SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS: DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND CARD OR A REPLACEMENT CARD

The following information was obtained from the U.S. Social Security Administration’s web page at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/.

TO OBTAIN A NEW SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND CARD you will need to provide at least two documents to prove age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or current immigration status.

TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT CARD, if lost or stolen, you must prove your identity and U.S. citizenship.

To prove identity: Social Security must see:

• U.S. driver’s license; or
• State-issued non-driver identity card; or
• U.S. passport.

If you do not have these specific documents or cannot get a replacement for them within ten days, Social Security will ask to see other documents, such as:

• Employee ID card;
• School ID card;
• Health insurance card (not a Medicare card);
• U.S. military ID card;
• Adoption decree;
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship.
  

To Prove Age: Documents that Social Security accepts for proof of age include:

• Birth certificate;
• Doctor, clinic or hospital record;
• Religious record (e.g. baptisimal record);
• Passport;
• Final Adoption Decree (must indicate birth data from original birth certificate).

To prove U.S. citizenship: Under recent changes in law, only certain documents can be accepted as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include:

• U.S. birth certificate;
• U.S. consular report of birth;
• U.S. passport;
• Certificate of Naturalization;
• Certificate of Citizenship.

To prove immigration status:   If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social security must see your current U.S. immigration documents.   Acceptable documents include:

• I-94 for all noncitizens, Arrival/Departure Record;
• I-20 for F-1 or M-1 students, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status;
• DS-2019 for J-1 or J-2 exchange visitors, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status;
• I-766, Work Permit;
• I-551 Lawful Permenant Record Card, Machine Readable Immigrant Visa.

HOW TO CHANGE A NAME ON YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD: To change your name on your Social Security card, you must also complete Form SS-5. You need to provide recently issued documents that show your legally changed name such as a marriage document, divorce decree, court order for a name change, U.S. passport, or a certificate of naturalization. The new Social Security card will show your new name, but will have the same number as your old card.

All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency.   Social Security cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents or receipts showing you have applied for a document.

TO FIND THE NEAREST SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE LOOK IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by Service Name: Social Security Numbers

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SOURCE: U.S. Social Security Administration website
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2012