The Social Security Administration makes copies of the original Social Security application form (the SS-5) available to third parties who request information on a deceased individual.

A standard letter to the Social Security Administration is available with the search results on the Ancestry.com Social Security Death Index. To generate the letter simply click on the "write letter" link available with all search results in Ancestry's SSDI. This letter may be printed and mailed to the Social Security Administration to request a copy of your ancestor's SS-5 form. The Social Security Administration charges $27.00 for each individual copy ($16 for an abbreviated NUMIDENT form as opposed to the SS-5 itself).

Note: Not everyone who has, or has had, a Social Security card will appear on the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Many enrolled persons are not listed either because their death was not reported to the SSA or they are still living. If you haven't found your deceased ancestor on the SSDI, but he or she was likely enrolled with the Social Security system, it may still be possible to get a photocopy of his or her original SS-5.

To request this information, you will need to send the name and Social Security number of the person you're researching. You might be able to locate the person's Social Security number in the following places:

- personal papers
- death certificate
- funeral home records
- records held by financial institutions
- voter registration rolls at county courthouse
- former employers of the individual
- If those sources don't produce the number, you may request a "SSN search" with the Social Security Administration.

To request this service you must send $29 and provide the following information: full name, state of birth, and date of birth to:

Social Security Administration
OEO FOIA Workgroup
300 N. Green Street
P.O. Box 33022
Baltimore, Maryland 21290-3022

Providing names of parents are also helpful, especially with common surnames. Be sure also to provide proof of death, as the records of living individuals are not publicly available.