Applying for or Requesting a New Social Security Card

 Social Security Cards

Example of a Social Security Card [Source: GETTY IMAGES]


    Social security cards are typically issued during enumeration. The card has the SSN on it, and will sometimes be necessary to show a valid claim to the number. Social security accounts are integral to a person’s identity, and stolen numbers can do significant damage to financial and legal reputations. Very few institutions should have access to a person’s SSN, and if the card, account, or number is lost or being misused, report it to the Social Security Administration immediately.

Places to Find an SSN if Forgotten:

  • Social Security Card
  • Tax forms
    • Parents need to use their children’s SSNs to claim them as dependents to the IRS
    • For oneself, it might also be in the Taxpayer Information Number (TIN) category
  • Financial statements
    • All financial institutions are required to have the SSNs of their clients, and might be visible on statements or account forms
  • Work forms
    • Typically on the first page of W-2 or 1099 forms
  • Insurance/Medical forms
    • While not required, care providers ask for SSNs for collection agency purposes
  • Any Application for Government Assistance or Services

    That being said, the process of applying for a card is uniform across US territory. All issuances will require an in-person meeting, but initial requests, applications, and appointments can be made online after creating an account on the Social Security Administration’s webpage.

Social Security Main Page: https://www.ssa.gov/

Social Security Card Services

Social Security Office Locations

Necessary Documents for a Social Security Card:

An Original or Certified Copy of:

  • Proof of Citizenship
    • Birth certificate, passport
  • Proof of Age
    • Birth certificate, passport, hospital birth record, religious record of birth
  • Proof of Identity
    • Self/Parent: driver’s license, state ID, passport
      • If these are not available, then a current employee ID, school ID, military ID, or health insurance card might be accepted
    • Child: state ID, adoption decree, religious record, school/daycare ID, or hospital record

Note: there are documents that overlap as both proof of citizenship and identity, but at least two documents must be provided.