Replace lost/stolen Social Security card

How to replace a lost/stolen Social Security card. Form SS-5, free. Limited to 3 cards/year, 10 lifetime. Can verify online if Social Security Account exists.

How to apply

Where and how

  • Online: start the application at ssa.gov/number-card, then take your documents to a local Social Security office to finish it (ssa.gov/forms is where you print Form SS-5 for the mail or in-person path)
  • By mail: print Form SS-5, send with original documents
  • In person: visit local SSA office (recommended for complex cases)

Documents needed

For new SSN (US-born child):

  • US birth certificate of child
  • Parent’s identity (passport, state ID)
  • Documents proving the parent’s own identity and the parent’s relationship to the child — SSA asks for the parent’s identity and relationship, not the parent’s immigration status

For replacement:

  • Form SS-5 (free at ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf)
  • Original ID (passport, state ID, driver license)
  • If name changed: change documents

Timing

SSA publishes one figure for both a first-time number and a replacement: once your application is approved, the card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days. No office prints a card at the counter — SSA states that your local Social Security office cannot print one for you.

Cost

FREE — SSA charges no fee.

Resources

Last verified: 2026-09-10.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

Recent SSA + SSN context (2025-2026)

SSN cards are FREE. You start the application online at ssa.gov/number-card and finish it at a local Social Security office, or you print Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card) for the mail or in-person path. Processing time: SSA publishes 5 to 10 business days by mail once the application is approved, and states that a local office cannot print a card for you.

Eligibility: US citizens (newborn through adult), lawful permanent residents (LPRs), non-citizens authorized to work in the US (H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc. — with valid work authorization), DACA recipients (with EAD), refugees + asylees, certain non-work SSNs for federal benefit eligibility.

For SSA office locations: ssa.gov/locator/. For SSN application appointments: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday-Friday 8:00am-7:00pm local time. For SSN replacement: most adults can replace online via my Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount; some states require in-person visit. The SSN-only card cannot be used as proof of identity for I-9 employment verification — it’s only proof of work authorization.

For SSA employee SSN verification: employers use E-Verify (DHS system) at e-verify.gov + Form I-9. SSA’s SSNVS (Social Security Number Verification Service) is for SSA-only purposes (W-2 wage reporting). Beware of SSN scams: SSA does NOT call demanding immediate payment; report scams to the SSA Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report — The SSA Office of the Inspector General’s FAQ publishes the fraud hotline 1-800-269-0271, with TTY 1-866-501-2101, and operating hours of 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays (checked October 23, 2026).