RM 10210: SSN Evidence Requirements
TN 20 (12-15)
Use the following chart of identity documents to help determine the identity of an applicant for a Social Security number (SSN).
The documents listed in this section are acceptable as evidence of identity only if they:
meet the stated primary, secondary, and third level evidence requirements (for example- unexpired, issued within the timeframe stated) listed in RM 10210.405.
are originals or certified by the issuing agency.
Do not accept any document that clearly states it is not valid, or not for identification purposes.
EXCEPTION: Permanent U.S. driver’s licenses and State-issued non-driver identification cards with the legend “NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” are primary evidence of identity provided the document meets the evidence of identity requirements. Limited and temporary documents are unacceptable as proof of identity documents, unless approved by your Regional Office (RO) and Central Office (CO) enumeration staff.
A. Documents for children from birth through age 5
Use the following chart of Identity documents to help determine the identity of an applicant for an SSN
U.S. citizen: Birth through age 5 |
Alien: Birth through age 5 |
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1. Primary evidence Request one of the following documents:
NOTE: Some States may issue State non-driver identification cards to children under age six. |
1. Primary evidence Request a current U.S. lawful alien document and an unexpired foreign passport. Enter the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document as the primary proof of identity document and enter the foreign passport information (name, date of birth, passport number, country name, issue date, and expiration date) in the Evidence Submitted field on the Social Security Number Application Process (SSNAP) summary screen, when the information is not already in the passport number field.
For instructions on entering in SSNAP, see RM 10211.140A. NOTE: An admission stamp in an unexpired foreign passport and an unexpired passport are two separate documents. See Policy for Number of Documents Required for an SSN Card, RM 10210.020C.3.
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2. Secondary evidence If primary evidence is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days), request one of the following secondary evidence documents:
(card must be current). For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date, see RM 10210.405C.5. A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.
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2. Secondary evidence When a child does not possess a U.S. lawful alien document, but meets the requirements in RM 10211.075 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully in the U.S. Without Immigration Documents), RM 10211.600 (Requests for an SSN from an Alien without Work Authorization), or RM 10211.500 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Undocumented Alien) for an SSN card for a non-work reason, then accept any one of the following documents as evidence of identity:
(card must be current). For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date see RM 10210.405C.5. A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.
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3. Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5. When an applicant:
NOTE: Regional Office – In locating evidence of identity, consider the age of the child. For example, in the case of a newborn, hospital records (not a souvenir birth certificate issued by the hospital) created at the time of birth should exist. Otherwise, you may use a medical record of the physician or midwife attending the birth and attesting to the facts of the birth and identity of the child in conjunction with the birth record when no other evidence exists for a newborn. After two weeks of age, most children routinely see a physician for immunization shots and check-ups. |
3. Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5. When an applicant:
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B. Documents for children age 6 through 17
Use the following chart of identity documents to help determine the identity of an applicant for an SSN
U.S. citizen: Children age 6 through 17 |
Alien: Children age 6 through 17 |
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1. Primary evidence Request one of these documents:
NOTE: Most States issue driver’s licenses and State non-driver identification cards to children age 16 to 17 when they meet the requirements. Some States may issue State non-driver identification cards to children under age 16. |
1. Primary evidence
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2. Secondary evidence If a primary document is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days), request one of these secondary evidence documents:
(card must be current). For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date see RM 10210.405C.5. A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.
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2. Secondary evidence When a child does not possess a U.S. lawful alien document, but meets the requirements in RM 10211.075 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully in the U.S. Without Immigration Documents), RM 10211.600 (Requests for an SSN from an Alien without Work Authorization), or RM 10211.500 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Undocumented Alien) for an SSN card for a non-work reason, then accept any one of the following documents as evidence of identity:
(card must be current). For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date, see RM 10210.405C.5. A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document if it does not have a photo or biographical data.
