TN 45 (11-11)

A. Introduction

A valid, acceptable signature must be unique to the person, verifiable and secure (i.e., under the person's sole control so that one might presume from its use that the person intended to be bound).

Effective June 21, 2004, an acceptable signature includes signature proxy alternatives for some applications for benefits, redeterminations, and other SSA processes (see GN 00201.015 for policy and procedures for the use of alternative signature methods).

B. Signature methods

1. Attestation is the action taken by an SSA employee of confirming and annotating on MCS, MSSICS, or RPS the proper claimant’s:

   • intent to file or complete a claims-related form;

   • affirmation under penalty of perjury that the information provided is correct; and

   • agreement to sign the application, amendment, redetermination, or other SSA forms approved for attestation and completed with the claim or amendment.

2. Click and Sign is the action taken by the claimant of clicking the “SIGN NOW” button at the conclusion of the online application representing his or her affirmation under penalty of perjury that the information provided is correct, and intent to electronically sign and submit application data to SSA.

3. Witnessed signature is the action taken by an SSA employee of annotating MCS, MSSICS, or RPS that he or she received a paper application, amendment, redetermination, or other form with a pen-and-ink signature and the proper claimant has not previously signed the application, amendment, redetermination, or other form by attestation.

C. References

• GN 00201.010 Signature Requirements

• GN 00203.020 Identity of Claimants

• GN 00205.125 RSDI Applications - Manner of Execution by Representative