Guide

How to Replace a Social Security Card

How Do You Replace a Social Security Card?

Here is how to replace a Social Security card: start the free application on ssa.gov, finish it online if you qualify, or book an appointment and bring original documents to an office. Adults 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address and a my Social Security account can often do it all online, and the card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days. If you need an office, the office finder lists all 1,231 Social Security offices.

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Online, by Phone or in Person: Which Way Works for You

Replacing a lost, stolen or worn-out card is free, and SSA wants you to start online. Your path depends on your age, your address and what else needs to change on your record.

Your situation Where you can finish What you bring
Age 18 or older, U.S. mailing address, my Social Security account, no other changes Online, in most states Nothing in person; SSA verifies you online
Naturalized citizen with citizenship already on file Online, same rules as above Nothing in person
Name change, citizenship not yet on file, or other record updates Start online, then an office appointment Original documents (see below)
Replacing a card for a child or another adult Start online, then an office appointment Your ID, their ID, and proof you are responsible for them
No internet access Paper Form SS-5 at an office or Card Center Original documents

Phone help is at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in most U.S. time zones. Tell the agent you want a replacement card. The phone line guides you, but you still prove your identity online or in person.

One point surprises people: your local office cannot print a card on the spot. Every replacement is mailed, whether you apply online or at a counter.

Do You Even Need a Replacement?

Often you don’t. SSA says that in most cases a physical card isn’t necessary and that knowing your number is what matters. Most employers, banks and benefit agencies ask for the number, not the card.

Replace it when someone needs to see the card itself, such as a new employer completing hiring paperwork. If the card was stolen along with your wallet, guard your number as well: the scam warnings further down explain what SSA will and won’t ask you for.

How to Replace a Social Security Card, Step by Step

  1. Go to the official SSA page. Start at ssa.gov’s replacement card page and select Get started. Use only addresses that end in .gov.
  2. Answer the screening questions. SSA asks about your age, citizenship and whether anything on the card should change. The answers decide whether you can finish online.
  3. Sign in to my Social Security if you qualify. Adults 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address and an account can complete the request online in most states. See the my Social Security account guide if you haven’t set one up.
  4. Otherwise, book the appointment the application offers. You can self-schedule a visit to a local office or a Social Security Card Center as part of the online application.
  5. Bring original documents to the appointment. The list is below. Photocopies and notarized copies are turned away.
  6. Watch your mailbox. The card arrives 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request.

Whether you live in Oklahoma or Oregon, you start at the same SSA application, and it tells you whether you can finish from home. You can browse offices by state, for example the Oklahoma Social Security offices, before you book.

The Documents SSA Accepts for a Replacement Card

Every document must be an original or a copy certified by the agency that issued it. It must be current, not expired. SSA won’t accept photocopies, notarized copies or a receipt showing you applied for a document.

What you prove First choice If you can’t get a first-choice document within 10 days
Identity U.S. driver’s license, state-issued non-driver ID card, or U.S. passport Employee ID card, school ID card, health insurance card (not a Medicare card), or U.S. military ID card
U.S. citizenship (only if SSA doesn’t have it on file) U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport Skip this row if SSA already has your citizenship on file
Responsibility for someone else Court custody papers or a state social services placement letter Other documents showing your relationship and responsibility

A few details save return trips:

  • One document can do two jobs. A U.S. passport proves both citizenship and identity.
  • Identity documents need a photo or details. They must show your name, your date of birth or age, and preferably a recent photo.
  • SSA’s own papers don’t count. A Medicare card, an award letter or an old Social Security card can’t prove who you are.
  • Filing for an adult who can’t apply? You may also need proof of their incapacity, such as a doctor’s certification.

For a child’s replacement card, you prove your identity, the child’s identity and your custody or relationship. The newborn card guide lists the identity documents SSA accepts for children.

What It Costs and How Long It Takes

A replacement card costs nothing. SSA says so plainly, and it warns that private companies charging a fee offer no advantage: you still have to give your documents to Social Security yourself.

Timing is short once SSA has what it needs. The card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes the request. The online route is fastest because there is no appointment to wait for. If you need an office visit, the wait for an opening is the slowest part, so book as soon as the application offers it.

