Replacing Your Social Security Card
Posted on July 31, 2015 by bob in Social Security
Keeping your Social Security number card in a safe place is vital to protecting you against identity theft. Never keep it in your purse or wallet — this is the most common way people lose their card. No matter how hard you try to keep track of your important documents, sometimes they get lost or even stolen.
Getting a replacement Social Security number card is free, but you will have to provide the proper documents to get a new one. Being prepared will save you time at the Social Security office or card center. If you are replacing your card, you will need original or certified copies of the required documents, which include:
Proof of citizenship
If you have not already established your U.S. citizenship with us, we need to see proof of U.S. citizenship. We can accept only certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship, like your U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport.
Identity
We can accept only certain documents as proof of identity. An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information(date of birth or age), and preferably, a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity, we must see your:
1) U.S. driver’s license;
2) State-issued non-driver identification card; or
3) U.S. passport.
If you do not have one of these specific documents, or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within ten days, we will ask to see other documents, including a(n):
1) Employee ID card;
2) School ID card;
3) Health insurance card (not Medicare card); or
4) U.S. military ID card.
Remember, you are limited to three replacement cards in a year or ten in your lifetime. Legal name changes and other exceptions do not count toward these limits. For example, changes in immigration status that require card updates may not count toward these limits. Also, you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship.
What’s more important than having your card is knowing your Social Security number. This is how we identify you, tally your wages correctly, and how we eventually issue you accurate retirement benefits. You might not even need your card for identification purposes if you know and consistently use your correct number.
For more information about replacing a lost or stolen Social Security number card, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by e-mail at kylle.mckinney@ssa.gov.
