Social security card replacement how long does it take

You can replace a lost or stolen Social Security card up to three times in a year and up to 10 times during your lifetime. Getting a new card because of a change in your legal name or citizenship status does not count toward the limits. 

You can request a placement card online, by mail or in person at a local Social Security office. 

Replacing your Social Security card online

To request a replacement card online, you must have a My Social Security account and meet these requirements:

• You are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older.
• You are not changing the name on the card.
• You have a U.S. mailing address (military and diplomatic addresses count).
• You live in a state that shares its computer data with Social Security. As of April 2022, 46 states and the District of Columbia do so. (Alaska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and West Virginia are the exceptions.) The list is updated regularly, so check the Social Security website to see if your state's status has changed.

Replacing your card by mail or in person

If you don’t have an online account or don’t meet any one of the other criteria listed above, you’ll have to fill out an application form and either mail it or take it to your local Social Security office.

Local offices fully reopened April 7 after being closed to walk-in traffic for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) recommends calling in advance and scheduling an appointment to avoid long waits.

You’ll need to provide what the SSA calls "primary" proof of identity — either a passport, a driver’s license or a state-issued photo ID card. If you don’t have any of those, Social Security will ask to see a current, “secondary” ID that shows your name; identifying information such as age or date of birth; and, preferably, a recent photograph — for example, an employee, student or U.S. military ID or a health insurance card (but not a Medicare card). 

Social Security typically requires the original of your primary ID document, or a copy certified by the agency that issued it. Photocopies, even if notarized, are not accepted.  

However, the SSA advises against mailing “original primary documents that should be kept secure in your possession.” As an alternative, you may send secondary evidence of identity, or contact your local office about dropping off your evidence or making an appointment. Social Security will return any documents you do submit once they process your new card.  

Your new Social Security card should arrive in the mail in 10 to 14 days. There is no charge. 

Keep in mind

To change the name on your Social Security card, you will need to provide proof of your new name — for example, a marriage certificate, adoption papers or a court order granting the change — and proof of identity and citizenship. These must be originals or certified copies. If you don’t have any of those documents, Social Security may accept an unexpired, state-issued identity document in your new name, provided they can match it to your old name in their records. 

So, you’ve lost your Social Security card and need a free replacement card right away. Perhaps you are starting a new job and need to show your new employer your Social Security card for I-9 verification. Or maybe you have another reason for needing your card right away. The Social Security Administration isn’t known for being the quickest place to deal with, so how can you get a same-day replacement? You need to know a few things about same-day replacement cards. Keep reading as we tell you how they work and what you need to do to get one.

• Same-Day Social Security Card Replacement
• Temporary Social Security Cards Explained
• How To Request A Replacement Social Security Card
• Documentation Required For A New Social Security Number Card
• What To Do If You Lose Your Social Security Card
• The Bottom Line
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How can I get my Social Security card immediately?
• Can I get a temporary Social Security card online?
• How do I get a Social Security card replacement if I have lost my card?
• Where do I go to get a new Social Security card?

Same-Day Social Security Card Replacement

The first thing you should know is that it is impossible to get a replacement SSN card on the same day. You do, however, have a couple of options. If you have a little time, then you should create a My Social Security account and use the Social Security Administration’s online services to request your replacement Social Security card online. If you request your replacement online, you can expect to receive your new card at your U.S. mailing address in about 10 to 14 days. But what if you can’t wait that long? Here is what you need to do.

You will need to submit your application for a replacement Social Security number card in person at your local Social Security office. You should print and complete the Form SS-5 application for a new card. You will need to call the Social Security Administration toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to schedule an appointment. Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, these offices are not accepting walk-ins. Once you have your appointment, head down to your local SSA office with original documents needed to support your application. Remember that photocopies of your documents are not accepted. If you have your application completed and the proper documentation, then the Social Security representative will issue you a receipt showing that your new card has been requested. In many cases, this will act as a temporary card. This is as close as you can get to a same-day replacement card.

Temporary Social Security Cards Explained

As mentioned in the section above, the Social Security Administration does not issue temporary Social Security cards. Remember that Social Security cards never expire, so your card is good for your lifetime. The only reason you should need to request a new card is if your card is lost, stolen, or damaged. You might also need a new card if you have a legal name change. The most common situation when you need a temporary card is starting a new job. Your employer will need your Social Security card for I-9 verification, but if yours has been lost or stolen, that could present a problem.

When you submit your application for a new card in person, the SSA can issue a receipt to you stating that the new card has been requested. This receipt verifies that your application has been submitted and approved and that you will be receiving a new card. In short, it acts as a temporary Social Security card. This receipt is an acceptable replacement document for I-9 purposes, although not all entities will accept this receipt for all purposes. You might find that your bank or some other agency will not accept the receipt and will only accept your Social Security card. In that case, you have no other option except to wait on your new card to arrive. Another thing to keep in mind is that the receipt from SSA is only valid for 90 days. After 90 days have passed, you must have your new card to present as identification.

How To Request A Replacement Social Security Card

Many people wonder how to get a replacement Social Security card. As we discussed in a prior section, the quickest and easiest way to get a replacement Social Security card is by requesting one online. To do this, you will need to create a My Social Security account at www.ssa.gov. In addition to requesting Social Security replacement cards, the SSA provides many additional online services through this account. You can view your entire Social Security benefits statement, including earnings history and estimates of future benefit payments. You can match these amounts up with prior tax returns to make sure that your records are accurate. Once your account is created, it only takes a few clicks to have your replacement Social Security card sent to your home.

