There are not many times when you need your physical Social Security card. However, there are some instances when knowing your Social Security number is insufficient. Sometimes, you must show your Social Security card for identity verification. This can present a real problem if your card is lost.
Thankfully, replacing a lost or stolen Social Security card is not usually a complicated process. The US Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a few different ways to obtain a replacement. Sometimes, you can even have your new Social Security card within a week or two. If you need a replacement card, this guide will tell you exactly how! We’ll also tell you which documents you must provide to get your replacement card.
How To Get A Replacement Social Security Card
So, what are the steps to getting a replacement Social Security card? There are three different methods you can use, and we will discuss each one here. They might not all be available in your area, so you should be familiar with each method depending on which one you might have to use.
Request A Replacement Online
Requesting a replacement card online is the easiest and quickest method for getting a new Social Security card. You can make this request through your my Social Security account. When you register for the account, you will verify your identity at that time. Once you set up the account, getting a replacement card only requires a few clicks. However, you should know that this method has a few catches.
- First, you must not change any information on your card. You cannot use this method to change your name or other personal information.
- Next, online requests are not available in every state.
The Social Security Administration currently can complete online requests for residents in 46 states (and the District of Columbia), but the remaining four states will be added soon. SSA is working quickly to make online replacements available to everyone with a My Social Security Account. Once your request is completed, you should receive your new card at your U.S. mailing address within 14 days.
Submit Your Application In Person
If you cannot request your replacement Social Security card online, you can submit your replacement card application in person at your local Social Security office. Although local offices were closed to the public for walk-in appointments during the COVID pandemic, offices have now reopened. You should print and complete Form SS-5 and bring it to your local SSA office. This form is used for both new card requests and replacement card requests.
You must also bring along some supporting documentation when you complete your application. In the next section, we will discuss your needed documents in more detail. Submitting your Social Security card application in person will also allow you to obtain a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that your new card has been requested. This letter can sometimes serve as a temporary Social Security card replacement.
Mail Your Application
Suppose you can’t complete your application online and decide not to visit your local Social Security office. In that case, you can mail your application for a replacement Social Security card. However, this is generally the least preferred method of getting a new card for several reasons.
- First, it takes the longest amount of time.
- Second, you risk losing other important documents.
Since you must provide original documents with your application, you must mail original copies of these important documents with your application. You cannot send photocopies of the documents or even notarized copies, so if your application is lost in the mail, your documents are lost with it. In some cases, certified copies are acceptable. If you decide to mail your application, you can expect it will likely take 30 days or more before you see your new Social Security card.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The process of obtaining a new Social Security card varies slightly based on the reason for needing a new card.
- Getting a same-day replacement Social Security card is impossible, but you can get a receipt showing your new card application has been submitted.
- It generally takes about two weeks to get a replacement Social Security card if filed online, but in-person applications and mail-ins can take 30 days to get your card.
Documents Needed For A New Social Security Card
So, what documents do you need when requesting a replacement SSN card? Completing your application online is the easiest method because no additional documents are required. No other documents are needed since you had already verified your identity when you created your My Social Security account. However, you must provide some documentation if you complete your application in person or by mail.
You must prove two things to get your Social Security replacement card – your identity and citizenship status. If you are applying for a new card, you will need a document proving your age. If you are a non-citizen, some other rules apply, which will be discussed in the next section. Here are the acceptable documents you can give the Social Security Administration to get your Social Security card.
Proof Of Age
When applying for a new Social Security card, you must prove your age to the Social Security Administration. The preferred method for proving your age is a U.S. birth certificate. If a birth certificate exists, you will need to provide it. If no birth certificate exists for you, a few other documents will work. These are as follows:
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. hospital record
- A religious record made before the age of five showing your date of birth
You should also know that anyone over age 12 applying for a new Social Security card must complete an interview process with the Social Security Administration. They must prove that they never had a Social Security number.
