I feel somewhat self-conscious about asking this question, since scam-artists are often interested obtaining social security numbers.
However, my mother died.
I am unable to get a death certificate from the state of Arizona without providing my mother's social security number.
If anybody disbelieved me about my mother's death, I could easily put them in touch with the police detective who investigated my mother's death.
Any skeptics could also contact the Pima County Medical Examiner's office.
I paid the state of Arizona about $55 for a death certificate roughly one month ago. No social security number was asked for. However, I recently learned that the state of Arizona will not anyone a certified death certificate untill a non-governmental entity creates a death certificate.
The private citizen must file the death certificate with the recorder's office.
Within seven calendar days after receiving possession of human remains, a responsible person who takes possession of the human remains shall:
Obtain and complete the information, including the social security number of the decedent, on the death certificate required pursuant to this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
Provide on the death certificate the name and address of the person completing the death certificate.
Submit the death certificate for registration to a local registrar, a deputy local registrar or the state registrar. The responsible person may submit the death certificate by electronic means in the format prescribed by the state registrar.
The problem is, I don't know my mother's social security number
I know my mother's legal name.
I know my maternal grandparent's legal names.
I know the name of the city my mother was born in.
I know everything about my mother, except her social security number.
How on earth do you convince the United States government to divulge a dead relative's social security number?
I want to make a death certificate and file it with the recorder's office.
Normally, a funeral director would do this, but I cannot afford one, and I am burying her myself.