The first Social Security numbers were issued on 1 December 1936, so immigrants who were in the workforce after that date may have an application on file. Self-employed persons, and those in the military were not covered until the 1950s. Clearly, the information on the application form is significant to all researchers, and even more so for recent immigrants because their birth places often do not appear in other records. Since Social Security numbers were first generally issued to persons working for others, applicants were usually born after 1880, and more typically after 1900. Generally, you should expect to only find immigrants born in the twentieth century, or shortly before, in these records. The original application forms have been destroyed, but only after having been microfilmed. However, those microfilms are not available to the public, apparently because they also include records of living persons. However, if you know the Social Security number, you can request a copy of the application form. Send your request to Social Security Administration, Attention: Freedom of Information, Officer, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21234. Be sure to include a copy of the individual's death certificate, or similar proof of death. Be certain to specify that you are requesting a copy from the microfilmed original records. The administration has computerized most of the application forms, but only entered data on five of the sixteen fields on the original form, not including the birth place.