Limits: Three a Year, 10 in a Lifetime

Federal law caps replacement cards at three in a year and 10 in your lifetime, counting cards issued since December 17, 2005. SSA’s system tracks the count.

Some cards don’t count toward the limits:

  • A card issued after a legal name change.
  • A card issued to add, change or remove a work restriction legend, such as after a change in immigration status.
  • Cards issued before December 17, 2005.

Once you hit a limit, SSA issues another card only if you document an exception: a name change, a legend change, a card that never arrived, an SSA mistake, or proof that you need the card to prevent a significant hardship. Without one, SSA denies the request and mails a notice.

If your card came after a marriage or divorce, the name change guide covers the documents for that kind of card.

Do You Need to Visit an Office?

Only if you can’t finish online. That covers name changes, records missing your citizenship, replacements for children, and people without a U.S. mailing address or a my Social Security account.

The office finder lists all 1,231 Social Security offices in SSA’s office data, checked against SSA’s Office Locator on October 1, 2026. Most of them, 1,194 offices, keep standard hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A few examples:

Check your office’s page for its hours before you go, and read what to bring to a Social Security office for the visit itself. The office hours and appointments guide explains how booking works.

Scams and Fake Replacement Services

Replacement cards are free, so anyone charging for one is a red flag. SSA lists “charging a fee for a replacement Social Security number card” as a sign of a government imposter.

Keep these SSA rules in mind:

  • SSA will never threaten you with arrest or legal action, suspend your Social Security number, or demand immediate payment.
  • SSA will never ask you to pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, internet currency or a wire transfer.
  • SSA won’t ask for sensitive personal information through social media, email or text.

If a call, text or letter feels wrong, hang up or ignore it, and report it to SSA’s Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report. Opening your own my Social Security account also helps: it stops a thief from opening one in your name. For the real numbers to call, see the Social Security phone number guide.

If Something Goes Wrong

The card never arrived. Allow the full 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request, then call 1-800-772-1213. A card that never arrived is one of the exceptions to the replacement limits.

The online application turned you away. That usually means something needs a document check, such as citizenship that isn’t on file. Book the appointment the application offers and bring originals.

Your ID is expired or missing. SSA won’t accept expired documents. Get a replacement driver’s license or state ID first, or bring a second-choice document from the table above if you can’t get one within 10 days.

Your Medicare card is lost too. That’s a separate request; the replacement Medicare card guide walks through it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need a New Card if I Know My Number?

Usually not. SSA says that in most cases a physical card isn't necessary and knowing your number is what matters. Replace the card when an employer or agency asks to see it.

Can the Office Print My Card While I Wait?

No. SSA says your local office cannot print a card for you. Every replacement card is mailed, usually 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request.

Can I Laminate My New Card?

SSA asks you not to laminate it, because lamination hides security features. A removable plastic sleeve or card holder is fine as long as it doesn't damage the card.

Does a Medicare Card or Award Letter Prove My Identity?

No. SSA does not accept its own records, such as a Medicare card, an award letter or an old Social Security card, as proof of identity. Bring a driver's license, state ID or U.S. passport instead.

I Am a Naturalized Citizen. Can I Replace My Card Online?

Yes, as long as SSA already has your U.S. citizenship verified on file. If it doesn't, you'll show your Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. passport at an appointment.

What if I Have Already Had 10 Replacement Cards?

Once you reach a limit, SSA only issues another card if you document an exception, such as a legal name change, a card that never arrived, an SSA mistake or a significant hardship. Otherwise the request is denied by mail.

Keep Reading

Sources

  1. SSA: Replace Social Security card
  2. SSA: Learn what documents you will need to get a Social Security card
  3. SSA FAQ: How do I apply for a replacement Social Security number card online?
  4. SSA FAQ: What does it cost to get a Social Security card?
  5. SSA POMS RM 10205.400: Limits on replacement SSN cards
  6. SSA POMS RM 10210.430: What documents are not evidence of identity
  7. SSA: Protect yourself from Social Security scams

Independent site, not affiliated with the Social Security Administration. Office addresses, phone numbers and hours come from SSA's public office data. To apply for benefits or manage your record, go to SSA directly at ssa.gov.