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FOIA Request Methods and Fees

Online Social Security Electronic Freedom of Information (eFOIA) for Frequently Requested Records

Now you can make a request online.

You can request a copy of the following, using online Form SSA-711.

  • Social Security Number Application (Form SS-5) of a deceased person.
  • A computer extract of the Social Security number application (Numident) of a deceased person.

SS-5 requests involving extreme age:

  • Please Note: We will not disclose information about any person in our records who is under 120 years old, except in those cases where we have acceptable proof of death (e.g., death certificate, obituary, newspaper article, or police report).
  • Also, under our current policy, we do not release the parents’ names on an SS-5 application unless the parents' are proven deceased, have a birth date more than 120 years ago, or the number holder on the SS-5 is at least 100 years of age.

You can make payment online with a secure online payment via pay.gov. You can use these credit cards:

  • MasterCard
  • Visa
  • Discover
  • American Express, and
  • Diner’s Club
Make An Online Request using Form SSA-711

Fees for Frequently Requested Records

The fee schedule below covers requests for records of Social Security number (SSN) holders, claimants, and wage earners.

Many numident records of older individuals, primarily those born in 1910 or earlier, are abbreviated records that do not contain the names of the individual’s parents and may not contain the place of birth.

The Social Security Administration did not begin keeping records until November 1936.

We cannot search for the SSN of anyone born before 1865.

Fees For Processing Requests For Individual’s Social Security Record

$27

Request for copy of Original Application for Social Security Card (Form SS-5), SSN Provided (Printout from microfilm)

$29

Request for copy of Original Application for Social Security Card (Form SS-5), SSN Not Provided (Printout from microfilm)

$16

Request for Computer Extract of Social Security Number Application, SSN Provided  (*Numident only requested)

$18

Request for Computer Extract of Social Security Number Application, SSN Not Provided (*Numident only requested)

$16

Search for Information about Death of an Individual, SSN Provided (SSA does not usually have place of death, burial, or cause of death)

$18

Search for Information about Death of an Individual, SSN Not Provided (SSA does not usually have place of death, burial, or cause of death)

$25

Forward a letter to inform a person about entitlement to money

Other Online FOIA Requests

If you would like to make an online FOIA request for records other than a photocopy of an application for a Social Security Card (SS-5) or a computer extract of a Social Security Card Application (Numident), you may make your request online using the eForm. However, we may charge a fee for this information. After we receive your request, we will let you know if there is a fee. You cannot pay this fee online.

How Do I Get This Information?

  1. Complete the eForm request to tell us what information you want. Please note that the eForm limits space to 2000 characters.
  2. Complete the requester’s information.

Is There A Fee For This Information?

  • We will let you know if there is a fee for the information that you request before we start a search. We base the FOIA fees on the grade of the employees doing the work and the amount of time we spend on your request, plus 10 cents per page for photocopying.

Online service for eFOIA is available during the following time periods:

  • Monday through Friday: 5:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. EST
  • Saturday: 5:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. EST
  • Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. EST

Make an Online Request for Other SSA Records

Fees for Other SSA Record Requests

There may be a fee for information you requested. We will let you know if your request will cost more than $250 before we start a search. We base the FOIA fees on the grade of the employees doing the work and the amount of time we spend on your request, plus 10 cents per page for photocopying.

The Hourly Fees for Search and Review Are:

Search by Grade:

GS-1 through GS-8

$16.00

GS-9 through GS-14

$33.00

GS-15 or above

$59.00

Mail In FOIA Requests

It is easy to make a written FOIA request by mail.  You do not need a form.  We process FOIA requests in two locations, depending on the type of request.  Mark both the envelope and its contents:  “FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST” or “INFORMATION REQUEST.”  Be sure to include your name and address on your request.  It is a good idea to include a daytime phone number or e-mail address in case we need to contact you about your request.  Do not include a return envelope.

You may use Form SSA-711 to request a deceased person’s application for a Social Security Number (Form SS-5); however you do not need to use the Form SSA-711. To obtain a deceased person’s Form SS-5, send your request to:

Social Security Administration
OEO FOIA Workgroup
300 N. Greene Street
P.O. Box 33022
Baltimore, Maryland 21290-3022

You can use Form SSA-714 to pay by credit card.

Make checks or money orders payable to the Social Security Administration.

DO NOT SEND CASH

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