Current SS-5-FS

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Application for a Social Security Card

Applying for a Social Security Card is free!
USE THIS APPLICATION TO APPLY FOR:
• An original Social Security card
• A replacement Social Security card
• A change of information on your record
IMPORTANT: You MUST provide the required evidence before we can process the application. Follow
the instructions below to provide the information and evidence we need.
STEP 1
STEP 2

STEP 3

Read the instructions on this application. They contain important information about documents
that can be submitted as evidence, and how to complete and submit the application.
Complete and sign the application using BLUE or BLACK INK. Do not use pencil or other
colors of ink. Please write legibly. If you print this application from our website, you must print
it on 8 1/2" x 11" white paper (if you live abroad and cannot obtain 8 1/2" x 11" paper, A4 size
paper (8.25" x 11.7") is the only acceptable alternative).
Submit the completed and signed application with all required evidence to a U.S. Social
Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate, or if you live in the Philippines, the Veterans
Affairs Regional Office (VARO) in Manila. If you are a military dependent or a U.S. citizen
working on a U.S. military post, you may also go to the Post Adjutant or Personnel Office.

HOW TO SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION
In most cases, you can mail or take this application with your evidence documents to any U.S. Social
Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate or VARO. If you are a military dependent or a U.S. citizen
working on a U.S. military post, you may also go to the Post Adjutant or Personnel Office. If you do not
want to mail your original documents, take them with this application to one of the offices listed above.
The people there will copy your documents and mail them to the Social Security Administration along
with this form. Do not mail your original documents to the Social Security Administration in Baltimore,
Maryland.
IMPORTANT: If you are age 12 or older and have never been assigned a Social Security number
before, you MUST apply in person.
If you have any questions about this form, or about the evidence documents we need, please contact
any U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate or VARO. The people there will help you
make sure you have everything you need to apply for a card or change information on your record. For
information about services outside the U.S., go to www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign.

PROTECT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND CARD
Protect your SSN card and number from loss and identity theft. DO NOT carry the card with you.
Keep it in a secure location and only take it with you when you must show the card, e.g. to obtain a
new job, open a new bank account, or to obtain benefits from certain U.S. agencies. DO NOT allow
others to use your Social Security number as their own.

ABOUT YOUR EVIDENCE DOCUMENTS
You must provide the required documents based on your type of request. There will be situations
when we must verify a document with the issuing agency. If your documents do not meet these
requirements, we cannot process your application.
• We need ORIGINAL documents or copies certified by the custodian of the record. We will
return your documents after we have seen them.
• We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
• The U.S. Embassy or consulate, military office or VARO will make certified copies of your original
documents to mail to the Social Security Administration along with this form. Do not mail your
original documents to the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, Maryland.
• See EVIDENCE DOCUMENTS WE NEED TO SEE on page 3.
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ORIGINAL CARD: To apply for an original card, you will need to provide at least two documents to
prove age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or current lawful, work-authorized immigration status. If
you are not a U.S. citizen or do not have current lawful, work-authorized immigration status, you
MUST prove that you have a valid nonwork reason for requesting a card. (See HOW TO COMPLETE
THIS APPLICATION, Page 2, Item 3.)
REPLACEMENT CARD: To apply for a replacement card, you must prove your identity (See
IDENTITY, Page 3). If you were born outside of the U.S., you will also need to prove your U.S.
citizenship or current lawful, work-authorized immigration status.
CHANGE OF INFORMATION: If you need to correct information on your SSN card, or information
shown in our records (e.g., a name change or corrected date of birth), you will need to prove your
identity and provide documents that support the change and establish the reason for the
change (e.g., a birth certificate to show your corrected date or place of birth). A name change
document (e.g., marriage document) must identify you by both your old and new names. If it does not
have enough identifying information (See IDENTITY, Page 3), we will request an identity document in
your prior name and another in your new legal name in addition to the name change document. If you
were born outside of the U.S., you also need to prove your U.S. citizenship or current lawful,
work-authorized immigration status.

LIMITS ON REPLACEMENT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) CARDS
Public Law 108-458 imposes limits on the number of replacement SSN cards you may receive at 3
per year and 10 in a lifetime. In determining these limits, SSA will not count changes in legal name (i.e.,
first name or surname), or changes to a restrictive legend (i.e., Valid for Work with DHS Authorization,
Not Valid for Employment) shown on the SSN card. In addition, we may grant exceptions on a
case-by-case basis if you provide evidence to establish a need for an SSN card beyond these limits
(e.g., a letter from a social services agency stating you must show the SSN card in order to get
benefits).

HOW TO COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION
Most items on the form are self-explanatory. Those that need explanation are discussed below. The
numbers match the numbered items on the form. If you are completing this form for someone else,
please complete the items as they apply to that person.
2.
Show the address where you can receive your card.
3.

5.

6.

