Guide

What to Bring to a Social Security Office

What Should You Bring to a Social Security Office?

What to bring to a Social Security office depends on your task, but the rule is the same every time: original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them, current and unexpired. SSA does not accept photocopies, notarized copies or receipts. For most visits, bring a U.S. driver's license, state ID or U.S. passport, your Social Security number and your appointment confirmation, plus the task-specific papers below. Find your office's address and hours with the office finder.

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Do You Need to Go to the Office at All?

Check this first, because the best document list is the one you never need. SSA lets you do many tasks online or by phone:

  • Replacement card: start online. In most areas you can finish without a visit. The card is free and arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days after SSA completes your request. See the replacement card guide.
  • Retirement, disability or Medicare application: apply on ssa.gov, or call 1-800-772-1213 to book a phone appointment.
  • Address or direct deposit change, proof of benefits, tax forms: use a my Social Security account.

Some tasks do need a visit. Anyone age 12 or older asking for a first Social Security number must appear in person for an interview. Record corrections, such as a date of birth fix, also mean bringing original documents to an office or card center.

If you do go, book first. SSA’s office locator says to make an appointment before visiting, and the appointment may turn out to be by phone. The hours and appointments guide covers how.

The Document Rule That Applies to Every Visit

Most wasted trips come down to the wrong kind of paper. SSA’s rules:

  • Originals or certified copies only. A certified copy comes from the agency that issued the original, such as a state vital records office for a birth certificate.
  • No photocopies and no notarized copies. A notary stamp does not make a photocopy acceptable.
  • Current documents. An expired license or passport won’t work as ID for a new or corrected card.
  • No receipts. A slip showing you applied for a document doesn’t count.

One document can do two jobs. A U.S. passport, for example, proves both citizenship and identity. SSA returns your originals.

What to Bring to a Social Security Office for a Card

What SSA needs Documents SSA accepts
Proof of identity U.S. driver’s license, state-issued non-driver ID card or U.S. passport
Backup identity, if you can’t get one of those within 10 days Employee ID, school ID, health insurance card (not a Medicare card) or U.S. military ID
Proof of U.S. citizenship, if SSA doesn’t already have it U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport
Proof of a legal name change Marriage document, divorce decree, Certificate of Naturalization showing the new name, or court order
Proof of age, for a first card Birth certificate if one exists; otherwise a religious record made before age 5, a U.S. hospital birth record or a U.S. passport

For a name change made more than two years ago (four years if you’re under 18), also bring an identity document in your old name. SSA will accept one that has expired. The name change guide covers each case, and the newborn card guide covers babies.

If you only need a card or a personal information update, SSA’s locator directs you to a Social Security Card Center where one serves your area.

What to Bring for a Retirement Application

Retirement applications run on information more than paper. Have these ready, whether you apply online, by phone or at an office:

  • Your Social Security number and where you were born (city, state, country).
  • Your work in the last 5 years: employer names, dates worked, average hours and pay rates.
  • Current and past marriages: your spouse’s or former spouse’s Social Security number and birthday, the dates of each marriage or divorce, and where you married.
  • Your bank’s routing number and your account number for direct deposit.
  • Names of children who may qualify on your record: those 17 or younger, 18 to 19 and in school (K to 12) full time, or any age if their disability began at 21 or younger.

SSA says it will contact you if it needs documents, and asks you to send them only when asked. Your first payment date then follows the payment schedule.

What to Bring for an SSI Application

SSI is based on need, so SSA asks for proof of your income, what you own and how you live. You may not need every item, and one document can sometimes replace another.

  • Proof of age: a public or religious birth record made before age 5. Skip this if you already proved your age for Social Security benefits.
  • Citizenship or immigration status: a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport or passport card, or naturalization certificate. Noncitizens bring a current immigration document such as an I-551 or I-94, and veterans a DD-214.
  • Income: recent pay stubs or last year’s tax return if self-employed, plus award letters or bank statements for other income.
  • Resources: statements for every bank account, deeds for property other than your home, life insurance policies, burial contracts, and titles for cars and other vehicles.
  • Living arrangements: your lease or rent receipt, or your deed or property tax bill, and the names and birth dates of everyone in your household.

