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From: Bubba <>
Subject: [ROOTS-L] Re: Finding Soc Sec #'s...
Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2002 20:53:36 -0500

> X-Message: #10
> Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2002 12:35:47 EDT
> From:
> Subject: Finding Soc Sec #'s...

Just a coupla' quick comments ...

> Gina.... Soc. Sec. began in 1936-37.

Actually, the Sociable Security Administration was established late 1935
during the admistration of Roosevelt. Many beneficiaries were included
before that date ... kinda' sorta' grandfathered ...

Included within SSA were Railroad Commission workers who have a
different SSA-styled number; I feel certain there were other groups
included, as well, but I don't know them off the tip of my teeny-tiny
brain muscle.

SSA record-keeping was rather lax until about 1962. Although most of
the earlier records are still available on paper cards, SSA sees no need
to enter the data to published lists or 'pooter formats for wide-spread
release.

SSA was only intended to collect "contributions" for a limited period,
but we've been since considering our "contributions" to be a real
(large) tax and practically everyone is forced to join.

Of course, it's easily possible for anyone, or any company, to dissolve
themselves from SSA and pay/contribute nothing. But there is a caveat.
If you elect to remove yourself from SSA, you cannot later rejoin; it's
disallowed.

Daddy never joined SSA until after WWII. The USA military did not
contribute to SSA. After WWII, the mid '50s I believe, the USA military
joined SSA.

I never applied to SSA until I started throwing newspapers on your roof
(age 12yr), and applied for my driver's license (age 14yr). When I
registered my availability for military service (1961 draft card), a SSA
account was necessary.

Nowadays, I believe it's federal law that everyone own a SSA account
before the age of 5yr.

My, my, Lawdy Gawd, how our times have changed!

> My dad got each of his kids Soc.Sec.
> cards when they first came out. Mine was filed in 1937; I was five
> years old
> at the time. Your grandpa who died in 1933-35 missed that boat, so
> you'll
> have to look elsewhere.

Not necessarily! Possibly, Grampaw just never applied for his rightful
benefits, even those before 1935.

> Try necrology files on line or at your County Archives level,
> if
> that's appropriate in your area. Otherwise, try a local library for
> old
> newspapers, and the newspaper(s) itself, if still in existance, dating
> around
> the years you think he died. Then try wharever churches he may have
> been
> buried from, your local Court House, Historical Society, then
> Mortuaries that
> existed around the time(s) of his death, and/or close or likely
> Cemeteries;
> sites near to where he lived, and finally, your State Dept of Vital
> Statistics.
> (I have no idea what the strange "codes" you found are about.
> ...
> Would like to know that one myself, when you find out!) .... Good
> Luck :)
> Jo DAVIS

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