Your Social Security Number Is The Key
Originally, your Social Security number was a way for the government to track your earnings and pay you retirement benefits. But over the years, it has become much more than that. It is the key to a lot of your personal information. With your name and SSN, an identity thief could open new credit and bank accounts, rent an apartment, or even get a job.
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
Can I Replace My Social Security Card The Same Day
Unfortunately, you cannot replace your Social Security card the same day. You can, however, visit your local Social Security office and obtain a receipt serving as proof that you have submitted your application for a new card. This receipt can be used as evidence of a temporary card in some situations. It will take anywhere from 10-14 to process your application for a new card, but the quickest way to get the replacement is through your Social Security account online.
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You Can Request Your Card Online Today
Sign in or create an account to submit your request
You can replace your card online and receive it in 14 days. You can also use your account to check the status of your request and manage other benefits you receive from us.
Trouble signing in?
Start the application online and visit your local SSA office for additional guidance for completing your application.
Prefer to talk to someone?
Contact your local SSA office.
You can start your Social Security number card application online. Once you’ve submitted your request, visit your local SSA office for additional guidance for completing your application. You will need to give us some of the information you provided again.
Cost Of Replacement Social Security Card
Thankfully, there is no cost to request a replacement card. Your new card will be sent to you free of charge. However, there are limits to the number of replacement cards that you can request. You are limited to three replacement requests per year. On top of this limit, you are also limited to a total of ten replacement requests over your lifetime. This is another reason it is so important to keep your card safe and protected. If you exceed the limit of requests, then you could find yourself in a bad situation if you do not have a Social Security card and cannot request a new one.
Many people wonder, Do Social Security cards expire? The answer is no. Since your card never expires, the only reason you should need a replacement is if your card is lost, stolen, or damaged. Make sure you protect your card so that you do not hit the limit on replacement requests.
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What To Do If Your Social Security Card Was Lost Or Stolen
If your card is lost or stolen, then you need to act immediately to help protect yourself. As soon as you recognize that your card was stolen, you should file a report with your local police department. Notify the authorities so that they can begin working on finding the culprit, and that police report also serves as proof that your card really was stolen in case you need to work on repairing your credit later. A stolen Social Security card is typically more likely to cause you problems down the road, but a lost card can cause issues too. If you simply lost or misplaced your card, then you can skip this step and move on to the next one.
In addition to the police, you will want to go ahead and notify the Social Security Administration that your card is lost or stolen. You should go ahead and register for your MySocialSecurity account at SSA.gov also. This online portal allows you to request a replacement card, view your earnings statements, estimate your future benefits, and many more things. Make sure that you claim your account so that whoever has your SS card cannot claim it fraudulently.
How Do Thieves Profit From Stolen Social Security Cards
Identity thieves can use your SSN to apply for more credit in your name. Of course, the scammers never pay the bills, which can damage your credit, and cause you to get calls from unknown credit demanding payment for items you never bought. They may also place your Social Security number on the Dark Web to sell to other identity thieves.
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Call One Of The Three Major Credit Bureaus
Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax and explain what happened to your card. To speak to Equifax, call 1-888-766-0008 or visit this page . To contact Experian, call 1-888-397-3742 or go here for a fraud alert or here for a credit freeze. For TransUnion, the phone number is 1-800-680-7289 the fraud-alert link is here and the credit-freeze link is here . The bureau you called will place the fraud alert with the other two bureaus as well. Every 90 days, renew the fraud alert until you are confident that the situation is resolved. Be prepared for this to last several years.
How Do You Check To See If Someone Is Using Your Social Security Number
You can use your my Social Security account to confirm your personal information and check your earnings record. You can also keep tabs on whether your number is being misused to apply for new credit by monitoring your credit reports.
You can obtain reports for free from www.annualcreditreport.com. Normally, you get one report per year from each of the major credit reporting agencies, but the agencies are offering one free report per week during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Place A Fraud Alert On Your Credit File
One of the first steps you should take if your SSN or card is stolen or lost is to place an initial fraud alert on your credit file. Placing a fraud alertprovides you extra protection as a notice is placed on your credit file with the three major credit bureaus, alerting potential creditors to contact you before a new account is opened in your name.
You will need to contact one of the three major credit bureaus Experian , TransUnion , or Equifax to place a fraud alert and to inform them of what happened to your SSN or card. Whichever bureau you contact to place a fraud alert, they will place the fraud alert with the other two bureaus as well.
Stolen Or Lost Social Security Card: What To Do Next
If your Social Security card is lost or stolen, it could wreak havoc on your personal affairs. Since your Social Security number is used for basically everything from identification to creditworthiness, you could easily become the victim of identity theft if your card falls into the wrong hands. There are steps that you need to take immediately upon recognizing that your card has been compromised. We will outline those steps in this article as well as tell you what you need to do to get a replacement card. While losing your card is not good, following the advice below can help you ensure that your lost card does not end up causing a disaster for you.
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What Can A Thief Do With My Social Security Number
There are numerous things that a thief can do with your SSN, and none of them are good. One of the most common things that happen when someone is using your Social Security number is opening credit accounts in your name. They might get credit cards, bank accounts, or loans in your name and use them to purchase items. A thief might even use your SSN to file a fraudulent tax return with the Internal Revenue Service. Taking this action could allow them to receive a large tax refund, and then you might be on the hook later for the fraudulent return.
What To Do If Your Social Security Card Is Lost Or Stolen
You need to act fast if you believe your Social Security Card has been lost or stolen. Here’s what to do.
