Original Card For A Noncitizen Adult
In general, only noncitizens who have permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security can apply for a Social Security number . If you do not have permission to work but need an SSN for other purposes, see “If you do not have permission to work” for further information.
Enumeration Beyond Entry
You may be eligible to apply using our automated process called Enumeration Beyond Entry if you are applying to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for work authorization or lawful permanent resident status.
You may not need to visit a Social Security office or Social Security Card center if you apply using the Form I-765 or I-485. If you are approved for either application through USCIS, and elect to apply for an SSN, USCIS will send us the information to issue you an original SSN card or replacement card. You should receive your SSN card no later than 7 to 10 business days after you receive your Employment Authorization Document or I-551 from USCIS. We will mail the card to the address provided on the application. For more information, see âApply For Your Social Security Number While Applying For Your Work Permit and or Lawful Permanent Residencyâ.
Important
You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current . We cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.
Numbers Belonging To Or Used By More Than One Person
Although the SSA has a system set up to randomly assign unique numbers to each US citizen, one of the exceptions allowed is in the case that two people have or are using the same Social Security number. The latter is all too common according to a 2010 ID Analytics study. At that time some 40 million people, orone in seven of the numbers issued at the time, were used by more than one person.
Some could be due to clerical errors by companies or employees when filling out forms. However, it could be down to someone fraudulently using another persons Social Security number to commit fraud or illegally live and work in the US. To prevent identity theft the SSA recommends that you keep your Social Security Card in a safe and secure place.
How To Qualify For A New Social Security Number
In a certain limited set of circumstances, the Social Security Administration allows people to get new Social Security numbers. For anyone whose battles with identity theft have been long and difficult, getting get a new number is something that may be a solution however, doing so comes with its own distinct set of problems.
The Social Security Administration grants requests for new Social Security numbers only in cases when:
Don’t Miss: How To Win A Bipolar Disability Case
How To Change Your Address
If you get Social Security benefits , you can update your contact information in a safe, quick, and convenient way by following these five steps:
This service is not currently available to people who receive Supplemental Security Income or do not have a U.S. mailing address. However, if you are receiving SSI, you can easily check your address we have on record and update your telephone number via the My Profile tab on your mySocial Security.
Checking Your Application Status
If you apply online and everything is in order, you will receive a letter by mail with your SIN within 15 business days from the date your application was received. If it has been more than 15 days since you applied online, and you have not received a letter, please contact the SIN Program.
If you provided your email address, you will receive an email confirming your application has been received and a second email when your application has been processed. If your application did not meet the requirements, you will receive an email containing guidance on what is required to obtain a SIN.
If you apply by mail and everything is in order, you will receive a letter by mail with your SIN within 25 business days from the date your application was received. If it has been more than 25 business days since you applied, and you have not received a letter, please contact the SIN Program.
If your online or mailed-in application did not meet the requirements, you will get a letter containing guidance on what is required to obtain a SIN.
You May Like: How Much Is The Average Disability Check
Corrected Card For A Foreign Born Us Citizen Adult
If you legally change your name because of marriage, divorce, court order, or any other reason, you need to tell Social Security so that you can get a corrected card. If you are working, you also need to tell your employer. If you do not tell us when your name changes, it may:
- Prevent your wages from being posted correctly to your Social Security record, which may lower the amount of your future Social Security benefits.
- Cause delays when you file your taxes.
Important
You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current . We cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.
We may use one document for two purposes. For example, we may use your U.S. passport as proof of both citizenship and identity.
How Does Social Security Treat Marriages Involving Transgender People
Social Security recognizes as valid any marriage that was recognized under state law as being a valid marriage when it was entered into. Social Security looks to state law and government-issued documents to determine marital status it is not based on the gender marker in your Social Security record. For this reason, changing your gender marker with Social Security will not affect your or your spouses right to Social Security benefits. Any marriage that was valid when it was entered continues to be valid regardless of a spouses transition.
Recommended Reading: Can My Ex Wife Get My Social Security Disability
How To Request A Social Security Card Replacement
If all you need is a replacement Social Security card, with no other changes, you can simply request a new card online at the Social Security website. You’ll need to be a U.S. citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address and will have to supply information from a drivers license or state-issued identification card from a participating state or the District of Columbia.
