterson, Peterman, etc.
   • Wildcard search (single character ?) - Hans?n matches Hansen and Hanson
   • Multiple search combinations allowed - No field is required. If you cannot find a person by name because the name is misspelled or abbreviated or if you are unsure of the name, you can use the Advanced Search which allows searching by the last know residence or birth and death dates without the name.
   
   
   
   
3. Ancestry SSDI
   
   
   • Updated monthly and available to Ancestry.com subscibers but it is also available in a FREE trial.
   • Ranked search. Soundex search.
   • Wildcard search (mulitple character *) - enter at least the first three letters of the name, followed by an asterisk (*). For example, searching for "Peter*" (no quotation marks) will give you results that include Peter, Peters, Peterson, Peterman, etc.
   • Wildcard search (single character ?) - Hans?n matches Hansen and Hanson
   • Multiple search combinations allowed - Name field is not required. If you cannot find a person by name because the name is misspelled or abbreviated or if you are unsure of the name, you can use the Advanced Search which allows searching by the last know residence or birth and death dates without the name.
   • Ancestry allows you to save a record into your family tree where it can be used as a source or added as an alternate fact.
   • You can make comments or corrections, generate a letter to order the original document from the Social Security Administration, and order an original document.
   • You can make connections with others who have uploaded family tree searching for same name.
   
   
   
   
4. RootsWeb SSDI
   
   
   • Free.
   • Updated semi-annually.
   • Soundex (sound alike) or metaphone (consonant-sound alike) - Choose the word soundex or metaphone in the drop-down box after the last name. Soundex and Metaphone searches will give somewhat different results and you should try both. The metaphone search is especially useful if surname sound-alike names might start with different letters such as K and C, or may begin with a silent letter such a KN, PF, or WR.
   • Wildcard search (mulitple character) - enter at least the first three letters of the name, followed by an asterisk (*). For example, searching for "Peter*" (no quotation marks) will give you results that include Peter, Peters, Peterson, Peterman, etc.
   • Wildcard search (single character ?) - Hans?n matches Hansen and Hanson
   • Multiple search combinations allowed - Name field is not required. If you cannot find a person by name because the name is misspelled or abbreviated or if you are unsure of the name, you can use the Advanced Search which allows searching by the last know residence or birth and death dates without the name.
   • Leave a post-em note beside someone's name. If anyone else should search for that name, they will find the note you left and be able to contact you.
   
   
   
   
5. World Vital Records SSDI
   
   
   • Does not give update schedule.
   • Soundex (sound alike) and metaphone (consonant-sound alike) - Choose the word soundex or metaphone in the drop-down box after the last name in advanced search. Soundex and Metaphone searches will give somewhat different results and you should try both. The metaphone search is especially useful if surname sound-alike names might start with different letters such as K and C, or may begin with a silent letter such a KN, PF, or WR.
   • Wildcard search (mulitple character) - enter at least the first three letters of the name, followed by an asterisk (*). For example, searching for "Peter*" (no quotation marks) will give you results that include Peter, Peters, Peterson, Peterman, etc.
   • Wildcard search (single character ?) - Hans?n matches Hansen and Hanson
   • Multiple search combinations allowed - Name field is not required. If you cannot find a person by name because the name is misspelled or abbreviated or if you are unsure of the name, you can use the Advanced Search which allows searching by the last know residence or birth and death dates without the name.
   • Advanced search will do any combination of searches.
   • Displays a Geomap by zip zode using Microsoft Virtual Earth.
   • Lists nearest cemeteries.
   
   
   
   
6. Family Search SSDI (Mormon Church)
   
   
   • Does not state update schedule. The SSDI appears to be updated recently. Free.
   • Automatically does a soundex search unless the "use exactly spelling" box is checked.
   • Must enter either first name, last name, or Social Security Number.
   • No wild card searches.
   
   
   
   
7. Family Tree Maker SSDI (Genealogy.com)
   
   
   • The Family Tree Maker SSDI has not been updated since 1997.
   • Wildcard search (mulitple character) - enter at least the first three letters of the name, followed by an asterisk (*). For example, searching for "Peter*" (no quotation marks) will give you results that include Peter, Peters, Peterson, Peterman, etc.
   • Wildcard search (single character ?) - Hans?n matches Hansen and Hanson
   • Multiple search combinations allowed - No field is required. If you cannot find a person by name because the name is misspelled or abbreviated or if you are unsure of the name, you can use the Advanced Search which allows searching by the last know residence or birth and death dates without the name.
   • Automatically generate a letter requesting a copy of the individual's social security number application from the Social Security Administration, click the "Write It" link to the right of the individual's name
   
   
   
   
8. MyTrees SSDI (Kindred Konnections)
   
   
   • Does not state update schedule.
   • Requires search year range and last name.
   • No wildcard or soundex search.
   
   
   
   

You can use the SSDI to --

• Find the birth and death date of the deceased.
  
  
• Identify last place of residence to help know where to search for a death certificate, obituary, or will.
  
  
• Identify the place where the death benefit payment was sent which could help locate living relatives. The benefit information will indicate where the recipient of the death benefit lived, which is not necessarily the same place as where the deceased lived.
  
  
• Determine the state where the social security number was issued which may give another area to search records. This is the state where the deceased applied for his Social Security number, most likely when he/she first got his first job or where he was working when Social Security was started. It may or may not be same as birthplace.
  
  
• Use the social security number to request more information from the Social Security Administration. (ss-5 form). This application form should include the site where the application was made, parents' names, date and place of birth. You can print an ss-5 form when you find a match at both the
  
  
• Locate lost relatives who have died.

The index will not --

• Have information about birthplace, spouse, or children.
  
  
• Have information on deaths before 1962 when the index was computerized.
  
  
• Have information on those whose deaths were not reported to the SS even if the death occurred after 1962.
  
  
• Have information on those who did not have a Social Security number because they were Federal or state employees who had their own retirement program.

The SSDI is only an Index--

Searching the SSDI--

A-Using the Social Security Death Index