I was born in the 1970s in Indiana, and there is no father listed on my birth certificate. The line is completely blank.
The man that I have been told was my father was born in Alabama, and then died in Florida in the early 1980s. Since that point I have had interactions with his family, and I am pretty much accepted, even though the whole thing is kind of weird.
Recently I had to update some information at the local social security office. I was given a print out to sign that stated all of my little life facts; and included on this was the name of my father. I questioned the clerk at the office, since this is the first time I have ever seen his name actually linked to me. We talked for awhile, and she mentioned that it might be in my best interest to look into this a bit more, especially since there were no other children of this individual. The clerk informed me that there might have been death benefits that were never collected or survivor's benefits that could have gone to help my mother.
I'm not sure what exactly I am looking for, but the conversation with the clerk peaked my curiousity. Is this something that is worth my efforts?
The man that I have been told was my father was born in Alabama, and then died in Florida in the early 1980s. Since that point I have had interactions with his family, and I am pretty much accepted, even though the whole thing is kind of weird.
Recently I had to update some information at the local social security office. I was given a print out to sign that stated all of my little life facts; and included on this was the name of my father. I questioned the clerk at the office, since this is the first time I have ever seen his name actually linked to me. We talked for awhile, and she mentioned that it might be in my best interest to look into this a bit more, especially since there were no other children of this individual. The clerk informed me that there might have been death benefits that were never collected or survivor's benefits that could have gone to help my mother.
I'm not sure what exactly I am looking for, but the conversation with the clerk peaked my curiousity. Is this something that is worth my efforts?
