NYC Social Security Card Centers vs Field Offices: Where to Go in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx
Cross-checked against official SSA.gov policy guidelines and Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
New York City is one of four metros where the Social Security Administration (SSA) splits its work between two kinds of office. The regular field offices handle retirement, disability, SSI, Medicare and benefit questions. Anything to do with the Social Security card itself, a first card, a replacement, a name change or a correction to your record, is done only at a Social Security Card Center. Turn up at a field office in Brooklyn with a marriage certificate and you will be sent to the Card Center.
SSA's locator flags the NYC field offices as "no enumeration work", and every NYC office page on this site shows a "No routine card services" badge with a link to the Card Center that serves it.
The four NYC Social Security Card Centers
All four open at 7:00 AM, two hours earlier than the field offices, and close at 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Hours come from the SSA office locator and are repeated on each center's page.
| Borough | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan Card Center | 123 William Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10038 | (866) 657-3406 | Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Brooklyn Card Center | 154 Pierrepont Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | (866) 331-6405 | Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Queens Card Center | 155-10 Jamaica Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11432 | (888) 281-2471 | Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Bronx Card Center | 820 Concourse Village West, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451 | (888) 864-9788 | Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Staten Island has no Card Center. The Staten Island field office handles card requests itself, like offices elsewhere in the country.
You can use any of the four centers regardless of where you live; pick the one closest to home or work. The Manhattan center, near Fulton Street in the Financial District, is the easiest by subway from most of the city.
What each office type does
| Task | Card Center | Field office |
|---|---|---|
| First Social Security card (newborn, immigrant) | Yes | No |
| Replacement card | Yes (or online) | No |
| Name change on the record | Yes | No |
| Correct date of birth, citizenship or other record detail | Yes | No |
| Card-related visit requested by an employer | Yes | No |
| Retirement, spousal, survivors claims | No | Yes |
| SSDI and SSI applications and reviews | No | Yes |
| Medicare enrollment and Part B questions | No | Yes |
| Benefit verification letters, direct deposit, address changes | No | Yes (and online) |
If you need both, for example a name change and a retirement application after marriage, that is two visits: the Card Center first, then the field office once the record shows the new name.
Do you need to go at all?
Most adult U.S. citizens can skip the Card Center: a replacement card with no changes can be requested online in a my Social Security account and arrives by mail. The card replacement guide explains who qualifies. Name changes, first cards, children's cards and non-citizen cards still require the visit.
Appointments at the Card Centers
SSA asks visitors to book before coming in, and appointment holders are served first. Call the center's own number (above) or 1-800-772-1213. The 7:00 AM opening means the earliest slots are before the morning rush; the lobby is busiest from mid-morning. See how to make a Social Security appointment for every option, including the online questionnaire.
What to bring
Originals only; photocopies and notarized copies are refused.
- Identity: current driver's license, state ID or U.S. passport
- Citizenship: U.S. birth certificate (certified), U.S. passport, or naturalization certificate, if not already on record
- Non-citizens: current DHS document (Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document, or I-94 with passport)
- Name change: marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order
- Children: the child's birth certificate plus a school or medical record, and the parent's own ID
The full checklist by task is in what to bring to the Social Security office.
The NYC field offices
The city's field offices are listed on the New York City hub, with borough tabs, a map and a comparison table. Queens has five field offices (Jamaica, Flushing, Rego Park, Long Island City and Rockaway Park) and the Bronx six, all of which send card work to their borough's Card Center. Borough pages: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx. Every NYC office page links to the Card Center nearest to it.
The other Card Center cities
The same split applies in three other metros, each with one Card Center:
- Philadelphia Social Security Card Center, 1500 JFK Boulevard
- Orlando Social Security Card Center, 500 N Orange Avenue
- Twin Cities Social Security Card Center, 1811 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis
Everywhere else in the United States the local field office handles cards.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a card at a Manhattan field office if I live in Manhattan?
No. All five Manhattan field offices send card work to the Manhattan Card Center at 123 William Street.
Can I go to the Brooklyn Card Center if I live in Queens?
Yes. The centers are not assigned by residence.
Is the card printed at the Card Center?
No. Like every SSA office, the center verifies documents and the card is mailed within about 14 business days.
Do the Card Centers handle Medicare cards?
No. Replacement Medicare cards are ordered online, by phone, or at a field office.
Related
Related Social Security Guides
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