How to Get a Replacement Social Security Card for a US-Born Citizen
If you misplace or accidentally discard your Social Security card, replace it before you will need it for an official purpose. When you start a new job or apply for government benefits, you may receive a request to show your Social Security card. U.S.-born citizens can obtain a replacement card by following the guidelines set by the U.S. Social Security Administration, or SSA.
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Instructions
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Gather documents to prove your identity and your status as a U.S. citizen. The SSA lists the documents that are acceptable for each category. Have one document to prove your identity, such as a U.S. passport, a state driver's license or another non-driver identification card issued by a state. Have one document to prove U.S. citizenship, such as your U.S. birth certificate.
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Obtain the "Application for Social Security Card" from the SSA website and complete it. Use blue or black ink if you fill in the application by hand; you can also fill out the form online by typing your answers into the Portable Document Format (PDF) version. Read the instructions provided on the first four pages of the application form.
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Provide the personal information requested on the application form, such as your name, which will be printed on the replacement card, proof of your U.S. citizenship, information regarding your birth and your parents' personal information. Include on the application form the Social Security number issued on the card that you lost and your name as it was printed on the previous card.
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Print a copy of your application, if you completed it online on the SSA website. If you filled out the form manually, make a photocopy of the form for your records, after you have proofread, signed and dated it.
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Use the Social Security Office Locator website to identify the address to which you must send your application. Mail the completed application and the previously gathered supporting documents to the SSA or take the application materials to the nearest SSA office.
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Tips & Warnings
Apply for a replacement card quickly after losing your old card, to prevent a last-minute rush if you need to show your Social Security card in the near future. Visit the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find out where you may obtain a certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate, if you need the document as part of your application.
Review the SSA's document requirements and ensure that your identity and citizenship documents thoroughly comply with those requirements. Generally, you must submit original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency's custodian of records. Keep your replacement card in a secure, memorable location.
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