1 ) the hospital certificate s a souvenir but you have all the data you need to get a birth certificate,

2) the benefits verification letter you get on my social security is what they want

they asked for The clerk we saw told us he needed to have a social security benefits summery that list both his full name and his birth date.

 they did not ask for the SS#

A real ID ( rather than a normal state ID) is only required to fly or to enter federal buildings. A current passport can be used in these two instances.  If he has a passport, just use that and  a normal state  ID otherwise. 

In our state, a tax statement w-2, or 1099,  can be used to prove  social security number rather than the actual card.  

here is Maryland information

Over the years, Maryland has mailed out birth registration notices to new parents to let them know that the birth of their child had been officially registered. Usually these notices were clearly labeled as notifications. However, in some years, they looked very similar to certified copies of birth certificates. Additionally, complicating matters, various agencies in the past would accept these birth registration notices as documentation of birth. 

The Federal REAL ID Act requires that only certified copies of birth certificates (or a current U.S. passport) may be used as documentation of birth to obtain a REAL ID compliant driver’s license. Maryland now requires that new or renewing driver’s licenses be REAL ID compliant. 

If you are unsure whether you have a valid certified copy of a Maryland birth certificate,  please review the labeling on the document that you have and use the information below to identify whether your document is a registration notice or a certified copy of a birth certificate.

Defining Characteristics of Maryland Birth Certificates over the last 100 years

Birth certificates were issued by Baltimore City and the 23 counties from 1918 through 1972. For these years, they would list the local health department at the top of the certificate, rather than State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Beginning in 1973, registration of certificates was centralized at the State level.

Based on the year of birth and the jurisdiction that issued the certificate, please verify that your document contains the defining term listed in the table below. If it does not, then you will need to request a certified birth certificate. Note that documents containing the term 'Certification of Birth' are NOT birth certificates. These were birth registration notices. 

https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/certbirthcert.aspx
  

Basically, if your DH isn't planning any air travel or visits to places like military bases or federal courthouses, he might not need it right away.
As for the Social Security benefits summary, it sounds like they're being pretty strict about the documentation. It might be worth calling the MVA or checking their website to see if there are any alternative documents they accept.
And if you're still on the hunt for info, I have a suggestion. You might want to try using an identity validation API tool. It could help you find the info you need without all the hassle.

very old thread from 2021.

I live in Maryland. I just renewed my DH's license on line but opted for the ID instead of the license. I received an email that his license needed to be renewed, used the link included in the email. I was not asked for any material. I did receive a letter asking to sign a document that he was no longer qualified to have a driver's license. I simply wrote on the reasons section that he had advanced alzheimer's. Got the the ID the following week and he didn't even notice. I would get the ID as you never know if it will be needed for other things. We are sometimes asked for an official ID with a picture when we go to the doctor's offices.

the real ID will be required for domestic travel within the U.S. starting in May 2025