Replacement Social Security Card — How to Get One

Warning: replacement cards are free

Social Security says: “There is no charge for an SSN and card.” If someone wants to charge you for getting a number or card, these services are free.

Social Security’s scam page lists this as a sign of a scam: “Requiring payment for government forms or documents that are typically free. For example, charging a fee for a replacement Social Security number card.”

Sites that charge a fee to “help” you get a card are not Social Security. You are not required to use one of those services.

Never enter your Social Security number on a site that is not ssa.gov. Social Security also warns to watch for links to websites that do not end in “.gov”, and says it will never ask for sensitive or personal information through social media, email, or text message.

This page has no application and no place to type anything. To use Social Security’s own services, go yourself to ssa.gov.

You may not need a card at all

Social Security’s replacement page says: “You may not need to replace your card if you know your Social Security number. In most cases, a physical card isn’t necessary.”

Its blog says the same thing in other words. If you lose or misplace your card, in most cases you will not even need a replacement. Employers, organizations, financial institutions, and agencies usually just need the number, not the physical card.

Replace your card if it is lost, stolen, or damaged and you need it to get something done.

Route 1: start online

Social Security says the fastest way to get a replacement card is to start your application online.

On its Social Security number and card page, Social Security will ask you a few questions to determine the best way for you to apply. It will walk you through each step.

After you submit your online application, Social Security will either process it online or guide you to schedule an appointment to visit your local Social Security office or card center and complete the process.

Anyone can start the process online, even without a personal my Social Security account. Most U.S. citizens can request and receive a replacement card through the website.

The online steps Social Security lists are:

• Create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account.
• Verify your identity securely.
• Submit your request.

Your card then arrives by mail.

Route 2: an appointment at a local office

If you cannot finish online, you will need to make an appointment at a local office.

Starting online first will usually make the office visit take less time. You can also schedule your appointment online and get a list of what items you need to bring.

At the office, an employee will verify the information you submitted online and review your documents. Social Security does not need to keep them.

Your local office cannot print a card for you. Even if you go to an office in person, you will not receive the card the same day. The card must still be processed and mailed to you.

For help, Social Security lists this phone number as plain text on its replacement page: 1-800-772-1213. TTY is 1-800-325-0778 if you are deaf or hard of hearing. The hours listed are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in most U.S. time zones.

How long will it take?

Social Security’s replacement page says: after it completes your request, you will receive your replacement card by mail in 5 to 10 business days.

No office can hand you a finished card on the spot.

Documents: originals or certified copies only

If you need to show documents, they must be originals or certified copies.

Social Security’s documents page says: “You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies.” It also says all documents must be current, not expired.

For a replacement card, you must show documents proving your identity. You must also show documents proving your citizenship, if it is not already in Social Security’s records.

Do not guess which documents you need. Social Security’s number and card page will tell you, based on your answers, what to bring.

How many replacement cards can you get?

Social Security’s booklet says card holders are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during a lifetime.

Legal name changes and other exceptions do not count toward these limits. For example, changes in noncitizen status that require card updates may not count toward these limits.

You may also not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship.

For a child

Social Security says you can replace your child’s Social Security card for free if it is lost or stolen.

The same replacement limits apply: three in a year and 10 in a lifetime, with the same exceptions.

For a child’s card, follow the same starting point on ssa.gov. Social Security will tell you what documents to bring for the child and for yourself.

Your name and number stay the same

Your replacement card will have the same name and number as your previous card, if you have not legally changed your name.

A replacement card is not a new number. Social Security says a new number is a different, rare case.

Keep your number and card safe

Social Security says you should treat your number as confidential information and avoid giving it out unnecessarily.

Keep your card in a safe place with your other important papers. Do not carry it with you unless you need to show it to an employer or service provider.

If a caller, texter, or website you did not expect asks for your number or for payment, pause. Think scam first. Social Security says scammers pretend to be from an agency you know, say there is a problem or a prize, pressure you to act at once, and tell you to pay in a specific way.