The SSDI is available at several sites but is probably most usefully laid
out by Rootsweb in its advanced search option at
http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi This allows searches
by name, dates of birth and death, locality of last residence and last
benefit (seldom given) and original state of SS registration. The Index
covers primarily deaths of those to whom Social Security cards were issued
and who died after 1937, but there are a few dozen who died in each of the
preceding years. It is difficult to predict who is likely to be in it and
who isn't. I've found women born in the 1870s who are in the Index and
many people born in the 1920s who are not.
There are several ways in which the Index can be used to identify and/or
locate people about whom little is known. For instance, many births in
birth records at least up to 1920 do not give the child's name. By
entering only surname and birthdate it is often possible to identify a
child's given name. Similarly, knowing a female child's first name and
birth date, it is often possible to locate her married name at death. If a
name is a common one it is possible to cut down on likely candidates by
inserting the state in which a SS card was probably first issued.
It is often possible to locate siblings and descendants by using only the
surname and locality of death. It is also possible to locate members of a
generation settled in one place by inserting only a succession of birth
years and the locality of last residence.
Since in several cases only the initial or a nickname, rather than the
given first name, is used it is important to try out variations.
John Ballard, Decatur Co IN GenWeb co-ordinator
http://www.rootsweb.com/~indecatu/indecatu.html