For SSI based on disability, add the names, addresses and phone numbers of your doctors and hospitals, the dates you were treated, your medications and any medical reports you have. SSA’s Adult Disability Starter Kit has a worksheet for this. The SSI guide covers eligibility and the application steps.

What to Bring to Correct Your Social Security Record

Errors in your record, such as a wrong birth date, are a common reason SSA asks for an in-person visit. When you request a replacement card online, you can flag the fix, and SSA then asks you to bring original documents to a field office or card center. Bring one of these for each item you’re correcting:

  • Date of birth: birth certificate, U.S. hospital birth record, a religious record made before age 5, a valid passport, a final adoption decree based on the original birth certificate, or a tribal ID card.
  • Place of birth: birth certificate, U.S. passport or passport card, a federal or state census record, a foreign birth certificate, or a religious record made before age 5.
  • A parent’s name: birth certificate with the correct name, final adoption decree, court determination of paternity, or foreign passport.
  • Citizenship: U.S. passport or Certificate of Naturalization (N-550).
  • Immigration status: Permanent Resident Card (I-551) or Employment Authorization Document (I-766).

These corrections update your record but don’t print on your card. Noncitizens should also read the guide for non-citizens.

If You’re Helping Someone Else

Caregivers often handle the visit. When you file for another adult or a child, bring your own proof of identity plus documents that show you’re responsible for them. SSA’s examples include court custody papers and a letter from state social services placing the person in your household. If the person can’t file for themselves, SSA may ask for proof, such as a doctor’s certification.

For SSI, the applicant can name a representative to help with the application and attend appointments.

Before You Leave Home

Run through this the night before:

  1. Confirm your appointment time and keep the confirmation email or text.
  2. Check the office’s address and hours on its page here. Most offices are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but some differ.
  3. Check SSA’s office closings page for a same-day closing.
  4. Put originals in one folder, and bring any letter SSA sent you about this matter.

Busy cities have several offices, so check you have the right one. Houston has four, including Houston Southwest on Westheimer Road. Phoenix has two, including Phoenix Downtown on North 7th Avenue. Atlanta and Seattle have two each.

Watch for Fees and Scams

SSA’s card and benefit services are free. SSA warns that anyone charging for a replacement Social Security card or other free government forms is an imposter. Never hand your documents or Social Security number to someone who contacts you claiming to be from SSA. Call 1-800-772-1213 or your local office’s number to check.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Social Security Keep My Original Documents?

No. SSA says it returns original documents to you. For SSI, it also suggests keeping a copy of anything you send and noting the dates you send it.

Can I Bring a Photocopy of My Birth Certificate?

No. SSA accepts only the original or a copy certified by the agency that issued it, such as your state vital records office. Photocopies and notarized copies are refused.

Does an Expired Driver's License Count as ID?

Not for a new or corrected card. SSA requires identity documents to be current. The one exception: for a name change, SSA will accept an expired identity document in your old name.

Is a Medicare Card Proof of Identity?

No. SSA lists a health insurance card as a backup identity document but specifically excludes the Medicare card.

Should I Mail Documents Before My Retirement Appointment?

No. For retirement applications, SSA says it will contact you if it needs documents, and asks you to send them only when asked, to avoid delays.

What if I Don't Have Every Document Yet?

Apply anyway. For SSI, SSA says it will give you time to provide what's missing and may be able to help you get documents. It may also use the date you first contacted it as your filing date.

Keep Reading

Sources

  1. SSA: Documents you need for a Social Security card
  2. SSA: Documents you may need when you apply for SSI
  3. SSA: Apply for retirement benefits
  4. SSA: Apply for SSI for disability
  5. SSA: Replace your Social Security card
  6. SSA: Field Office Locator

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.