How Much Does It Cost To Replace Social Security Card?

Last Updated on December 4, 2021 by

If your Social Security card has been stolen or lost it is possible to request an alternative Social Security card from the Social Security Administration. A lot of people can apply for the replacement Social Security card on the internet, while some need to make an application in order to obtain a brand new one by postal mail, or even in person. The replacement Social Security card is not expensive, however, you may have to attach official documents to the application.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace Social Security Card

Here’s how to apply for an updated Social Security card:

  • Find out if you are eligible to apply for a new Social Security card online.
  • Use or create to access your Social Security account.
  • Complete a paper application.
  • Take the all the necessary documents.
  • Send or mail an application in person in an Social Security office.

How to Apply for a Replacement Social Security Card Online

It is possible to apply for a fresh Social Security card online using your Social Security account. If you don’t already have My Social Security account, you can set one up by visiting ssa.gov/myaccount. 

In many states, people who are over 18 and possess an official driver’s license or state-issued ID card are able to apply for a new Social Security card online. There is no charge for an upgrade or replacement Social Security card.

There are however certain individuals who aren’t eligible to exchange the Social Security card using a Social Security account. If your identification card was issued from Alaska, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, West Virginia, or a U.S. territory, you might not be in a position to purchase the new Social Security card online. People who live in Delaware and Wisconsin are able to use the online replacement of cards when they possess the driver’s license, but not other types of identification issued by the state.

People who want changes for your Social Security record also aren’t able to use the online service. “If you plan on making changes to your Social Security card, such as a name change, you will not be able to request a replacement online,” states Martha Shedden, president, and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts.

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Documents You Need to Get a New Social Security Card

People who aren’t eligible to apply for the Social Security card online must complete an application on the form on paper and send or bring it to the Social Security office. You might also have to show documents to prove proof of your age or identity U.S. citizenship or immigration status.

The most frequently requested documents for the creation of a new Social Security card include:

  • Birth certificate.
  • U.S. driver’s license.
  • U.S. state-issued non-driver identity card issued by the U.S. state.
  • U.S. passport.
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If you don’t possess these documents of identification Other documents may be accepted like a U.S. hospital record or religious birth record or a final adoption decree or the U.S. military identity card and a certificate of naturalization or an employee ID card and a certified copy of medical records or health insurance card or a Medicaid card, or a school identification card.

You must supply your Social Security Administration with original documents or certified copies issued by the agency which issued the documents. Notarized copies and photocopies of documents will not be considered identification proof. According to the Social Security Administration says it typically takes between two to four weeks to complete the request and then return the documents.

Social Security Card Limits

The average worker can only have up to 3 replacement Social Security cards per calendar year, and 10 cards over the course of a lifetime. Cards that are required because of changes in name or authorization for work do not count against the limitations. The card limit is not a problem for you. is granted when you show proof that you have a Social Security card is required for a legitimate reason.

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Security Implications of Losing Your Social Security Card

If you are concerned that you suspect that your Social Security information is stolen There are ways to safeguard your identity. “Place a credit freeze on your credit reports with the three credit bureaus. This will stop anyone from using your identity to open new accounts,” advises Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention at the AARP Fraud Watch Network. “It’s free, and you can lift the freeze anytime you need to take out a loan or open a new credit account and then refreeze for free.”

How to Keep Your New Social Security Card Safe

The Social Security Administration advises not carrying your Social Security card around on your person. You’ll only have to present the Social Security card under very particular circumstances, such as beginning an employment or opening a bank account, or applying for government benefits. In the majority of other cases, there is no have to show your Social Security card.

“If you are asked for your Social Security information for purposes where it is really not necessary, for instance in doctor’s offices, I suggest people ask why it is needed and if there is another form of identification that you can give instead,” says Susan Grant, director of consumer protection and privacy at the Consumer Federation of America. “Your Social Security card is one of those things you should put away somewhere where you can find it, but where it’s not exposed to others who may be in your home.”

Editor’s note The local Social Security offices are currently closed to visits by walk-in visitors because of the COVID-19 epidemic. A variety of Social Security services are available on the internet or by telephone. 

If you’re in a “dire need situation” regarding your benefits or you need to modify information that is associated with the Social Security number, such as your name or citizenship status, you might be able to make an appointment in person. Check out Social Security’s coronavirus website or contact the local office for more details.

If you don’t have one of them, Social Security will ask to see a different form of ID valid to the present time that displays your name, identifying details such as your date of birth or age, and, in the best case an image from the past like a student, employee or U.S. military ID or an insurance card for health (but not a Medicare card).

The brand-new Social Security card should arrive in about 10-14 days. There is no cost.

Remember

  • To request mail, Social Security requires that the documents be original or copies that have been certified by the agency who provided the documents. Photoscopies, regardless of whether they are notarized, are not acceptable. Social Security will return your documents after they have processed the new card.
  • If you want to alter the person’s name for you Social Security card, you must provide evidence of the new name, for instance marriage certificates adoption papers, an order of a judge that allows the change along with evidence of your identification and citizenship. These documents must be originals, as well as certified copies. If you don’t have one of these papers, Social Security may accept an unexpired, official identity card in the name of your choice, if they can verify it against your previous name on their database.

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