However, not everyone is eligible to request a replacement card online. First, you must be a U.S. citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address. You must not be requesting any changes to your Social Security card. Only identical replacements are allowed online. Your driver’s license or other state-issued identification cards must have been issued by one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. ID cards that were issued in a U.S. territory will not suffice when attempting to request a replacement card online. Finally, you must reside in a state that is eligible for online replacements. Thankfully, almost every state in America qualifies now. The only states that are not eligible for online replacements are Oklahoma, Alaska, New Hampshire, and West Virginia.

If you are a noncitizen or do not otherwise qualify for online SS card replacements, then you will need to complete the replacement Social Security card application, Form SS-5. You should print the application and fill in all the required information. In addition, there are several documents that you will need to support your application. Details on the acceptable documents are discussed in the next section. Once you have the application completed and your required documents gathered, then you have two options.

The first option is to mail your paperwork to the Social Security Administration. Many people avoid this option because that would require them to mail their driver’s license or other important documents to SSA since photocopies are not accepted. If you are not comfortable mailing your documents, then you will need to make an in-person appointment at your local Social Security office. You can submit your application and documents in person and even get a receipt showing that your new card has been requested. Just make sure that you get an appointment before arriving at the office. Walk-ins are not currently accepted. Also, keep in mind that it may be several weeks before appointments are available in some locations. The SSA is also limiting appointments to the most crucial reasons, and all other items must be handled online or over the phone.

Documentation Required For A New Social Security Number Card

Are you wondering, “What do I need to get a replacement Social Security card?” Hopefully, you are ready to learn what documents you need to complete your request for a new Social Security card because we are going to tell you. The answer depends on the method by which you make your request. If you can complete your request through the online card center, then you will just need your U.S. driver’s license or state-issued identification card. If you must complete a paper application because you don’t have eligibility to make the request online because of immigration status or some other reason, then the documentation required will be more extensive.

First, you will need a document proving your U.S. citizenship if you have not previously proved this to the Social Security Administration. In most cases, people use a U.S. birth certificate for this. You might also choose to use a U.S. passport or a certificate of naturalization. Next, you will need documents that prove your identity. The documents used for identity verification vary based on which documents you have available. This is typically a driver’s license or state ID card. However, you might use other documents like a military ID, health insurance card (not a Medicare card), or school ID card. The document should show your legal name, date of birth, and preferably have a recent photo.

Regardless of which documents you use with your application, a few rules apply to them all. First, the document must be current and not expired. Next, they must be original documents. Photocopies, even notarized copies, are not acceptable. In some cases, a certified copy might be acceptable; however, it must be certified by the issuing agency. Receipts showing that you have requested a particular document will not serve as an acceptable replacement document. For instance, a receipt from your state Department of Motor Vehicles showing that you have requested a new driver’s license will not work in place of your original driver’s license.

What To Do If You Lose Your Social Security Card

What happens if you lose your Social Security card? In addition to requesting a replacement for a lost card, there are some more steps that you should take to help protect yourself from identity theft. If your SSN and card fall into the wrong hands, a thief might open credit cards, bank accounts, or loan accounts in your name. You could be stuck with a huge financial headache that might take months or even years to sort out.

If you lose your card, the first thing you should do is place a fraud alert on your Social Security number. This notifies the credit reporting bureaus that your SSN has been compromised, and lenders must take additional precautions to verify your identity before issuing credit in your name. You might even consider placing a credit freeze on your SSN, which completely prevents anyone from opening a new account.

Next, you should review your credit report to make sure there is no suspicious activity there. If you notice any accounts on your report that you did not initiate, then you should work with the credit agencies to have those fraudulent items removed. Go ahead and sign up for a credit monitoring service. These services will immediately alert you to changes in your credit file. This allows you to catch fraud quickly and gives you a better chance of stopping it before it does too much damage.

The Bottom Line

While the Social Security Administration does not issue official temporary Social Security cards, there is a way that you can get something almost as good. If you submit your application for a replacement card in person at the SSA, then you can request a receipt showing that your card has been requested. This receipt can act as a temporary card as many agencies will accept it in place of your original card.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get my Social Security card immediately?

There is no way to get a new Social Security card immediately. If you need your new card right away, then you should submit your application for a replacement in person at your local Social Security office. Ask them for a receipt showing that the application has been submitted. This will work as a temporary card for many agencies. If you can wait a few days, the quickest way to get your new card is to request one online. So, how long does it take to get a replacement Social Security card online? You should receive your replacement in about 10 to 14 days after completing your online request.

No, you cannot get a temporary card online. If you make your request online, then your new card will be mailed to your address and should arrive within a couple of weeks. If you need a temporary card, then you will need to submit your application in person at the Social Security office. Though they don’t issue temporary cards, they can give you a receipt showing that your application has been submitted and your card is on the way. This receipt will serve as a temporary card in most cases.

How do I get a Social Security card replacement if I have lost my card?

Are you wondering, “How do I get a new Social Security card?” If you lost your Social Security card, the easiest way to get a replacement is to request one online through your Social Security account. If you are unable to request one online, then you can either mail your application or submit it in person. Make sure that you schedule an appointment if you plan to visit the SSA office in person. No walk-ins are being accepted during the COVID pandemic.

Where do I go to get a new Social Security card?

Are you wondering how to get a new Social Security card? You can visit www.ssa.gov to register for a My Social Security account and request a new card online. If you cannot complete the online request, then you will need to visit your local Social Security office or mail your completed Form SS-5 (Social Security card replacement form) to the Social Security Administration. Those are the only three options for obtaining a new Social Security card.

Is it faster to get a replacement Social Security card online or in person?

How can I get a copy of my Social Security ASAP?

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