The CAO will use the following guidelines to assist the client in gathering the necessary documentation to apply for a Social Security Number.
The primary evidence of age is an original or certified copy of a US birth certificate issued by a state or local governmental bureau of vital statistics.
If a US birth record does not exist or is not readily available, one of the following documents, established before age five, is acceptable if there is no reason to question the validity of the document.
A valid religious record, such as for birth, baptism, or confirmation, showing age or date of birth.
A hospital record of birth issued by hospitals, including the Newborn Eligibility Form (MA 112), that SSA has determined to be reliable
NOTE: SSA will not accept records issued by the City of Faith Hospital, Tulsa, Oklahoma..
A certified notification of birth registration from the issuing agency.
Birth certificate issued as a result of adoption proceedings.
If none of the above documents exists or is readily available, one of the following documents may be accepted if it is at least one year old and shows the applicant’s name and date of birth or age.
US passport.
School record.
Federal or state census record.
Statement, signed by the physician or midwife who attended the birth, as to the date of birth shown on the applicant’s record.
Bible or other family record. The page must not be removed from the bible or other publication.
Church or other religious record.
Military record.
Delayed birth certificate – registered after age five.
Insurance policy.
Marriage record.
Driver’s license.
Applicant’s child birth certificate showing the applicant’s name and age.
Any other record which shows age or date of birth.
Example: Hospital treatment record, labor union or fraternal organization record, permits, licenses, poll tax receipts, etc.
Evidence of identity should be evidence that was established at a later time and for a different purpose than the record of birth. It should be a recent issuance to establish the individual’s continued existence. A birth record or baptismal certificate is not an identity document.
Exception: A birth or baptismal certificate may be used for a child under age seven when no other evidence is available.
If the applicant presents as evidence of age a copy of a birth record issued within the last year, the identity document should have been established before the date the birth record was issued, unless the applicant is less than one year old.
The document must provide information which can be compared with the applicant’s signature, name, birth date, etc., or contain a photo or physical description of the applicant.
The following are examples of acceptable identity documents:
Driver’s license.
US government or state employee ID card.
Marriage or divorce record.
Health insurance card.
Clinic, doctor or hospital records.
Child's membership in boy scouts, girl scouts, or other youth organization.
Court order for name change.
Adoption records.
Church membership or confirmation record (if not used as evidence of age).
Insurance policy.
School ID or report card.
Draft card or military ID.
Any other document providing data which is sufficient to establish identity.
The following documents are acceptable as evidence of US citizenship:
A US public birth certificate showing birth in the US; or
A US passport issued by the US Department of State. The passport need not be currently valid but must have, or have had, a validity period of five years or longer.
If neither of the above is available, the following are acceptable:
A religious record established in the US within three months after birth (even though the record may not actually contain information about the place of birth); or
A document used to establish age which shows a US place of birth or in some way verifies the client’s claim that he is a US citizen.
Any single document which indicates place and date of birth can be used for both age and citizenship verification. If the document used to verify age does not specify a place of birth, a second document is used for citizenship.
If the client or CAO cannot obtain any of the above or they cannot be used, CAO my accept the following:
School record.
State or federal census record.
Insurance policy.
Marriage record.
Military discharge papers.
FS-225 or FS-225A (Card of Identity and Registration).
Draft card.
If the client is a citizen who was born in a foreign country, the CAO may accept the following:
Citizenship Certificate (N-550) issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
US Passport issued by the US Department of State. It need not be currently valid.
Consular Report of Birth (FS-545) or “Certification of Birth” (DS-1350) issued by the Department of State.
Certificate of Naturalization (N-560) issued by the Justice Department through Federal District Courts, or in some instances, through State county courts.
Proof of marriage to a male US citizen before September 22, 1992, provided that other evidence establishes that he was a citizen by birth or that he was naturalized before September 22, 1992.
An identity card and registration as a US citizen, or an official communication from an American foreign service post, indicating that the applicant is registered there as a US citizen.
US Citizen Identity Card (I-179).
US Citizen Identification Card (I-197) – Resident’s Card issued prior to August 27, 1983, the date this card stopped being issued.
NOTE: Refer foreign born US citizens with no evidence of citizenship to the local SSA office for assistance.
The following persons are not considered US citizens and are referred to SSA with a PA 1564:
A person who was born in the US but is currently a citizen of another country.
A child born to a temporary alien (such as a tourist, foreign diplomat, or student) while his parents were in the US.
NOTE: For enumeration purposes, such a child is considered a citizen of his parent’s country.
Reviewed July 17, 2018