Social Security Death Index Any person who was on Social Security, died, and a death benefit claim was paid is part of a database maintained by the Social Security Administration. The files were computerized in 1962 and under the Freedom of Information Act, the data was made available to the public. A number of orgaznizations have placed the index on the Internet. One site is http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm. It provides the birth date, as supplied by the person when s/he applied for Social Security, the month/year of death and the zip code of the last residence. It is a valuable genealogical resource for supplying birth/death dates when not known by living family members. It is also a path fto locating the death certificate and place of burial because it suplies zip code of last residence. This permits writing to the appropriate record office for the death certificate, which provides the cemetery where the person is buried. Also, since the Scoail Security number is supplied, you can write to the Social Security Admihistration and get the original application for Social Security which will include the names of the applicants father and mother (including maiden name).