[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR416.315]

[Page 849-850]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
               CHAPTER III--SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 416_SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND DISABLED
--Table of Contents
 
                    Subpart C_Filing of Applications
 
Sec.  416.315  Who may sign an application.

    We will determine who may sign an application according to the 
following rules:
    (a) If you are 18 years old or over, mentally competent, and 
physically able, you must sign your own application. If you are 16 years 
old or older and under age 18, you may sign the application if you are 
mentally competent, have no court appointed representative, and are not 
in the care of any other person or institution.
    (b) If the claimant is under age 18, or is mentally incompetent, or 
is physically unable to sign the application, a court appointed 
representative or a person who is responsible for the care of the 
claimant, including a relative, may sign the application. If the 
claimant is in the care of an institution, the manager or principal 
officer of the institution may sign the application.
    (c) To prevent a claimant from losing benefits because of a delay in 
filing an application when there is a good reason why the claimant 
cannot sign an application, we may accept an application signed by 
someone other than a person described in this section.

    Example: Mr. Smith comes to a Social Security office to file an 
application for SSI disability benefits for Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones, who 
lives alone, just suffered a heart attack and is in the hospital. He 
asked Mr. Smith, whose only relationship is that of a neighbor and 
friend, to file the application for him. We will accept an application 
signed by Mr. Smith since it would not be possible to have Mr. Jones 
sign and file the application at this time. SSI benefits can be paid 
starting with the first day of the month following the month the 
individual first meets all eligibility requirements for such benefits, 
including having filed an application. If Mr. Smith could not sign an 
application for Mr. Jones, a loss of benefits would result if it is 
later

[[Page 850]]

determined that Mr. Jones is in fact disabled.

[45 FR 48120, July 18, 1980, as amended at 51 FR 13492, Apr. 21, 1986; 
64 FR 31972, June 15, 1999]