1700.Evidence Requirements
1700.1Do you need to provide evidence to support your claim for benefits?
You must prove your identity and that you have met all the requirements necessary to be entitled to the benefit you are claiming. The Social Security office handling the claim will advise you as to what you must prove and what evidence you need to submit.
(This Chapter does not discuss evidence of disability; it is discussed in Chapter 5. Nor does it discuss entitlement to hospital insurance protection or medical insurance coverage. See Chapter 24 for a discussion of these programs.)
1700.2What evidence do you need to submit for a claim for monthly benefits?
The following chart summarizes the evidence you usually need to submit to us to get monthly benefits. However, in some cases, additional evidence may be required.
If the beneficiary is.... | Then the evidence the claimant needs to submit is...(1) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Relationships | Dependency or Support | School Attendance | Child-in-Care | Death of Worker | |||
Marriage | Divorced | Parent-Child | ||||||
Insured person (2) | X | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Spouse (62 or over) | X | X | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Spouse under 62 (child in care) | - | X | - | - | - | - | X | - |
Divorced spouse (62 or over) | X | X | X | - | - | - | - | - |
Child (2) | X | - | - | X | X(3) | X(4) | - | X(6) |
Widow(er) (60 or over, 50 or over if disabled) (2) | X | X | - | - | - | - | - | X |
Surviving divorced spouse(2) | X | X | X | - | - | - | - | X |
Mother/Father or surviving divorced mother or father (child in care) | - | X | X(5) | X | - | - | X | X |
Parent | X | - | - | X | X | - | - | X |
(1) See Chapter 3, Chapter 4, or Chapter 5 for all the requirements for specific types of benefits.
(2) If disability is involved, see Chapter 5 for evidence required to establish disability.
(3) A legitimate or adopted child is ordinarily considered dependent on his or her parent; however, certain evidence may be needed in the case of other types of children.
(4) Proof of full-time school attendance required if child is 18-19 and is not disabled.
(5) Surviving divorced mother or father only.
(6) For survivor claims.
1700.3What evidence do you need to submit for a claim for the lump-sum death payment?
The following chart summarizes the evidence you usually need to submit to us to get the lump-sum death payment. However, in some cases, additional evidence may be required.
If the beneficiary is.... | Then the evidence the claimant needs to submit is... | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | Relationships | Dependency or Support | School Attendance | Child-in-Care | Death of Worker | |||
Marriage | Divorced | Parent-Child | ||||||
Surviving spouse living in same household | - | X | - | - | - | - | - | X |
Eligible surviving spouse, excluding divorced spouse | X(3) | X(3) | - | - | - | - | - | X |
Eligible children | X(3) | - | - | X(3) | X (1,3) | X (2,3) | - | X |
(1)A legitimate or adopted child is ordinarily considered dependent on his or her parent; however, certain evidence may be needed in the case of other types of children.
(2)Proof of full-time school attendance required if child is 18-19 and is not disabled.
(3)To qualify for the lump-sum, the claimant must present evidence that proves he or she does (or could) qualify for monthly benefits in the month the worker died.