Social Security Death Index
The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) was a public database of U.S. death records drawn from the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File. It was publicly accessible until 2014. Since then, access to the updated Death Master File is through a Limited Access Death Master File program under Title 15 Part 1110.
Most people who died since 1936 and had a Social Security Number, with their death reported to SSA, are listed in the SSDI. For most years since 1973, about 93% to 96% of deaths of people aged 65 or older are included. The SSDI was frequently updated; the June 22, 2011 version had about 89.8 million records. Unlike the Death Master File, the SSDI is available on many online genealogy sites and is popular with researchers because it contains useful genealogical data.
Data in the SSDI include information that, once you find a person, you can request the person’s Social Security card application (Form SS-5) from SSA. The SS-5 may include extra details such as birthplace, father’s name, and mother’s full maiden name, though some information may be redacted.
A government audit found about 23,000 people were incorrectly listed as dead over a two-year period. People in this situation could have trouble proving they were alive and could be at risk of identity theft since their Social Security number was released.
In November 2011, due to privacy and identity theft concerns, SSA redacted death data derived from state sources, which reduced reported deaths by about 33%.
On December 18, 2011, Ancestry.com moved SSDI access behind a paywall and stopped showing Social Security information for people who had died within the last 10 years. Some free data remains on other sites.
In March 2012, the entire Death Master File edition from November 30, 2011, became available for download, with updates later (including May 31, 2013). Updates have also been offered by subscription.
A 2013 Government Accountability Office review found that agencies using Death Master File data could be vulnerable to improper payments due to data errors or processing problems.
Note that many SSDI websites require subscription or registration to search or view results.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:23 (CET).