Can i get a replacement social security card in person

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.

Table of Contents Show

Replacing your Social Security card online
Replacing your card by mail or in person
The Social Security Administration gives you 3 ways to request a new Social Security card
Which documents do I need to have to get a new Social Security card?
How to request a new Social Security card without changes
How to get a replacement Social Security card if you've changed your name or other information
How long will it take to receive your new Social Security card?

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

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.

Your Social Security number is needed for a number of things in life to confirm your identity. For instance, when you apply for a new credit card, file your taxes or if you need to verify your identity online. You need your physical Social Security card much less frequently, usually for situations like starting a new job -- or if you don't yet have your number memorized. So if you don't have it when you need it, you could be in trouble.

If you've misplaced your Social Security card or have recently changed your name, you can get a new one. But how you do it depends on whether you need a new one with updated information or a replacement without any changes.

We'll tell you what you need to get a new Social Security card for either situation. For more, here's when it's OK to give out your Social Security number. While you're here, check out these identity theft protection and monitoring services.

There are several ways to request a new card: in person, online or through the mail. If you meet the requirements, doing it online may be the easiest way, but if you need to request a new card through the mail, the administration says not to send original primary documents that you should keep in your possession, such as your driver's license, your passport or your immigration documents.

Also, documents must be originals or copies certified by the agency that issued them. The administration won't accept photocopies or notarized copies.

If you're getting a new card in person or sending your documents by mail, make sure to also fill out Form SS-5 (PDF).

Whichever way you do it (online, in person at a Social Security office or through the mail) you'll need documents to prove your citizenship, age and identity.

Proof of US citizenship: This can be your birth certificate or a US passport. This documentation is only required if you haven't already established citizenship with the Social Security Administration.

Proof of age:A birth certificate is best, but if you don't have one, the Social Security Administration may accept a religious record made before you turned 5 years old, a US hospital record of your birth or a US passport.

Form of identification: This can include your US driver's license, US passport or state-issued non-driver ID card.

If you don't have any of these documents, the Social Security Administration may accept one of the following:

Employee identification card
School identification card
Health insurance card (but not a Medicare card)
US military ID card

The easiest way is to request a new card online, especially if you don't live near a Social Security office.

You'll need to create a My Social Security account to get started. Once you're signed in, you should see a link that says Replace your Social Security Card at the top.

After you click the link, you'll be asked a series of questions to determine if you're eligible to request a replacement card online. Finally, you'll need to verify your identity by answering several other questions, and then you'll electronically sign your name before submitting your request.

Here's who isn't eligible to request a card online:

People who live in Alaska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma or West Virginia.
Those requesting any change to their card, such as a name change.
Those with a driver's license or ID card issued by a US territory, such as American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands.

If you want to request a new card in person, here's where you can find a local office to schedule an appointment. And if you'd rather mail in your request, here's how to find the mailing address for your nearest office.

You'll need to complete and send in this form (PDF), whether you're visiting an office in person or mailing in your request.

If you've legally changed your name for any reason -- for instance, marriage, divorce or court order -- you'll need to let Social Security know so you can get a corrected card. You can either take the required documents to a nearby Social Security office or mail them in. You can't request a new card with changes online.

As with requesting a new card without changes, you'll need to show proof of US citizenship, proof of your legal name change and a form of identification.

When you get your new card, it'll have your same Social Security number with your new name.

The Social Security Administration says it will take roughly seven to 10 business days to receive your new Social Security card if you applied online or in person. For those who submitted their request via mail, it could take between two and four weeks for the administration to process and return your documents.