Instructions are at http://fgs.org/pdf/rpac_petition.pdf
For Immediate Release
February 7, 2012
RPAC ANNOUNCES STOP ID THEFT NOW! CAMPAIGN WITH WHITE HOUSE PETITION
Genealogy Community Responds To Efforts To Remove Access to Social Security Death Index and Other Records
February 7, 2012– Austin, TX: The Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC) – a joint coalition of international genealogical societies representing millions of genealogists and family historians – announces the launch of its Stop ID Theft NOW! campaign with its We The People petition posted at WhiteHouse.gov.
Call To Action For IRS To Do Its Job
Each year, fraudulent tax refund claims based upon identity theft from recently deceased infants and adults are filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The current target is the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) or Death Master File since this file, as found on numerous genealogy-oriented websites, could possibly be the source of identity thieves acquiring a deceased person’s Social Security number.
The IRS could close the door to this form of identity theft if, in fact, it were to use the Death Master File for the purpose for which it was created: to reduce fraud. If returns claiming a tax refund were screened against the Master Death File and matching cases identified for special processing, the thief should receive a rejection notice for the filing.
Tax Fraud and Identity Theft: Genealogists Are Not To Blame
The House Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Social Security is proposing to completely shut down use of the SSDI by genealogists as well as other industries such as banking and insurance that rely upon its information. Such an attempt is short-sighted and runs counter to the original purpose of the SSDI: to actually combat fraud.
Loss of Access to SSDI Affects More Than Genealogists
The SSDI is accessed by many different companies, non-profits and other entities besides individuals researching their family history. Forensic specialists utilize the SSDI when reuniting remains of military veterans with their next-of-kin and descendants. Law offices, banks and insurance companies utilize the SSDI to resolve probate cases and to locate heirs.
All of these entities would be required to spend more money and more time leveraging other resources of information when the SSDI has served this purpose, uninterrupted, for over a decade.
RPAC Petitions Obama Administration
The We the People petition, now posted at http://wh.gov/khE and accepting signatures, has a simple yet effective mission:
Take immediate steps that would curtail the filing of fraudulent tax refund claims based upon identity theft from recently deceased infants and adults.
No need for lengthy hearings in front of a Congressional committee. No need for filing statements for or against any House action. No need to waste time and effort which could be directed to more pressing national issues. In fact, the National Taxpayer Advocate in 2011 issued suggestions which do not require additional legislation but can be implemented collaboratively between the IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA) almost immediately in time to impact the current tax filing season.
About Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC)
The Records Preservation & Access Committee (RPAC) was formed to advise the genealogical community on ensuring proper access to historical records of genealogical value in whatever media they are recorded, on means to affect legislation, and on supporting strong records preservation policies and practices.
The genealogical community works together through The Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC), which today includes The National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) as voting members. The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG), the American Society of Genealogists (ASG), ProQuest and Ancestry.com serve as participating members.
To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org/rpac/.
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Contact: RPAC
c/o Federation of Genealogical Societies
PO Box 200940
Austin, TX 78720-0940
phone: +1 (888) 347-1500
fax: +1 (866) 347-1350
publicity@fgs.org
Please let the SSDI remain open!
For Pete’s sake just remove the SS numbers, & leave the rest be. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure that out. Genealogists don’t need them.
Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple, Doris. One of the primary reasons the SSDI exists is to prevent fraud, and if you remove the numbers, you eliminate that value. Also, the numbers actually are quite useful in terms of telling us which state and roughly someone’s SS was issued. I know it’s been very helpful in some of my forensic cases.
I have tried for quite awhile to sign the petition. I have singed up with a user account and I see I am signed in. The “Sign the Petition” icon is not highlighted where I can select it. I have followed the directions below: I have tried deleting cookies, which happens every time I sign out, using AOL and Firefox, don’t know what else to try. I would really like to sign, and understand this enough to encourage our Genealogy society members to sign also.
Hi Janice, I’ve heard from other problems that there are some hiccups as well. Although it’s a pain, I hear that IE works. For whatever reason, it worked for me in Firefox.
I’ve tried and cannot get the “sign the petition” icon to work on either server. What a shame, I’m sure more would sign if it were possible. Thanks Janice
I did not start the petition, but think it’s very important, so have been trying to spread the word. Having said that, I’m very frustrated with all the difficulties folks seem to be having. For whatever reason, it went smoothly for me, but there seem to be a lot of issues with the petition environment.
If you can’t sign in, CALL the whitehouse.. call your senators and your reps.. send them emails… don’t give up with the “I tried” In fact, if you did get to sign the pettition, do all the others too….
<wbr>Glad there are people out there like Iris, What an encourager! Go girl, Go!
Doris
Please, allow SSDI be viewed by all.