My brother-in-law died on Christmas Day, 2009.

[cbreezen]

I was informed by my family that his children received Social Security death benefits. Why would his death information not show up in the Social Security Death Index 3 years later?

[The Genealogist]

1. I've been unable to few people I was looking for in the SS death index

I'm not sure why a person wouldn't. Could be a reason it is being withheld. Have you tried checking by just first or first and middle initials, or middle name?

[cbreezen]

2. I know all of this info...

I would expect something recent to be recorded.

My dead husband's death in 2004 is there.

[cbreezen]

4. Perhaps, but my niece and nephew are in their 20s...

My sister was married to him.

I know how to spell the last name.

Perhaps, he was born again, and changed his last name?

Who knows?

[radical noodle]

5. Is there any chance his real first name

was not the name he used? My husband's grandfather was called Paul all his life but his real name (and the name on his SS) was Irvin.

[cbreezen]

6. Nope. nt

[secondwind]

7. I think they rely on the family to advise them if s death.

Same for voting stations.

They say that the dead are voting but it’s more like their names have not been removed.

[dflprincess]

8. If the kids were collecting Survivor's Benefits Social Security would know there had been a death.

And, the Social Security death index is used to clean up voting lists (at least in Minnesota - I imagine most states use it). My mom died in May of 2012 and, just out of curiosity I checked her registration before the November election and she had been taken off. I'm the only family member who would have reported her death and I only called the SS office.