Social Security Card Replacement: How to Get a Replacement Card Online or at an Office
Cross-checked against official SSA.gov policy guidelines and Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
A replacement Social Security card is free. The Social Security Administration (SSA) never charges for a new or replacement card, and no private company can get one for you faster. Most adult U.S. citizens can now request a replacement entirely online in about ten minutes; everyone else applies at a local field office or, in a few metros, at a dedicated Social Security Card Center.
This guide walks through both routes, the documents SSA actually accepts, the limits on how many cards you can get, and what to do if you only need your number rather than the card itself.
Do you actually need the card?
Before you apply, check whether you need the physical card at all. SSA's position is that you rarely do: what matters is the number, and most employers, banks and agencies can verify it without seeing the card.
You usually do not need a replacement if:
- You know your Social Security number and the card was simply lost (no sign of theft).
- An employer asks for your number for payroll; the number itself is enough, although some employers still ask to see a card for Form I-9. A U.S. passport or other List A document also satisfies I-9.
- A bank, lender or school asks for your number on a form.
You do need a replacement card if an agency or employer insists on seeing the physical card, if you are completing Form I-9 and have no other acceptable document, or if the card was damaged and you want a clean copy.
If your card was stolen, the replacement is the smaller problem. Report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov, consider a credit freeze with the three bureaus, and review your earnings record in your my Social Security account for wages you did not earn.
Option 1: Replace your card online (fastest)
The online replacement is handled inside a free my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. You can use it if all of the following apply:
- You are a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older.
- You have a U.S. mailing address (APO/FPO military addresses count).
- You are not requesting a name change or any other change to your record.
- You have a driver's license or state-issued ID card. SSA verifies your identity against state motor-vehicle records, and residents of every state, the District of Columbia and most territories can now use the service.
Steps:
- Sign in to my Social Security (or create an account with Login.gov or ID.me).
- Choose Replace your Social Security card (under "Your Social Security Number").
- Confirm the information on file and enter your driver's license or state ID details.
- Submit. Nothing is mailed to SSA; there are no documents to upload.
The card is printed centrally and mailed to the address on your record, typically within 14 business days. SSA will not mail it to a different address, so update your address in the account first if you have moved.
If the online tool cannot verify your identity, it will tell you immediately and you can fall back to Option 2 without losing anything.
Option 2: Replace your card at a Social Security office
Use the in-person route if you are under 18, not a U.S. citizen, changing your name or any other detail, or simply unable to verify online.
- Complete Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. Download it from ssa.gov or fill it in at the office. Since 2024 SSA also lets you start the application online and finish it at the office; this saves time at the window.
- Gather original documents (details below). Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted, with one exception: SSA accepts certified copies issued by the agency that holds the record, such as a certified birth certificate from the vital-records office.
- Book an appointment. SSA asks visitors to schedule before coming in and serves appointment holders first. Call your local office directly or 1-800-772-1213; see Social Security appointment for every option.
- Visit the office. Bring the form and your originals. Staff verify the documents, return them to you on the spot, and give you a receipt.
The card is not printed at the office. It is mailed from a central facility, usually within 14 business days, the same as the online route. If you need proof of your number sooner, the receipt shows that an application is pending, and many agencies accept a benefit-verification or "Numident" printout that the office can provide.
Which office?
Any SSA field office can take a card application, with one important exception: in New York City, Philadelphia, Orlando and the Twin Cities, routine card requests are handled only at the Social Security Card Center, and the regular field offices there will send you to it. Each office page on this site tells you which applies, and the NYC Card Centers guide explains the New York setup.
Find your nearest office with the ZIP code locator or browse offices by state.
Documents SSA accepts
SSA needs to establish three things: your identity, your citizenship or immigration status, and for children, age. One document can cover more than one category (a U.S. passport proves both identity and citizenship), but you will usually need at least two.
Proof of identity (one document)
SSA prefers a current, unexpired document that shows your name, a photo or physical description, and ideally your date of birth or age:
- U.S. driver's license
- State-issued non-driver ID card
- U.S. passport
If you have none of these, SSA may accept an employee ID, school ID, health-insurance card (not a Medicare card), or U.S. military ID, but the office decides case by case, and expired documents are generally refused.
Proof of U.S. citizenship (one document)
- U.S. birth certificate (certified copy from the issuing office)
- U.S. passport (current or expired is acceptable for citizenship)
- Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Non-citizens
Bring your current immigration document from DHS, such as Form I-551 (Permanent Resident Card), Form I-766 (Employment Authorization Document), or Form I-94 with an unexpired foreign passport. Students on F-1 or M-1 visas need additional evidence of work authorization, such as Form I-20 with an on-campus employment letter. If you are not authorized to work, SSA issues a card only when a federal, state or local law requires a number for a benefit, and you will need a letter from the agency.
Children under 18
A parent or guardian applies on the child's behalf and must prove their own identity as well as the child's citizenship and age. A child's identity can be shown with a school record, adoption decree, doctor's or hospital record, religious record showing age, or a passport. Children 12 and older must appear in person.
Replacement limits
Federal rules limit replacement cards to 3 per calendar year and 10 in a lifetime. Cards issued for a legal name change, a change in work authorization or citizenship status, or to correct an SSA error do not count against the limits, and SSA can waive them when you show that a card is required to prevent a significant hardship. The limits exist to discourage reselling of cards, and most people never come close to them.
How long does it take?
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Online application | 10 minutes to submit |
| Office visit (with appointment) | 20–40 minutes at the window |
| Card mailed from the central print facility | within about 14 business days |
| Expedited handling | not available; SSA has no paid or priority service |
If the card has not arrived after 14 business days, call the office that took the application or 1-800-772-1213. Do not reapply; a second application does not speed up the first.
Common mistakes that cause a second trip
- Bringing photocopies. Only originals or agency-certified copies are accepted.
- Expired ID. A recently expired driver's license is not accepted for identity.
- Using a nickname. The name on the application must match your citizenship document exactly, or the office will treat it as a name change and ask for the legal paperwork.
- Wrong address on file. The card goes to the address SSA holds. Update it first in my Social Security.
- Going to a NYC, Philadelphia, Orlando or Twin Cities field office for a card. Those cities route card work to the Card Center.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace my Social Security card the same day?
No. Offices do not print cards. The quickest you will hold a new card is roughly two weeks, whether you apply online or in person.
Can I get a replacement card for my child online?
No. Applications for anyone under 18 are made at an office by a parent or guardian with original documents.
I changed my name. Can I use the online replacement?
Not for the name change itself. You can start the application online, but you must show the marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order at an office. See changing your name with Social Security.
Does a replacement card have a different number?
No. Your Social Security number stays the same for life. SSA assigns a new number only in rare cases of ongoing identity theft, harassment or abuse, and only after a separate application with evidence.
Can someone else pick up my card?
Cards are mailed, never handed over at the office. Someone can submit an application for you only if they are your legal guardian or hold power of attorney and can prove it.
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