Social Security Card

WHAT IS A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND CARD?

Your Social Security number (SSN) is the absolute truth of your identity. It is a nine-digit identification number that is used to verify your identity and your right to work, and it serves as a record of your earned wages.

 

WHY DO I NEED A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD?

You will need a social security card for many things that you need to do to make you reentry successful:

  • Get a driving license
  • Start a new job
  • Apply for housing
  • Open a bank account
  • Apply for government benefits
  • Change name due to marriage or divorce
  • Birth of a child
  • Change of immigration status
  • Mortgage or loan application

 

I HAD A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, BUT CAN’T FIND IT.  CAN I GET IT REPLACED? 

YES.  The Social Security Administration allows you to replace a lost or stolen card up to three times a year, but no more than 10 times during your lifetime. (Getting a replacement card because of a name change doesn’t count toward your limit

 

WHAT DO I NEED TO REPLACE MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD?

To Obtain a New Social Security Number and Card you will need to provide at least two documents to prove age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or current immigration status.

To Obtain a Replacement Card, if lost or stolen, you must prove your identity and U.S. citizenship.

 

HOW DO I PROVE MY IDENTITY AND U.S. CITIZENSHIP?

Social Security will only accept certain documents as proof of identity.

An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity Social Security must see your:

  • U.S. driver’s license;
  • State-issued non-driver identification card; or
  • U.S. passport.

If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, Social Security will ask to see other documents.

Any documents submitted, including the following, must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph:

  • Employee identification card;
  • School identification card;
  • Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); or
  • U.S. military identification card.

 

HOW DO I PROVE MY AGE?

Social Security will require you to present your Birth Certificate. If one exists, you must submit it with your application.  It must be an original certified copy – not a copy.

 If a birth certificate does not exist, they may be able to accept your:

  • Religious record made before the age of 5 showing your date of birth;
  • U.S. hospital record of your birth; or
  • U.S. passport.

Anyone age 12 or older requesting an original Social Security number must appear in person for an interview. You will be asked for evidence to show you do not have a Social Security number. Here are examples of documents you can use to prove a Social Security number was never assigned:

  • If you lived outside the United States for an extended period, a current or previous passport, school and/or employment records, and any other record that would show long-term residence outside the United States could be used to show you do not have a Social Security number.
  • If you have lived in the United States and you are applying for an original Social Security number, we may ask you for information about the schools you attended or we may ask you to provide copies of tax records that would show you were never assigned a Social Security number.

CAN I USE ONE DOCUMENT TO SHOW BOTH AGE AND CITIZENSHIP?

NO. Social Security may use one document for two purposes (for example, they may use your U.S. passport as proof of both citizenship and identity), however, you must provide at least two separate documents.

 

WHAT IF I’VE NEVER HAD A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD BEFORE?

Anyone age 12 or older requesting an original Social Security number must appear in person for an interview.

You will be asked for evidence to show you do not have a Social Security number. Here are examples of documents you can use to prove a Social Security number was never assigned:

  • If you lived outside the United States for an extended period, a current or previous passport, school and/or employment records, and any other record that would show long-term residence outside the United States could be used to show you do not have a Social Security number.

 

  • If you have lived in the United States and you are applying for an original Social Security number, Social Security may ask you for information about the schools you attended or we may ask you to provide copies of tax records that would show you were never assigned a Social Security number.

 

HOW DO I PROVE MY IMMIGRATION STATUS?

If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social security must see your current U.S. immigration documents.   Acceptable documents include:

  • I-94 Arrival/Departure Record or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport
  • I-766 Employment Authorization Document, EAD, work permit
  • Form I-551 (Lawful Permanent Resident Card, Machine Readable Immigrant Visa) with your unexpired foreign passport

 

HOW DO I CHANGE MY NAME ON MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD?

To change your name on your Social Security card, you must also complete Form SS-5.

 You will need to provide recently issued documents that show your legally changed name such as a marriage document, divorce decree, court order for a name change, or an identity document in your prior name (as shown in social security records). The new Social Security card will show your new name, but will have the same number as your old card.

PLEASE NOTE:   All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency.   Social Security cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents or receipts showing you have applied for a document.

 

HOW DO I APPLY FOR MY CARD ONCE I HAVE MY DOCUMENTATION GATHERED?

The process is fairly simple.  You may apply by mail or online.

APPLYING BY MAIL:

Get a copy of the Social Security card application from a local social security office or download a copy from this here.

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

1)  Fill out the application

2)  You can take or mail your signed application and all original documents to any Social Security Office.

NOTE:  ALL ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS SENT TO SOCIAL SECURITY WILL BE RETURNED TO YOU BY MAIL.

 

The following is a list of Social Security Offices in Baltimore:

Baltimore Social Security Office 21201

1010 Park Ave
Baltimore, MD 21201

Baltimore Social Security Office 21213

2401 Belair Rd
Baltimore, MD 21213

Baltimore Social Security Office 21211

711 West 40th Street
Baltimore, MD 21211

Baltimore Social Security Office 21215

6100a Wabash Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215

Baltimore Social Security Office 21237

6820 Hospital Dr
Baltimore, MD 21237

Baltimore Social Security Office 21227

1531 S Edgewood Street
Baltimore, MD 21227

 

APPLYING ONLINE:

You can use a my Social Security account to apply for a replacement Social Security card online if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address (this includes APO, FPO, and DPO addresses);
  • Are not requesting a name change or any other change to your card; and
  • Have a driver’s license or a state-issued identification card from one of the following:
    • Arizona;
    • Arkansas;
    • California;
    • Delaware (driver’s license only);
    • District of Columbia;
    • Florida;
    • Idaho;
    • Illinois;
    • Indiana;
    • Iowa;
    • Kentucky;
    • Maine;
    • Maryland;
    • Massachusetts;
    • Michigan;
    • Mississippi;
    • Nebraska;
    • New Mexico;
    • North Dakota;
    • Pennsylvania;
    • South Dakota;
    • Texas;
    • Virginia;
    • Washington; or
    • Wisconsin (driver’s license only).

 

WHAT IS “MY” SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT ONLINE AND HOW DO I GET ONE?

 

The my Social Security online account is a personal online service you can use to check your Social Security information and do some things that you need to do with the Social Security office.

 

 To find all of the services available and how to set up an account, go to this website

 

https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/

 

ONCE YOU GET YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT IN A SECURE PLACE – NOT YOUR WALLET OR PURSE.  IT’S OFTEN A GOOD IDEA TO BUY A HOME FIREPROOF SAFE DEPOSIT BOX WHICH CAN BE PURCHASED FOR UNDER $30.