GN 00302: Proof of Age
TN 17 (02-95)
A. Introduction
As described in GN 00302.001 - GN 00302.007, proof of age must be requested in connection with most claims. The following sections discuss what type and amount of evidence is required to establish a claimant's DB.
B. Policy
Not all evidence which a claimant submits as proof of age has the same probative value. Based on years of ongoing study, SSA has developed the following order of preference for evidence of age.
| Evidence Category | Types of Documents |
When Requested |
|---|---|---|
|
Preferred |
|
Prefered evidence must be requested if available and not previously requested. (See GN 00302.057.) |
|
||
| Automatically convincing | Evidence from lists in GN 00302.115 and GN 00302.118 | Requested if claimant is not required to submit preferred evidence, or a search of Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS) records is unsuccessful. |
| Combination of documents | Evidence described in GN 00302.125 | Requested if evidence from the automatically convincing lists is not readily available. |
| “Best” | Evidence of highest probative value available. (See GN 00302.165.) |
Requested if any evidence in file shows a materially different DB from that alleged by the claimant and that discrepancy cannot be ignored. (See GN 00302.180.) |
C. Procedure
Request evidence of age from claimants who have not previously established their age for SSA purposes unless a tolerance applies. For instructions about proof of age tolerances, see “Evidence of Age - Tolerances” in GN 00302.030.
Accept any and all evidence of age which the applicant submits regardless of when the evidence was recorded or established. Do not give the claimant the impression that any evidence he/she wishes to submit will be rejected as unacceptable, even though it may be necessary to seek additional evidence of greater probative value.
Consider all evidence submitted in making a DB determination.