Currently, every state but Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and West Virginia participates in this program. If you’re from Alaska, Delaware, and Wisconsin, note that Social Security will only accept a driver’s license.
This service is not yet available to people whose drivers license or identification card was issued by a U.S. territory, such as Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Note that a new Social Security card can also be requested by filling out the application and returning it via mail to dropping it off at the local Social Security Administration office. Or applicants can go to the local Social Security Administration office and fill out an application there.
Documents To Include With Form Ss
Once youve completed the form, youll need to gather the documents youre required to submit along with it to prove your identity, age, and citizenship statusthose of the person youre applying for a card on behalf ofor both. These documents typically include the following:
- An original birth certificate or other permissible proof of age, such as a passport, final adoption decree, or religious record of birth.
- An unexpired drivers license, passport, or state ID card to prove your identity, or if you dont have one of those, a military ID, employee ID, or another identity card.
- Additional evidence of citizenship, if you are not submitting a birth certificate or ID. If you arent a U.S. citizen, you’ll need evidence of immigration status.
The Social Security Administration will only accept originals or copies that are certified by the agency that issued the original. You cant use photocopies, even notarized ones.
If you plan to mail your documents to the Social Security Administration, get a certified copy of your driver’s license from your state department of motor vehicles instead of sending the original.
Don’t Miss: How Much Is 70 Percent Military Disability
Personal Safety Is At Risk
When there is a situation of harassment, abuse or life endangerment, the SSA will issue a new Social Security number to help ensure the safety of the person in question. Documentation will be required such as, police reports and/or restraining orders or medical records of injuries. Also, you will need to provide letters from people with direct knowledge of the abuse, domestic violence and/or harassment like counselors, friends or family members.
If a name change needs to be made as well, it is recommended that this be done first. The agency provides specific information for those who are experiencing domestic violence and in need of a new Social Security number.
Sign Up For Ssn Monitoring
Checking that your SSN isnât being misused is a lot of work. But an identity theft protection service can do most of the work for you.
For example, Aura monitors your SSN, bank accounts, credit report, and other pieces of sensitive information for signs of fraud. If we find anything suspicious, weâll alert you in near real-time and help you take steps to stop or mitigate fraud.
Related:14 Hidden Dangers of Identity Theft That Can Ruin Your Life â
Read Also: Can You Collect Short Term Disability And Vacation Pay
How Do I Update My Social Security Card After I Get Us Citizenship
You have just become a US citizen, and, therefore, you can and should use all the advantages of obtaining US citizenship. For example, you can get various disability and retirement benefits as a true US citizen. But before you are actually able to get a new job or employ government services, the United States government requires you to get a Social Security card.
Getting your Social Security data updated is easy, but before you visit SSA, the Social Security Administration, you should wait for at least two weeks after your Oath of Allegiance ceremony finished. A couple of weeks should be enough so that the US government updates your data.
To update a Social Security card and also the Social Security Number , you are required to provide at least two documents to SSA. One such document is the Certificate of Naturalization and you should also get ready one of the following documents:
- US passport
- A certified copy of your medical record
- Health insurance card or
- US military or government identification card.
SSA will not accept your birth certificate, however. Note that you need two documents if you are applying for a new Social Security card. If you already have such a card and just need to update it, one document will be enough for the Social Security Administration.
As a side note, once you received the Certificate of Naturalization, you may need or want to apply for a US passport for traveling abroad and register to vote besides updating the Social Security card.
How To Change Your Social Security Number & Get A New Credit File Legally
If you were born in the United States, you were issued a Social Security number. While most individuals keep that same number throughout their life, there are certain cases when you need to change your Social Security number. It is allowed. However, you must meet specific requirements.
Why Change Your Social Security Number?
Every year, a certain percentage of individuals in the United States fall victim to identity fraud. This occurs when a criminal steals the identity of another person and uses the stolen information to commit a crime. If someone steals your Social Security card number and starts using it to purchase items, the Social Security Administration will allow you to apply for a new Social Security number. However, you must be able to prove that you are suffering. The signal for this would include phone calls from debt collectors or unrecognizable bills. Unfortunately, you cannot apply for a new Social Security number if your card has been stolen or lost.
