Can Social Security help me find a missing person?

  Answer
  The Social Security Administration has a letter forwarding service that can be used to attempt to contact a missing person. We can attempt to forward a letter to a missing person under circumstances involving a matter of great importance, such as a death or serious illness in the missing person's immediate family, or a sizeable amount of money that is due the missing person. Also, the circumstances must concern a matter about which the missing person is unaware and would undoubtedly want to be informed. Because this service is not related in any way to a Social Security program, its use must be limited so that it does not interfere with our regular program activities.

There is no charge for forwarding letters that have a humanitarian purpose. However, we must charge a $25 fee to cover our costs when the letter is to inform the missing person of money or property due him or her. This fee is not refundable. The fee should be paid by a check that is made payable to the Social Security Administration.

We must read each letter we forward to ensure that it contains nothing that could prove embarrassing to the missing person if read by a third party. We do not believe that it would be proper to open a sealed letter; therefore, a letter that is sent to us for forwarding should be in a plain, unstamped, unsealed envelope showing only the missing person's name. Nothing of value should be enclosed.

To try to locate an address in our records, we need the missing person's Social Security number or identifying information to help us find the number. The identifying information needed is the person's date and place of birth, the father's name, and the mother's full birth name.

If you would like us to attempt to forward a letter, you must send us a written request. Be sure to include the following: the missing person's name and the identifying information discussed above; your reason for wanting to contact the missing person; the last time the person was seen; and information about other attempts you have made to contact the person.

Enclose the letter to be forwarded in a plain, unstamped, unsealed envelope. Mail your request to:

Social Security Administration
Wilkes-Barre Data Operations Center
1150 East Mountain Drive
PO Box 3150
Wilkes-Barre PA 18767-3150


We cannot assure you that a letter will be delivered or that a reply will be received, nor can we advise you of the results of our search. Also, we cannot make a second attempt to locate the missing person.

If you have any questions about our letter forwarding service, you may call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. Our representatives there will be glad to help you.

Above is from the Social Security Website. You can find any updates in the FAQ section or search using the words Letter Forwarding.
http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov
~Paula~