If you’ve lost your Social Security card, or you believe someone has stolen your card, take immediate action. Your Social Security Number is the most important and valuable form of government identification you have. A thief can use it to do anything you could do with it, including purchasing property or opening new financial accounts.
Your Social Security Number could be sold to people staying in the U.S. illegally, or even used to commit crimes under your alias. One of the best ways to protect yourself is to invest in the best identity theft protection services , which can alert you to fraud and help you to reclaim losses from identity theft if your Social Security Card gets into the wrong hands.
Unlike with a lost or stolen credit card or debit card, you cannot close your account when your Social Security Card goes missing, so you need to take this series of steps as soon as you can.
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Carefully Review Your Credit Reports And Accounts
If you notice any unusual or suspicious activity on your credit card statements, bank accounts, or credit reports that you didnt authorize, you should immediately report any fraudulent activity to your creditors and to one of the three major credit bureaus.
You can receive a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus here, or call 1-877-322-8228.
Get A New Social Security Card
You can either contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to request a replacement Social Security card, or register for a MY SSA account online at www.ssa.gov and provide documents as proof of identity. This can include a U.S. birth certificate or passport, hospital record of birth, or a drivers license.
If this isn’t possible for any reason, you’ll need to visit a local Social Security Administration office to obtain a new card or request a new number.
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How Do I Block My Social Security Number
If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number .
What to do if you lose your Social Security card?
If an individual loses their Social Security card, the first thing they should do is make sure they have claimed their My SSA profile at the Social Security My Account website, says Devin Carroll, founder of Social Security Intelligence, in Texarkana, Texas. Not only can you request a replacement card, you can also quickly check the accuracy of your annual earnings history, print benefits statements and change your address.
What happens if you lose your Social Security card?
Request a replacement card from the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration allows free card replacements you are limited to three per year or 10 throughout your life (name
Birth Certificate Copies: Born Abroad And Adopted By Us Parents
If you were born in a foreign country and adopted by a U.S. citizen, you would not have received a U.S. birth certificate. The country in which you were born would have issued one. To get a copy, contact the nearest foreign embassy or consulate for that country. If you need an authenticated copy and it’s not in English, ask the embassy for help to get it translated.
If you were adopted from another country by a U.S. citizen, you should have copies of your naturalization/citizenship papers. If you don’t, submit an application for the replacement of a naturalization/citizenship document. For help, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
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Replace Your Lost Card Online
The online Social Security portal allows you to do a lot. If you havent set yours up yet, I would highly recommend you do this as soon as possible.
One of the more recent additions to the list of online features is the ability to request a new Social Security card. However, you must meet the requirements to be able to use this method.
You can use your portal to apply for a Social Security card replacement online if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address
- Are not requesting a name change or any other change to your card and
- Have a drivers license or a state-issued identification card from one of the following: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware , District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, or Wisconsin .
If you dont meet those requirements, youll have to do it the old fashioned way.
Can You Put A Freeze On Your Social Security Number
Yes, you can place a freeze on your SSN. One option is to place a fraud alert on your SSN. This notifies the credit agencies that your SSN might be used illegally to commit fraud or other scams. However, people might still be able to open credit in your name. Placing a hard freeze on your SSN might be a better option. This prevents new credit from being opened in your name without very stringent identify verification taking place.
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What If My Social Security Number Is Stolen
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We use our Social Security number frequently to verify our identity when starting a new job, opening accounts, visiting doctors offices, filing tax returns, receiving government benefits and services, and more. What if the unthinkable happens and your SSN is stolen? Would you know what to do?
Having your SSN stolen is something you never want to experience, but unfortunately, it does happen, and its happening more frequently because of the digital world we live in. If your SSN is stolen, you are at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and fraud, which can cause major damage to your credit and even your finances. Below is some helpful information should your SSN be stolen and how to minimize the risk of this happening to you.
Common Reasons For Changing A Social Security Number
As mentioned above, the SSA has relatively strict requirements for changing someone’s Social Security number. For example, it won’t provide one for a person who wants to avoid the consequences of bankruptcy or is evading the law. In addition, you can’t get a new number if you simply lost your Social Security card, unless there is solid evidence that your number is being used by someone else.
Among the reasons that the SSA will accept for issuing a new number:
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How To Get A Copy Of A Marriage License
County governments issue marriage licenses. It may be a clerk of court, probate court, or a marriage license department that issues them. Contact the county government where you’ll be married to apply for a license.
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Most marriage licenses expire within 30 days to a year, depending on the issuing state.
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If yours expires or gets lost before you get married, apply for a new one.
Death In The Us: How To Get A Certified Copy Of A Death Certificate
Contact the vital records office of the state where the death occurred to learn:
- How to order a certified copy of a death certificate online, by mail, or in person
- How to get a copy fast
- The cost for each certified copy
You will need to know the date and place of death. The state may also ask for other details about the person, how you are related to them, or why you want the certificate.
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Birth Certificate Copies: Americans Born Abroad
If you were born to American parents abroad, they should have registered your birth with the country’s U.S. embassy or consulate. If they did, they would have received a Consular Report of Birth Abroad . You can get a copy of this report from the U.S. Department of State. Depending on the country, a vital records office in the nation may also list the birth.
What if the State Department cannot locate your CRBA? If you were born on a military base abroad, your parents might not have registered your birth with the U.S. embassy. In that case, you may have to contact the hospital where you were born.