The social security office may need to see certain documents in order to pay benefits. If you apply online, a list of documents we need to see will appear at the end of the application, along with instructions on where to submit them. The documents we may ask for are:

• your original birth certificate or other proof of birth (You may also submit a copy of your birth certificate certified by the issuing agency);
• proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States;
• a copy of your U.S. military service paper(s) (e.g., DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) if you had military service before 1968; and
• a copy of your W-2 form(s) and/or self-employment tax return for last year.

Important
The social security officeaccepts photocopies of W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns or medical documents, but  must be the original of most other documents, such as your birth certificate. (We will return them to you.)

Note
If the records in social security system show that documents proving age or citizenship/lawful alien status have already been submitted for an earlier Medicare or Social Security claim (such as Disability, Supplemental Security Income, etc.), you do not need to submit the documents again.