Social Security Applications

Use Social Security applications in ancestry and genealogy immigration research.

Social Security Applications

Because of the Great Depression that began in 1929, destroying the finances of millions of Americans and creating widespread suffering, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed for the passage of the Social Security Act of 1935. In that legislation, employers and employees were taxed to provide pensions to workers who reached the age of sixty-five. To get into the program, people were required to complete a short application form, the SS-5, to receive a Social Security number.

Suppose the person you are researching lived from 1937 on. In that case, you will most likely find an application on file for males (unfortunately, this is a less helpful resource for women until recent decades, when virtually everyone started to get a Social Security card). Because the person filling out the application, the information is relatively reliable. The Social Security application is valuable because the parents’ names were provided by the very person being researched. The SS-5 application can be used to point to other sources.

The form included sixteen questions, which have varied over time and include the following information:

  • Applicant’s first, middle, and last names
  • For women, the maiden name or previous married name
  • Applicant’s address
  • Applicant’s employer and employer’s address
  •  Applicant’s age at last birthday
  • Applicant’s date of birth
  • Applicant’s place of birth
  • Full name of applicant’s father
  • The full maiden name of the applicant’s mother
  • Applicant’s gender
  • Applicant’s race
  • Applicant’s signature
  • Date the application was filled out

It may also include information such as the following:

  • Applicant’s work name, if different than name above
  • Applicant’s marital status
  • Wife’s maiden name, if the applicant is male
  • Beginning or ending date of employment
  • How applicant was paid

To obtain a copy of an SS-5, you can contact the Social Security Administration. For more information on requesting forms and information from the Social Security Administration, visit http://www.ssa.gov/foia/html/foia_guide.htm.

Other Resources to Help Trace Immigrant Ancestors

Are you developing a family history for an individual or family? Are you trying to find their immigrant origins? Start by seeing the articles

The following videos can help you get a head start in understanding immigration and country of origin ancestor research.

 

How to Find the Origin of Immigrants Coming to America
An introduction to immigration and migration historical research. You will be introduced to a five-step methodology to find the immigrant origins when conducting individual and family history research.

Addition videos include:

The following are records I have found extremely helpful and full of clues to finding an individual’s birthplace and immigrant origins. It is designed to provide a quick reference and direction for finding and searching for records as probable places to find information. You can use these records to develop an immigrant paper trail to assist you in finding and tracing an individual immigrant’s origins. Check out these articles:

Records for Tracing Immigrant Ancestors
Cemetery Records Census Records Church Records 
Colonial Town Records Historical and Genealogical Societies Histories and Biographies
Land Grant Records Maps and Gazetteers Naturalization Record
Obituaries Passport Applications Ship Passenger Lists
Social Security Applications Social Security Death Index

Check out the following country profiles to learn more about their immigration and migration in America.

Immigration and Migration in America
Czechs and Slovaks Danish Dutch
English Finnish French
German Greek Hungarian
Icelandic Irish Italian
Norwegian Polish Russian
Scandinavian Scottish Swedish
Welch United States Western Migration

Articles include:

Learn more about immigrant records at “Immigrant Records at the National Archives.”