Proof Of Identity
Whether you submit your application in person or through the mail, you must prove your identity to the Social Security Administration before they issue a replacement card. Several types of ID cards may be acceptable. Your ID must not have expired; it should show your name, identifying information, and preferably a recent photo. The most common documents to prove identity are:
- U.S. driver’s license
- State-issued non-driver ID card
- U.S. Passport
Other documents might be accepted if you do not have any of these documents. Again, these documents must be current and show your name, identifying information, and preferably a recent photo. Some examples of acceptable documents are as follows:
- School identification card
- Employer identification card
- U.S. military ID card
- Health insurance card (not a Medicare card)
Proof Of Citizenship
Finally, you must prove your U.S. citizenship to obtain a replacement Social Security number card. There are only a couple of acceptable documents for proving your citizenship status. Those are as follows:
- U.S. birth certificate
- U.S. Passport
You should know that a single document can be used for multiple purposes. For example, your passport might be used to prove both your age and citizenship. However, you must provide at least two documents to complete your new or replacement card application request.
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Social Security Cards For Non-Citizens
You might still be eligible for a Social Security card if you are not a U.S. citizen. However, different rules apply to non-citizens. Eligibility for a Social Security card and number is typically limited to non-citizens with permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security.
Those who need to apply for a new or replacement Social Security card must prove their immigration status and work eligibility. The documents required to confirm these things could include your permanent resident card, work permit, or arrival/departure records.
TIP
If you have a my Social Security account, you can apply for a replacement Social Security card online. Otherwise, you must apply in person at a local Social Security office or by mail without an account.
What To Do If Your Social Security Number Is Stolen
If you are requesting a replacement Social Security card because yours was stolen, there are some additional steps you should take to protect yourself from identity theft. You should report the theft to local law enforcement and place a fraud alert on your Social Security number with the credit reporting agencies. This can help prevent a thief from opening new credit with your personal information.
Next, you should consider registering for credit monitoring services. These services can send you immediate notifications any time there is a change to your credit report. This allows you to catch potential fraud quickly and helps prevent further damage to your credit file.
You should also check your Social Security statement to ensure no one attempts to withdraw your Social Security benefits using your SSN. These tasks are also essential, even if you lost your Social Security card. Having your SSN fall into the wrong hands could be detrimental.
The Bottom Line
If you are wondering how to get a new Social Security card, the process is typically not complicated – especially if you complete the request online.
If you cannot get your replacement card online, you can complete an application in person or by mail. These applications will require supporting documentation to prove your identity and citizenship status. Remember that you must provide original documents, as photocopies are not accepted.
Non-citizens may also get a Social Security card, but they must provide different documents. Also, remember that you are entitled to three free replacement Social Security cards per year, but only ten during your lifetime! So, use your replacements wisely!
Frequently Asked Questions
It will be challenging to prove your Social Security number without a card. If you have lost your Social Security card, you must request a replacement from the Social Security Administration.
For those who need the proof immediately, you must visit your local Social Security office in person. They can provide a letter stating that your new card has been requested. This can prove your Social Security number and act as a temporary card in some cases.
You can quickly request a replacement card online if you already have a My Social Security account. Since your identity has already been verified, you only need to live in one of the 46 states where online replacement requests are supported.
If you cannot complete your request online, you must complete the Form SS-5 application in person or by mail. You will need to provide original documents proving your identity and citizenship status.
When requesting a new card online, you should receive your card at your U.S. mailing address within 14 days. In some cases, your new card may arrive within a week.
When you complete your application in person, this usually adds a little time to the process. In that case, your card should arrive within 21 days.
Finally, mailing your application takes the most time. It could take up to 30 days to receive your new card when submitting your application through the mail.
There are many things you can still do even though you lost your original Social Security card. Simply knowing your Social Security number is sufficient for most day-to-day activities.
There are only a few situations when you need your original Social Security card. For example, when you start a new job, you cannot complete your employment verification with a copy of your Social Security card. In that case, you need a replacement card from the Social Security Administration.
You can find a Social Security Administration office near you by using our SSA office locator and searching for your closest location.
