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Archiver > APG > 2007-01 > 1168628479


From: "John Wylie" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Social Security Administration
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:01:19 -0600
In-Reply-To: <d05.6fb7a34.32d91ddc@aol.com>


I might add that a (if not the) major purpose of the SSDI is to advise many
disparate groups about a death and thus the suspend use of that person's
SSN. Among many, one reason is to reduce identity theft. Businesses,
creditors, people issuing ID (drivers licenses for example) and many others
purchase and use the lists. In an old consulting capacity, I know of at
least one denominational headquarters that does. They want to know when a
church member dies. The list is widely distributed because of a basic legal
principle, one looses one's right to privacy upon death. That principle
seems to apply to the SSDI.

I did contract work for one of the major credit agencies some years ago and
was impressed that for a significant proportion of the adults in their
database (very close to 100% of all adults in North America) they knew
about a death within hours of it happening. I was told that their system
"failed" if someone with a SSN was dead more than 24 hours and they didn't
know about it. Before anyone asks, they didn't share with me how they knew
about these deaths so quickly, but I know that they did subscribe to the
SSDI.

It seems to me that taking extraordinary steps to protect a decedent's SSN
isn't necessary since the SSA publishes the information.

John

John Wylie Consulting, Professional Genealogists
972-206-2723
2662 Carrington Lane
Grand Prairie, TX 75052-4006

Secretary of the Association of Professional Genealogists www.apgen.org

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On Behalf
Of
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 11:23 AM
To: ; ;

Subject: Re: [APG] Social Security Administration


In a message dated 1/12/2007 12:00:35 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

It has been my experience that the funeral director will mail a copy of
the
certified death record to the Social Security Administration and it is up
to
the Social Security Administration to put the number on the SSDI. There
could be some extenuating circumstances which might preclude placing the
number on the SSDI. The surviving widow might be using the same number or
there could be some minor children receiving benefits from this decedent's
work record.
---
Alvie-

While the widow or minor children (or even some other dependents) could be

receiving benefits on the account of a deceased wage earner, they are not
*using* the account. They have their own SS numbers by which they are
identified
for bank and earnings records. This is not a reason for a deceased wage
earner not appearing on the SSDI.

I receive benefits on my deceased husband's SS account and he is still
listed in the SSDI--it doesn't pose any security risks to me because my
bank
accounts and IRS dealings are all on my own SS number which is kept
private.

Joan

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