GN 00302: Proof of Age
TN 9 (02-85)
A. General
To be eligible for payments to the aged under the SSI program, an applicant must be 65 years old or older. The procedures in GN 00302.100—GN 00302.125 apply also to SSI applicants under age 68.
Special procedures apply to SSI applicants who are 68 or older, or who are applying concurrently for title II or XVIII. The SSI applicant for payments for the aged need not establish an exact DB, but only that he/she is at least 65 years old.
In addition, it is necessary to establish age for those blind or disabled applicants who are near age 65, or under age 22 where age is material to eligibility.
B. Procedure
Use the following procedure to establish the DB for SSI applicant.
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IF the applicant |
AND... |
THEN... |
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Had his/her DB previously established for titles II, XVI, or XVIII purposes |
—— |
Use the DB previously established as shown on the
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Established his/her DB in connection with an SSN application |
Use the DB established on the Numident as shown by an IDN code of P or B NOTE: Question the P or B code if shown with a foreign place of birth |
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Has already established a DB for title II purposes that makes him/her ineligible for SSI |
Submits new evidence to reopen the prior determination |
See GN 04010.030 for instructions about reopenings based on new and material evidence, and see GN 04030.010 for instructions about the effect of a revised birth date more than four years after the initial determination. NOTE: A prior title II determination precludes adjudication and payment of the SSI claim until it is determined whether the title II determination should be revised based on the new evidence. |
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Alleges to be age 68 or older |
Has not previously established his/her DB for titles II, XVI, or XVIII purposes or is concurrently filing; has not previously established his or her DB in connection with an SSN application |
Use any documentary evidence (including the NUMIDENT or other SSA record) established at least 3 years before the date the application is filed, and use the following procedure to establish the DB. (Note that a NUMIDENT query must be obtained and included in the file—see GN 00302.100C. ) |
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If:
Examples of evidence: Acceptable evidence includes such readily available sources as:
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Is blind or disabled |
Has not previously established his/her DB under titles II, XVI, or XVIII, or is concurrently filing; has not previously established his or her DB in connection with an SSN application |
Follow this procedure: If the applicant:
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Alleges to be age 65 or older but not yet age 68 |
—— |
Develop the DB under the normal title II proof-of-age procedures. |
C. Expedited adjudication of SSI claims
In many cases, the SSI claim may be adjudicated before the full proof-of-age development called for in the above procedure is completed.
Adjudicate the SSI claim based on the evidence submitted by the applicant pending completion of full proof-of-age development if:
The applicant presents any evidence of age (or the FO obtains a NUMIDENT query) established at least 3 years before the date the application is filed that reasonably supports his/her allegation, and
Further development under the normal title II proof-of-age rules is required.
Control for completion of the full DB development.
IMPORTANT: This rule is applicable even when there is a material discrepancy in file if, by all evidence, the applicant is at least age 65.
If any of the evidence shows that the applicant is not at least age 65, develop under the normal title II proof-of-age rules before adjudicating.
D. Assistance
Because of the age of many of these claimants, and since many of them may be physically or mentally handicapped, the FO must be alert to the need to assist them in securing the necessary proofs (see GN 01010.410 and GN 00301.280 - GN 00301.285). This may include the purchase of necessary evidence (e.g., a BC) if the claimant cannot reasonably be expected to obtain the evidence without payment of a fee.