If you check "Legal Alien Not Allowed to Work," you must provide a document from a U.S.
Federal, State, or local government agency that explains why you need a Social Security number
and that you meet all of the requirements for the U.S. government benefit. NOTE: Not all U.S.
State or local benefits are acceptable for non-work SSN purposes. Contact SSA to see if your
reason qualifies.
If you check "Other," you must provide a document from the U.S. government agency that
explains why you need a Social Security number and that you meet all of the requirements for a
Federal benefit except for the number.
Providing race/ethnic information is voluntary. However, providing this information helps us
prepare statistical reports on how Social Security programs affect people. We do not reveal
the identities of individuals in these reports.
Show the month, day and full (4 digit) year of birth, for example, "1998" for year of birth.

8.B. You must show the mother's Social Security number only when the application is for an original
Social Security card for a person under age 18. However, this item may be left blank if the
mother was never assigned a Social Security number, or if you do not know the mother's Social
Security number and are unable to obtain it. We will still be able to assign a number to the
person under age 18.
9.B. You must show the father's Social Security number only when the application is for an original
Social Security card for a person under age 18. However, this item may be left blank if the
father was never assigned a Social Security number, or if you do not know the father's Social
Security number and are unable to obtain it. We will still be able to assign a number to the
(continued on page 3)
person under age 18.
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13.

If the date of birth you show in item 6 is different from the date of birth you used on a prior
application for a Social Security card, show the date of birth you used on the prior application
and submit evidence of age to support the date of birth in item 6.

16.

If you are age 18 or older, you must sign the application. If you are under age 18, you or a
parent or legal guardian may sign. If you are physically or mentally incapable of signing the
application, generally a parent, close relative, or legal guardian may sign the application. If you
cannot sign your name, you should sign with an “X” mark and have two people sign as
witnesses in the space beside the mark. Please do not alter your signature by including any
additional information on the signature line as this may invalidate your application. Contact us if
you need clarification about who can sign. (See the “IMPORTANT” note under evidence of
IDENTITY on Page 3.)

EVIDENCE DOCUMENTS WE NEED TO SEE
The following lists are not all inclusive. However, they provide examples of the types of documents we
need to see. All documents must meet the criteria shown under "ABOUT YOUR EVIDENCE
DOCUMENTS" on Page 1 in order to be considered. If you have questions or need to discuss
additional documents, see "If you have any questions" also on Page 1. Some documents we may accept
are as follows:

AGE: In general, we must see your birth certificate. In some situations, we may accept another
document that shows your age. Some of the other documents we may accept are:
• U.S. Hospital record of your birth (created at the time of your birth)
• Religious record established before age five showing your age or date of birth
• Passport
• Final Adoption Decree (the adoption decree must indicate that the birth data was taken from the
original birth certificate)
Contact us for advice if you cannot obtain one of these documents.
IDENTITY: We must see evidence of identity in your legal name. Your legal name will be shown on
the SSN card. Generally, we prefer to see documents issued in the U.S. Documents submitted to
establish identity must show your legal name AND provide biographical information (your date of birth,
age, or parents' names) and/or physical information (photograph or physical description--height, eye and
hair color, etc.). Additionally, if you send a photo identity document but do not appear in person, the
document must show your biographical information (e.g., your date of birth, age, or parents' names). To
protect your Social Security card and number, identity documents must be of recent issuance.

WE MUST SEE YOUR:
• U.S. driver's license; or
• U.S. State-issued non-driver identity card; or
• U.S. passport
If you do not have one of these documents, or cannot get a replacement within 10 days, we may accept
other documents such as a U.S. military identity card, Certificate of Naturalization, or employee identity
card. For young children, we may accept medical records (clinic, doctor, or hospital) maintained by the
medical provider. We may also accept a final adoption decree, or a school identity card, or a school
record maintained by the school.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, we must see your current U.S. immigration document, foreign passport,
foreign driver's license, or foreign ID card with biographical information or photograph.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, HOSPITAL SOUVENIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE,
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD OR CARD STUB, OR A SOCIAL SECURITY RECORD as evidence of
identity.
IMPORTANT: If you are applying for a card on behalf of someone else, you must provide
evidence that establishes your authority to sign the application on behalf of the person to whom
the card will be issued (e.g., a minor child's birth certificate establishes the authority of a parent to sign
on behalf of the child). In addition, we must see different documents as proof of identity for both you and
the person to whom the card will be issued.
(continued on page 4)
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U.S. CITIZENSHIP: In general, we can accept your U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport. Other
documents we may accept are a Consular Report of Birth, Certificate of Citizenship, or Certificate of
Naturalization.
IMMIGRATION STATUS: We need to see a current document issued to you by the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) showing your immigration status, such as Form I-551, I-688B, or I-766. We
CANNOT accept a receipt showing you applied for the document. If you are not authorized to work in
the U.S., we can issue you a Social Security card only if you need the number for a valid nonwork
reason. (See HOW TO COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION, Page 2, Item 3.) Your card will be marked to
show you cannot work. If you do work, we will notify DHS.

