If your Social Security card was damaged, lost, or stolen and you need a replacement, then we’ve got good news: it’s not difficult and it’s free! You’ll need some documentation to prove your citizenship and identity, but the process is relatively straightforward. Keep on reading to learn how to get a replacement Social Security card! 

What you’ll need to get a replacement Social Security card

To get a replacement Social Security card, you will need to have both proof of U.S. citizenship and proof of identity. Please note that photocopies or notarized copies of documents cannot be accepted. Only original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them will be accepted. Additionally, all documents must not be expired.

Proof of U.S. citizenship can either be a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport. Proof of identity can either be a U.S. driver’s license, a state-issued non-driver identification card, or a U.S. passport. You may use your U.S. passport as both proof of citizenship and proof of identity, but you will need to provide two separate documents. 

However, if you do not have one of the documents mentioned in the paragraph above to prove your identity, or you cannot get a replacement of one of them within 10 days, you can submit an alternative document, but it must show your name, your date of birth or age, have a (preferably recent) photograph, and not be expired. Examples of such documents include an employee or school identification card, a health insurance card (not a Medicare card), or a U.S. military identification card. 

What you need to do to replace your lost Social Security card

Replacing your lost Social Security card, or one that was stolen or damaged is not too tricky. Most of the time the application can be done completely online, and you can receive your card within 14 days. 

However, depending on a few different factors, including which documentation you will submit with your application, whether you’re under 18, if you have a U.S. mailing address, and a few other things, you may need to either start the application online and finish it in person at your local Social Security office or complete the entire process in person at your local Social Security office. 

You can use this handy tool on the Social Security Administration’s website to see how you need to go about completing your application and go from there. 

Protect yourself against identity theft 

In most cases, you don’t actually need your Social Security card — just knowing your Social Security number is enough. And although this is convenient for us, it’s also convenient for identity thieves, who will often obtain stolen or leaked personal information such as SSNs from underground internet forums or the dark web. 

Once they’ve got your SSN, an identity thief can use it for lots of criminal activities, such as applying for loans and credit cards in your name, stealing your tax return, and much more. It can take months, if not years, to recover from identity theft. 

You might think it’s impossible to know if your data has been shared online, but it’s not! The answer is Trend Micro ID Security. The app — which is available on Android and iOS — can scan the internet and the dark web for your SSN, along with lots of other valuable personal information, such as your email addresses, bank account numbers, and passport number, 24/7! 

With Trend Micro ID Security, if your data is ever compromised, you’ll know about it! Click the button below to claim your 30-day free trial today. 

Think someone is using your SSN? Click here. 

Looking for tips on how to protect your SSN? Click here. 

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