Threat to the Social Securtiy Death Index

Fairfax Genealogical Society is sending out a

Call to Action:

THREAT TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX

Congress is considering legislation that could restrict the public's access to the Social Security Death Index. Researchers of history and genealogy must act quickly to oppose or amend the draft laws to protect legitimate access to vital statistics.

Currently, four bills are pending in the US Congress that would eliminate or curtail access to the Social Security Death Index on the Internet. These bills are:

              

• HR 3475, Keeping IDs Safe Act of 2011
  If enacted, this bill would effectively end public access to the death file
• S 1534, Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Prevention Act
  If enacted, this bill prohibits disclosure of the deceased's SSN in calendar year of death and calendar year following death
• HR 3482, To prevent identity theft and tax crimes
  If enacted, this bill prohibits disclosure of the deceased's SSN in calendar year of death and calendar year following death
• HR 3215, To prevent identity theft and tax fraud
  If enacted, this bill prohibits disclosure of the deceased's SSN in calendar year of death and calendar year following death

Why Genealogists Need the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Genealogists support Congress's intent to protect Americans from improper usage of their personal information, and to protect them from identity theft. Rarely has it been documented that an individual's identity is violated by access to SSDI. Genealogists doing US research rely on the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). SSDI is a deterrent to identity theft. It prevents identity fraud, as it verifies a person's death. A study from May 2009 found that 13 million people are active researchers. Genealogy also is a serious profession. Genealogy assists in tracing family medical problems that are passed on from generation to generation. Genealogists work with coroners to find next of kin for the deceased. Genealogists work with military to locate relatives of soldiers who are still unaccounted for from past conflicts.

Contact Your Representatives in Congress Genealogists support Congress's intent to protect Americans from improper usage of their personal information, and to protect them from identity theft. U.S. Senators U.S. Representatives