Form SS-5—Social Security Card Replacement Form

How To Get a New Social Security Card

 

Social Security cards are a critical form of identification in the United States of America that every citizen and work-authorized resident needs to have. You need a Social Security number to legally earn a wage in the US, and those numbers are issued in the form of a card.

Beyond that, your Social Security number is used to identify you throughout your life. You’ll need it to open a bank account, apply for college, and get a credit card.

Get a Social Security card as soon as you can; it’s in your best interest. You can apply for a Social Security card for your child if you’re the parent or legal guardian of the child.

So, what are some instances when you might need to get a Social Security card?

• You’ve just been born (congratulations!)
• You need to replace your Social Security card
• You’ve never had a Social Security card and are a US citizen or are lawfully authorized to work in the country
• You need to modify some information on your Social Security card

Modify information? Yes! If you’ve legally changed your name—perhaps you got married and took your spouse’s last name—you’ll need a new Social Security card to go with the name change.

How to Complete the Application

To make things easy for you, Smallpdf has the SS-5 form available to download. Click the image below to open the document with our PDF Editor. You can either fill it out by typing the information into the fields before downloading or print the form to fill it out later.

Note that the Social Security Administration requires the application to be completed in blue or black ink. Also note that if the applicant is 12 years of age or older and has never received a Social Security card, the application must be completed in person.

Now, let’s go through the steps of filling in the form together.

Note: Only use blue or black ink, and ensure you print the document on 8.5’’ by 11’’ paper.

1. Fill out the name to be shown on the card in the first row of box one. Ensure you fill out the first, middle, and last names. If your name has changed (choice, adoption, marriage, etc.) since birth, add your full name at birth in the line below.
2. Fill out the social security number unless this is a first-time card. In that case, leave this box blank.
3. Add the place of birth. Don’t abbreviate any locales, cities, states, or countries. If you were born in the UK, write out United Kingdom.
4. Enter your date of birth. Use the whole year (e.g., 2010, not ‘10) and remember to follow American date formatting: Month-Date-Year (smallest unit to largest).
5. Check the applicable citizenship box.
6. The ethnicity box (asking if you’re Hispanic or Latino) is voluntary information.
7. The same applies to the race information. Voluntarily check the race box.
8. Check the applicable sex box.
9. Fill in the parent/mother’s name at birth along with their Social Security number.
10. Do the same for the parent/father’s name at birth, along with their Social Security number.
11. Answer whether the person from question one (the person applying for the card, most likely you) has ever received a Social Security card before (yes or no). If yes, continue with question 12. If no, skip to question 14.
12. Fill out the name shown on the individual’s most recent Social Security card.
13. Enter any different date of birth if used on an earlier application for a card. If the date of birth is the same, you don’t need to add this information.
14. Write today’s date; again, remember to use this format: MM/DD/YYYY.
15. Fill in your daytime phone number.
16. Enter your mailing address.
17. Sign that you have completed the form correctly. Better be safe than sorry: Check the info once more to be sure.
18. Check the appropriate box for your relation to the person applying for the card (self, parent, guardian, other).

Great! You’ve filled the document out. Applause! Applause! Step 1 of 3 complete! When you’re ready, move on to gathering the necessary documentation.

What Are the Required Documents?

 

To apply for an original Social Security card, you need at least two different documents that prove your age, identity, citizenship, or work-authorized status. If you’re applying for a replacement card, you only need one form of identification.

To apply for a changed card, you need a document to prove your identity, support the requested change, and establish a reason for the change.

To help you find the right documents, here’s an overview of what kind of documentation counts as identification:

Documents that establish identity:

• US driver’s license
• US, state-issued, non-driver identity card
• US passport

Documents that establish citizenship:

• US birth certificate
• US passport

Documents that establish immigration status:

• Current unexpired immigration documents provided to you by the Department of Homeland Security

If you have any issues or questions with the necessary documents, call the SSA at their toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213. If you need further assistance, you can also go to your local Social Security office.

How to Submit the Application

 

If you’ve never received a Social Security card before and you’re over 12, you need to complete the application in person at your local Social Security office. If you’re requesting a replacement card, this isn’t necessary. Instead, you can just gather all the required documentation and mail it to your local Social Security office. All original documents you mail will be returned when your application for a Social Security card has been completed. Of course, you’re more than welcome to go in person, even if you have the option to mail it.

Once you receive your card—keep it secure! Keep it tucked away in a safe and secure place. Be cautious about who you give out your Social Security number to—especially in phone calls, texts, or emails you didn’t initiate.

That’s all, folks! Congratulations, you’re all set to take out loans, fill out W-2s, and apply for colleges.