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3. Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5. When an applicant:
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3. Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5. When an applicant:
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C. Documents for an adult age 18 or older
Use the following chart of identity documents to help determine the identity of an applicant for an SSN who is age 18 or older
U.S. Citizen: Adult age 18 or older |
Alien: Adult age 18 or older |
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1. Primary evidence Request one of these documents:
NOTE: We prefer a driver’s license for people age 18 or older. If the applicant does not submit a passport, driver’s license, or State-issued non-driver identification card, ask the applicant if the State issued him or her a current driver’s license or State-issued identification card for non-drivers. If the applicant does not have such a document, ask why not. The applicant’s response may assist you in helping the applicant find a suitable proof of identity document. |
1. Primary evidence Request a current U.S. lawful alien document and an unexpired foreign passport. Enter the DHS document as the primary proof of identity document and enter the foreign passport information (name, date of birth, passport number, country name, issue date, and expiration date) in the Evidence Submitted field on the SSNAP summary screen, when the information is not already in the passport number field.
NOTE: In some cases, the alien may have a current lawful alien but may not have an unexpired foreign passport (for example, a refugee or an applicant who may have entered the U.S. without inspection or who may have an American Indian Card). In these situations, accept the lawful alien document alone. |
2. Secondary evidence If primary evidence is not available (available means the document exists and the applicant can access or obtain it within 10 business days), request one of these documents:
NOTE: A marriage document is acceptable evidence of identity only when submitted in name change situations to support the application for a name change. For more information on name change documents see RM 10212.010.
NOTE: A receipt or a record of treatment recorded or maintained, or recorded and maintained by the applicant or the applicant's family is not acceptable.
(card must be current). For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date see RM 10210.405C.5. A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.
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2. Secondary evidence When an applicant does not possess a U.S. lawful alien document, but meets the requirements in RM 10211.075 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully in the U.S. Without Immigration Documents), RM 10211.600 (Requests for an SSN from an Alien without Work Authorization), or RM 10211.500 (Evidence for an SSN Card for an Undocumented Alien) for an SSN for non-work reasons, you may accept any one of the following documents as evidence of identity:
NOTE: A marriage document is acceptable evidence of identity only when submitted in name change situations to support the application for a name change. For more information on name change documents, see RM 10212.010.
NOTE: A receipt or a record of treatment recorded or maintained, or recorded and maintained by the applicant or the applicant's family is not acceptable.
(card must be current). For information on identity documents that do not have an expiration date, see RM 10210.405C.5. A health insurance or U.S. Medicaid card is unacceptable as a secondary proof of identity document, if it does not have a photo or biographical data.
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3. Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5. When an applicant:
NOTE: An elderly adult (age 70 or older), particularly one who is less active or in a nursing home, may not have a current identity document, but may have an expired driver's license or State non-driver’s identification card issued several years ago that would be acceptable in conjunction with other evidence readily available (for example, medical records). |
3. Handle the following situations on a case-by-case basis and follow the instructions in RM 10210.415B.5. When an applicant:
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D. Additional documents that can be used as evidence for a proper applicant
An applicant filing on behalf of someone else may use an acceptable U.S. document or an approved foreign document as evidence of identity. The drop down in the Enumeration System lists approved foreign documents as “OEIO DOC” (Office of Earnings and International Operations documents). Interviewers should also check the National Identity Document Database (NIDD) at http://nynet.ny.ssa.gov/identitydocument/ for recently approved foreign documents.
E. References
GN 00301.030 Acceptability of Documentary Evidence
RM 10210.020 Policy for Number of Documents Required for an SSN Card
RM 10210.210 Reviewing Age, Identity, Citizenship and Lawful Alien Status Evidence for an SSN Card
RM 10210.405 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card
RM 10210.410 How Do you Examine, Evaluate, and Assess Documents Submitted as Evidence of Identity
RM 10210.415 How to Prioritize Acceptable Identity Documents
RM 10210.425 What are the Procedures for Specific Document Situations
RM 10210.430 What Documents Are Not Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card
RM 10210.555 Reviewing U.S. Passports (This section includes information on U.S. Passport Cards)
RM 10211.025 Evidence of Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Status for an SSN Card
RM 10211.075 Evidence for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully in the U.S. Without Immigration Documents
RM 10211.135 Evidence of Non-immigrant Status for an Social Security Number (SSN) Card
RM 10211.140 Entering Nonimmigrant Evidence into the Enumeration System
RM 10211.500 Evidence for an SSN Card for an Undocumented Alien
RM 10211.600 Requests for an SSN from an Alien without Work Authorization
RM 10212.010 Evidence of a Name Change on the SSN