I tried it again...using a wildcard in the SSN box on the SSDI at Rootsweb because it looked like wildcards could not be used there. However, the search shown to the right just now brought up 3,080 results. It appears that the wildcard on the SSN works with a certain number of digits in the SSN box and not with other number lengths.
333* did not work
3333* did not work
33334* did work--as shown
333344* did not work
3333441* did not work
and I know there is someone in the SSDI whose Social Security number begins with that string of numbers.
Ok, I have toooooo* much time on my hands...