Updated January 09, 2024
An Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5) is used to request a new or replacement Social Security card from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The form asks for basic information about the applicant and their parents.
Filing Methods (2)
- Online Filings – Go to www.ssa.gov/number-card
- Processing time: 7-10 business days[1]
- Mail-in Filings – Use Form SS-5
- Processing time: 2-4 weeks
Common Uses (3)
- Applying for a new Social Security card
- Addt’l. Requirements: 2 forms of ID such as a driver’s license, State-issued ID card, or U.S. passport (if you are not a U.S. citizen and do not have DHS work authorization, you must prove that you have a valid non-work reason for requesting a card).[2]
- Replacing a Social Security card
- Addt’l. Requirements: 1 form of ID such as a driver’s license, State-issued ID card, or U.S. passport (if born outside the USA, must also prove current U.S. Citizenship or current work status).
- Updating information on a Social Security record
- Addt’l. Requirements:
- 1 form of ID such as a driver’s license, State-issued ID card, or U.S. passport (if born outside the USA, must also prove current U.S. Citizenship or current work status); and
- Documentation that proves the change (name change decree, marriage certificate, etc.).
- Addt’l. Requirements:
Maximum Replacement Cards
The SSA limits the number of replacement cards a person can receive to 3 per year and 10 in a lifetime.[3]
Cards issued for the following reasons are not considered replacement cards:
- Legal name changes;
- Changes to alien status; and
- Other extenuating circumstances supported by evidence, such as a letter from a government agency.
FAQs
How do you apply for a name change on a Social Security card?
People who wish to update their Social Security card to reflect a legal name change can do so by requesting a replacement card.
Can a Social Security card application be submitted online?
Many applicants can submit a Social Security card application online. The SSA provides a questionnaire to guide users through the process.
Is there a cost for a replacement card?
Whether a Social Security card is lost, stolen, damaged, or needs updating, the SSA will replace it for free. However, a replacement card may not be necessary for people who know their Social Security number, as physical cards are rarely needed.[4]
Is Form SS-5 available in Spanish?
Yes, Form SS-5-SP is the Spanish version also known as the “Solicitud para una tarjeta de Seguro Social.”