Looking up dead people

[susandennis]

albadger had a think in his journal this morning about a data base to look and see if someone's dead.  He was kind enough to share the URL http://stevemorse.org/ssdi/ssdi.html.  And I was on hold waiting for a conference call.

My ex husband is, apparently, not dead yet - he'll be 80 in March. 

My Mom who has not been heard from since March of 2005 is also, apparently, not dead yet.

Daddy made the cut. He's dead.

My friend, John, has a name that is way too common and I'm too lazy to dig out his social security number.

I need to think of more people who I really am curious about. 

Comments

[tbone.livejournal.com]

Did you look yourself up? That would be the first thing I would do. If I'm dead, my employer can't make me work anymore.

[howeird]

If I'm dead, my employer can't make me work anymore.
Not true. He just can't pay you.
:-(

[tbone.livejournal.com]

This is a stupid world if the dead have to work. I would say I don't want to live in a world like that, but it doesn't sound like it matters whether I am living or dead. I'm working either way. Fun times.

[howeird]

I say split the difference and become one of the Living Dead. Play your cards right and you can be named to head Homeland Security.

[tbone.livejournal.com]

The Living Dead get to play cards, you say? Okay, sign me up!

[phornax.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the SSDI (there are many web portals connecting to the data) is the way I found out my ex and former best friend having died in 2005. That discovery led to my digging up info on his friends in San Francisco and finding out he had committed suicide violently.

So, caveat vistor, as they say.

Oh, also, the SSDI is an extremely useful genealogical tool for those who survived past the year 1960.

[phornax.livejournal.com]

PS - the SSDI is supposed to be current as of July 2007, depending on how quickly these portals update their local data copies. There are a few reasons why your mother's name might not appear in the list:

1. The death was not reported to the Social Security Administration.
   
2. The person did not participate in the Social Security program.
   
3. Survivor death benefits are being paid to dependents.

[seattlejo.livejournal.com]

Grandpa's there, but Mom's not, thats kind of odd. Maybe she's out hanging with your Mom? "Dead Ladies Club?"

[susandennis]

Now, I'm going to be smiling all day at the very wonderful thought of that!!! I hope they are having a wonderful time!!

[howeird]

One flaw is it apparently requires the death to have taken place after the advent of Social Security. Scanning for my father's father, who passed away well before anyone ever heard of Hubert Humphrey, it drew a blank, but it did find his brother, who apparently lived to be 92.

[barefoot-dyke.livejournal.com]

wow ... it found my mom. and what's really disturbing is it came up with her social security number. that's not good ...