From Kimberly Powell,
Your Guide to Genealogy.
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The Social Security Death Index, commonly referred to as the SSDI, is a database containing the names and dates of birth and death for over 77 million Americans. This massive database is a wonderful resource for genealogists, and is available in many online locations for free search. To learn more about about the Social Security Death Index, and what it can tell you about your ancestors, read How-to Guide to the SSDI.

Social Security Death Index Interactive Search at RootsWeb
The most advanced SSDI search on the Net, and generally very current, RootsWeb offers a great free SSDI search feature. I highly recommend the advanced search option for best results.

Searching the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) in One Step
Steve Morse has created a very handy search form which enhances the search abilities of many of the free SSDI search engines on the Web. You can choose from a variety of free SSDI databases to search. This is the most flexible SSDI search interface available, and my favorite.

NEHGS - Social Security Death Index Free Access
If you're looking for a recently deceased individual, the FREE Social Security Death Index search offered at NewEnglandAncestors.org is often the most up-to-date available.

Genealogy.com Social Security Death Index
Genealogy.com (home of Family Tree Maker) offers the SSDI for free, but only as part of their Internet Family Finder search. This can be great if you would like to search a lot of different resources at once, but can be frustrating when trying to limit your search to pertinent results. You also can't search without the last name.

Social Security Death Index at Family Tree Legends
The SSDI database at Family Tree Legends is free, and offers a wide range of search features. There is no update schedule posted, however, so it is hard to say how current the database is.

More on the SSDI:
Tips for Searching the Social Security Death Index
How to Request a Copy of a Social Security Application SS-5