You can apply for a replacement Social Security card online in about ten minutes at ssa.gov, at no cost, if you’re a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older with a valid state-issued ID and a domestic mailing address. The Social Security Administration mails the new card within roughly 5 to 10 business days. Nothing gets scanned, uploaded, or mailed on your end; the system verifies your identity electronically against state motor vehicle records.
Who Can Use the Online Request
The online replacement is built for straightforward cases where nothing on your Social Security record needs to change. You qualify if all of the following are true:
- You are a U.S. citizen. Non-citizens must apply in person or by mail.
- You are 18 or older. A parent requesting a card for a child cannot use the online form.
- You have a current, unexpired U.S. driver’s license or state ID card.
- Your mailing address is domestic, which includes military APO, FPO, and DPO addresses.
- You live in a participating state. Nearly every state and the District of Columbia participate; Alaska is the exception, and residents there must apply in person or by mail.
If the information on your state ID doesn’t match what the state motor vehicle agency has on file, the request will be rejected and you’ll have to apply through an office instead.
A recent marriage name change can also be handled entirely online in some states: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.1Social Security Administration. Just Married? Need to Change Your Name? In other states you can start the application online but will need to bring documents to a local office to finish. Name changes for any reason other than marriage, such as a court order, still require an in-person visit with the original legal document.
Set Up Your my Social Security Account First
Before you can request a card, you need a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. The SSA doesn’t manage login credentials itself. You’ll sign in through one of two government-approved identity services, Login.gov or ID.me; either works.2Social Security Administration. Create an Account – my Social Security Expect to give an email address, create a password, and enable two-step verification with a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app. The credential provider then verifies your identity, and your account becomes active.
If you already have a my Social Security account from checking a benefit statement or managing payments, sign in with the same credential. You don’t need a new one.
What to Have Ready Before You Start
The form is shorter than most people expect. Gather these first:
- Your Social Security number.
- Your full legal name and date of birth, exactly as the SSA has them on file.
- Your driver’s license or state ID number, its issue date, and its expiration date.
- Your place of birth and your parents’ names, which serve as identity verification questions.
- Your current mailing address, where the card will be sent.
Enter everything exactly as it appears on your documents. Small mismatches cause rejections: a middle initial versus a spelled-out middle name, an old address still on the license, an expired ID. The SSA requires that the identity document be current.3Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
Submitting the Application
After you enter your information, the portal shows a review screen. Read it carefully; this is your last chance to catch a typo. You’ll then read a certification statement confirming the information is truthful and check a box that acts as your electronic signature. That signature carries the same legal weight as signing a paper form, and providing false information can result in criminal penalties.
Submitting sends the data through an encrypted connection. The SSA runs an automated check against federal and state databases, and within seconds you’ll see either a confirmation page with a tracking number or a message explaining why the request couldn’t be processed. Save or print the confirmation. That tracking number is your proof of application and the fastest way to follow up if the card is delayed.
When the Card Arrives
The SSA mails the replacement to the address on your application, typically within 5 to 10 business days of a successful submission.4Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card The card only comes as a physical card through the U.S. Postal Service; there’s no electronic version. If nothing arrives within two weeks, sign in to your my Social Security account and check the message center, or call 1-800-772-1213 with the tracking number and ask a representative to look into it.
Sign the new card in ink when it arrives. An unsigned card is still valid, but signing it helps prevent misuse if it’s lost.5SSA – POMS. Policy for Signing the SSN Card
If You Can’t Use the Online Option
If you’re under 18, not a U.S. citizen, living in Alaska, or without a current state-issued ID, you can still get a replacement through a local Social Security office or by mail. Complete Form SS-5 from ssa.gov and provide original documents proving your identity and citizenship. The SSA prefers a U.S. driver’s license, state ID, or U.S. passport.6Social Security Administration. U.S. Citizen/Adult – Replacement Social Security Card In-person visits require an appointment; call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule one. Mail-in applications take 2 to 4 weeks because the SSA returns your original documents by mail after verifying them.
Cost and Yearly Limits
Replacement cards are free through every channel, whether online, by mail, or in person.4Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card Any site asking for payment to “process” or “expedite” a card is not the SSA. Start only at ssa.gov.
Federal regulations cap replacement cards at three per calendar year and ten per lifetime.7Social Security Administration. Code of Federal Regulations 422-0103 – Social Security Numbers Name changes and immigration status updates don’t count toward either limit, and the SSA can grant exceptions for significant hardship, such as a social services agency requiring the physical card to release benefits.
If Your Card Was Lost or Stolen
If the reason for the replacement is theft or loss rather than wear, take identity theft precautions without waiting for the new card. Place a free one-year fraud alert by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax); that bureau is required to notify the other two. Pull your free credit reports at annualcreditreport.com and review them for accounts you don’t recognize. A credit freeze offers stronger protection by blocking new accounts from being opened in your name until you lift it. You can also lock your Social Security number for employment verification through E-Verify at e-verify.gov/mye-verify.8Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Recovery Steps If you believe your number is already being misused, report it at identitytheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338.
When the new card arrives, don’t carry it in your wallet. The SSA advises keeping it in a safe place and sharing the number only when it’s truly required, which is uncommon in everyday life.9Social Security Matters. Guard Your Card: Protect What’s Important to You