Changing Your Social Security Number
Documentation Required
Other Required Evidence
In addition to applying for a new Social Security number, you must also be able to prove that current circumstances deem it necessary for you to obtain a new number. This must be completed according to guidelines set by the Federal Trade Commission. Evidence must show that the number is being misused, and that the misuse is causing you significant continuing harm.
New Credit File
Read Also: Is Pierre Robin Syndrome A Disability
Why Change A Social Security Number
The SSA generally discourages people from changing their Social Security number . But like many other rules, there can be exceptions. For example, the SSA may issue a new SSN if you are able to prove that using your existing number will cause you harm, such as in cases of domestic abuse or harassment. The agency also reissues Social Security numbers in certain instances when someone is a victim of identity theft.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that even if you get a brand-new SSN, it doesn’t mean you have wiped the slate clean. The SSA normally keeps records under the original SSN, and other government agencies, such as your state department of motor vehicles and the Internal Revenue Service do, as well. That also applies to some businesses, such as credit card companies, that maintain files on you.
Changing Your Social Security Number Is Possiblebut Not Easy
Just because your Social Security number has been exposed in a hack doesnt mean youll automatically be granted a new number, even upon request. The negative effects on your life have to be persistent, unfixable after multiple attempts, and have manifest themselves within the past year.
If you have done all you can to fix the problems resulting from misuse of a Social Security number and someone is still using it, Social Security may be able to assign a new number, Social Security Administration spokesperson William Jarrett tells the Daily Dot in an email. If you apply for a new number, you will need to prove your identity, age and U.S. citizenship or immigration status. You will also need to provide evidence you are having ongoing problems because of the misuse.
Also Check: Social Security Office Dublin Ga
How Criminals Steal Your Social Security Number
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America.
In 2021 alone, nearly six million Americans were the victims of fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission .
The problem is that scammers are masters at hiding their crimes. They want to be able to use your Social Security number for as long as possible before you catch on. But first, they have to steal it.
So how do criminals steal your Social Security number? Here are the most common ways:
Once a criminal has access to your SSN, they can use it for everything from loan fraud to stealing unemployment benefits in your name.
So, how do you know if someoneâs using your SSN without your permission?
Related: Child Identity Theft: The Parental Guide to Protecting Your Kids â
Look For The Warning Signs Of Identity Theft
Identity theft is the most common reason why a thief wants your SSN. If they have access to your number, theyâll be able to run all sorts of scams in your name.
So what should to do if you think your identity is stolen? Start by checking for the usual warning signs of identity theft, such as:
- Unfamiliar charges on your credit card or bank statement.
- New loans or credit cards in your name.
- A drastic change in your credit score.
- Unfamiliar medical bills or sudden loss of benefits.
- Thereâs a warrant out for your arrest.
Read Also: How To Add Child To Va Disability
Proof Of Us Citizenship
a. Original U.S. birth certificate, or b. Original U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or c. Original U.S. Naturalization or Citizenship Certificate, or d. Original U.S. Passport.
a. Original U.S. Passport, must be current and signed, or b. Original Foreign Passport, must be current and signed.
NOTE: If the name at birth and name on the identity document are different, proof of name change must also be submitted.
4. Proof of the identity of the parent signing the application
If applicable a parent can sign the form for a child up to age 18 a child can sign the form above age 12.
a. Original U.S. Passport, must be current and signed, orb. Original Foreign Passport, must be current and signed.
33 Nine Elms LaneLondon SW11 7US
We will copy and return original documents within 3-4 days. We do not recommend mailing important personal documents from outside the UK. If you choose to mail your application you should use a service that allows you to track your package. Within the UK, we recommend Special Delivery mail outside the UK we recommend you use a Courier. You should include a pre-paid return envelope or courier package. The Federal Benefits Unit will return documents by regular mail if you do not provide a pre-paid envelope or courier package. Processing time for SSN applications is approximately 8-10 weeks.
Suitable proof of identity documents are:
If you are not a U.S. citizen or legal Permanent Resident Alien, see item 5. below for instructions.
U.S. Embassy