How to Get Your Social Security Card

The first time you get a Social Security card, you are also given a Social Security number. If you were born in a hospital in the United States, your birth parent probably completed an application to get a Social Security card for you when you were born and you were issued a number. Even if you replace your Social Security card, your Social Security number does not change.

Keep your Social Security card in a safe, secure place and only take it out when you are required to show it for an official purpose, like to a new employer or to DPS. Do not carry it around in your wallet or backpack! While it is free to obtain a replacement Social Security card, you can only obtain 3 replacements in one year and 10 in a lifetime. It also is inconvenient and time-consuming to replace a card.

You can apply on your own to get a replacement Social Security card, even if you are under 18. But you will need to prove your identity. You must provide original documents, not photocopies, to prove your identity.

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Documents to Establish Identity if You Are Under 18

• Driver license, state issued ID card, or U.S. passport
• Current school ID card which must have your name and either your photo or date of birth
• Certificate of Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Resident card (green card), or work permit
• Certified school records showing your name and date of birth or parent’s name (from current school year)– a certified record means it has an official seal stamped on the paper and looks like this, and the signature of the person who certified the records:

• Certified medical records if they contain your name and date of birth or age – a certified record means the person responsible for the records swears to the accuracy of the records by a signed or stamped statement or seal of office at the time the record copy is made
• Your adoption decree (if the judge signed it more than a year ago, additional evidence will be needed)

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Documents to Establish Identity if You Are 18 or Older

• Driver license, state issued ID card, or U.S. passport
• Current school ID card which must have your name and either your photo or date of birth (from current school year)
• Certificate of Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Resident card (green card), or work permit
• Certified school records showing name and date of birth or photo (from current school year) – a certified record means it has an official seal stamped on the paper and looks like this, and the signature of the person who certified the records:

• Certified medical records if they contain your name and date of birth or age – a certified record means the person responsible for the records swears to the accuracy of the records by a signed or stamped statement or seal of office at the time the record copy is made
• ID card from your job with photo or date of birth

There are other documents that can be used, learn more on Social Security’s website.

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If you are over 18 you may be able to request a replacement card here. But you must have a driver license or state issued ID card because you are required to upload a picture of it. In addition, the system will use online data information to verify your identity and many young people who recently aged out of foster care don’t have sufficient credit history to be verified.

If you are under 18 or unable to order a replacement online, you will need to visit a Social Security office to submit a Form SS-5 Application for a Social Security Card. You can call your local office to see if you have to make an appointment or if you can walk in to get help. You can also mail in your application, but that is not a good idea because you will have to send in your original identification documents and it may take several weeks to get them back.

You should be sure to use a stable address as your mailing address on the Application for a Social Security Card. Do not list your friend’s apartment. Discuss with a caring adult what address would be good to use. If you are asking Social Security to send your Social Security card and original documents to a trustworthy person with stable mail service, be sure to list “c/o” followed by their name in the mailing address on the application. For example: if your name is Jane Doe and you are sending it to your case manager’s address, and the case manager is named Juan Garcia, when you put the address on the application form, it should look like this:

Jane Doe
c/o Juan Garcia
Name of Aftercare Program Street Address
City, TX Zip Code

The Form SS-5 Application for a Social Security Card is confusing because it is for both a replacement card and to apply for a Social Security number and original card. Call your local office to go over exactly what you need to include and have a caring adult help you review the form before you submit it.