THE PAPERWORK/PRIVACY ACT AND YOUR APPLICATION
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires us to give each person the following notice when applying for a Social
Security number.
Sections 205(c) and 702 of the Social Security Act allow us to collect the facts we ask for on this form.
We use the facts you provide on this form to assign you a Social Security number and to issue you a
Social Security card. You do not have to give us these facts, however, without them we cannot issue
you a Social Security number or a card. Without a number, you may not be able to get a job and could
lose Social Security benefits in the future.
The Social Security number is also used by the Internal Revenue Service for tax administration purposes
as an identifier in processing tax returns of persons who have income which is reported to the Internal
Revenue Service and by persons who are claimed as dependents on someone's Federal income tax
return.
We may disclose information as necessary to administer Social Security programs, including to
appropriate law enforcement agencies to investigate alleged violations of Social Security law; to other
government agencies for administering entitlement, health, and welfare programs such as Medicaid,
Medicare, veterans benefits, military pension, and civil service annuities, black lung, housing, student
loans, railroad retirement benefits, and food stamps; to the Internal Revenue Service for Federal tax
administration; and to employers and former employers to properly prepare wage reports. We may also
disclose information as required by Federal law, for example, to the Department of Homeland Security,
to identify and locate aliens in the U.S.; to the Selective Service System for draft registration; and to the
Department of Health and Human Services for child support enforcement purposes. We may verify
Social Security numbers for State motor vehicle agencies that use the number in issuing drivers
licenses, as authorized by the Social Security Act. Finally, we may disclose information to your
Congressional representative if they request information to answer questions you ask him or her.
We may use the information you give us when we match records by computer. Matching programs
compare our records with those of other Federal, State, or local government agencies to determine
whether a person qualifies for benefits paid by the Federal government. The law allows us to do this
even if you do not agree to it.
Explanations about these and other reasons why information you provide us may be used or given out
are available at any U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassies and consulates, and VARO in Manila. If
you want to learn more about this, contact any U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or consulate, or
VARO in Manila.
This information collection meets the requirements of 44 U.S.C. §3507, as amended by Section 2 of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You do not need to answer these questions unless we display a valid
Office of Management and Budget control number. We estimate that it will take about 8.5 to 9.5 minutes
to read the instructions, gather the facts, and answer the questions. You may send comments on our
time estimate above to: SSA, 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. Send only comments
relating to our time estimate to this address, not the completed form.

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Application for a Social Security Card
NAME

Form Approved
OMB No. 0960-0066

First

Full Middle Name

Last

First

Full Middle Name

Last

TO BE SHOWN ON CARD

1

FULL NAME AT BIRTH
IF OTHER THAN ABOVE
OTHER NAMES USED

Street Address, Apt. No., PO Box, Rural Route No.

2

MAILING
ADDRESS

State/Foreign Country

City

ZIP Code

-

Do Not Abbreviate
Legal Alien
Allowed To
Work

3

CITIZENSHIP

4

SEX

Male

5

RACE/ETHNIC
DESCRIPTION

Asian,
Asian-American
or
Pacific Islander

DATE
OF
Month, Day, Year
BIRTH
A. MOTHER'S NAME AT
HER BIRTH

PLACE
OF BIRTH

U.S. Citizen

(Check One)

(Check One Only - Voluntary)

6
8

7

Legal Alien Not
Allowed To Work (See
Instructions On Page 2)

Other
(See Instructions
On Page 2)

Female
North
American
Indian or
Alaskan
Native

Black
(Not
Hispanic)

Hispanic

White
(Not
Hispanic)
Office
Use
Only

(Do Not Abbreviate)

City

First

State or Foreign Country
Full Middle Name

B. MOTHER'S SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER (See instructions for 8B on Page 2)

-

First

FCI

Last Name At Her Birth

-

Full Middle Name

Last

A. FATHER'S NAME

9
10
11
12
13

B. FATHER'S SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER (See instructions for 9B on Page 2)

-

-

Has the applicant or anyone acting on his/her behalf ever filed for or received a Social Security
number card before?
Don't Know (If "don't know,"
Yes (If "yes", answer questions 11-13.)

No (If "no," go on to question 14.)

Enter the Social Security number previously
assigned to the person listed in item 1.
First
Enter the name shown on the most
recent Social Security card issued for
the person listed in item 1.
Enter any different date of birth if used on an
earlier application for a card.

14 TODAY'S
DATE

go on to question 14.)

-

-

Middle Name

Last

Month, Day, Year

(

15 DAYTIME
PHONE NUMBER

)

-

Month, Day, Year
Area Code
Number
I declare under penalty of perjury that I have examined all the information on this form, and on any accompanying statements or forms,
and it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

16 YOUR SIGNATURE

17

YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE PERSON IN ITEM 1 IS:
Self

Natural Or
Adoptive Parent

Legal
Guardian

Other (Specify)

DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE (FOR SSA USE ONLY)
NPN
PBC

DOC
EVI

EVA

EVC

NTI

CAN

PRA

EVIDENCE SUBMITTED

NWR

ITV
DNR

UNIT

SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF EMPLOYEE(S) REVIEWING EVIDENCE AND/OR CONDUCTING INTERVIEW

DATE
DCL

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DATE