A social security card is essential if you want to draw benefits as a citizen of the United States. Want to know how to lay hands on a new card? In this post, we’ll go through everything that you need to do.

We’ll warn you upfront — you’re going to have to provide many documents, and some strict rules apply to these:

• The documents must be the originals or a copy of these that the agency that issued them certified. Notarized copies and photocopies will not be accepted
• Your documents must all be valid. If you want to prove your identity using your driver’s license, and that is expired, the application will be rejected, even if you have proof that you applied for a new one
• You cannot hand over your passport as both of proof of age and nationality. You must provide separate documents for each.

On to the Documents

Here we’ll go through what you need to prove through documentary evidence.

Citizenship

For this, you can either use a United States birth certificate or your U.S. passport.

Age

If you have a birth certificate, it must go with your application. If no birth certificate was ever issued here are some alternative options:

• A church or other religious record that has your full names and date of birth on it. This record must have been written out before you turned five years old
• The record from the U.S. hospital where you were born
• Your valid passport

If you are twelve years or older and getting your first card, the process becomes a little more complicated. You would need to make an appointment at the nearest Social Security offices and be interviewed.

You’ll need the documentation listed above and proof of why the number was never issued in the first place. Here is how you can prove that the number was no issued:

• Were you living in another country for a period of time? Then your passport, current or expired, employment records, school records or any other document confirming that you were a long-term resident of another country should suffice
• If you have always lived in the U.S., you will need to have the details of any schools attended and may be asked to give a copy of your tax records as these should confirm that you have no SSN

Identity

A photo ID is best for this, but at the least, the document must have your full names and date of birth or your age on it.

Here are some ideas:

• Your driver’s license as long as it what issued in the U.S.
• Your passport
• Identification issued by the state other than a driver’s license

Other Documents

Should you not have any of the documents above and cannot get a replacement timeously, you have the following options:

• A school or employee ID card
• Your health insurance card, as long as it is not your Medicare card
• A military ID card issued by the United States

The documents must be valid, contain your full name, and your age or date of birth. They do not need to be photo IDs, but it is better if they are.

Published: 2018-11-16 19:52:41