Your Ancestor's SS-5: A Genealogical Treasure

How to access Social Security application records



Have you ever wished that your ancestor had written down where they were born and the names of their parents? If they lived long enough to apply for Social Security, they wrote down their personal information and sent it to the government on an SS-5 form.


The information found within the SS-5 often includes:

  • Full Name
  • Names of Parents
  • Date of Birth
  • Place of Birth


The SS-5, or Social Security application form, can be a valuable resource for genealogical research. This document can provide a window into the life of your ancestor, capturing valuable details that can prove crucial in tracing family lines and building a more complete family tree.


Here's an example of an SS-5 form: SS-5 example


Ordering a copy of your ancestor's SS-5 is possible through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Before you make a request for your ancestor's SS-5, you must first determine their social security number, as well as other important information about them. There are indexes to the SS-5 applications on Ancestry in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 and on FamilySearch at United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007.


Once you have the necessary information, you can submit an online request with the Social Security administration. There is a fee to obtain the document. In some cases, you will need to prove a death certificate or a similar document to prove that the individual is deceased.


Keep in mind that if there's not an SS-5 form for your ancestor, it's possible to get one for an ancestor's siblings that could give you full names of parents and birthplace information of your ancestor.


The SS-5 can provide crucial details to build your tree more accurately and completely. Once you have the SS-5, you can use it to help build your family tree and find additional records about your ancestor. The information on the SS-5 can lead you to other records, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and census records, that can provide even more details about your ancestor's life and family.




Need help finding more records? We have genealogy research services available. You can also try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1.3 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.



Related Topics on This Site