There is no website, government or private, where you can type in your name and see your Social Security Number. To find your Social Security Number if you forgot it, start with documents you already have: a W-2, an old tax return, or a 1099 will show the full nine digits. If nothing at home has it, request a free replacement card from the Social Security Administration, which arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.
Look Through Documents You Already Have
Most people don’t need to contact the SSA at all. Your number is probably sitting in a file cabinet or an email inbox. The SSA itself notes that a physical card isn’t necessary as long as you know the number, and the paperwork life generates is full of copies of it.
Places to check:
- W-2 forms from any employer, current or past. The number doesn’t change, so a W-2 from ten years ago works.
- SSA-1099 forms if you receive Social Security benefits.
- Other 1099s (DIV, INT, MISC) and 1098 mortgage interest statements.
- Prior federal tax returns. Your SSN appears at the top of every page of a filed Form 1040.
- DD-214 military discharge papers.
One document that looks like it should help but usually doesn’t: an IRS tax transcript. The IRS now masks Social Security Numbers on most transcripts, showing only the last four digits. Unmasked wage and income transcripts exist for tax-preparation purposes through your IRS online account, but a standard transcript download won’t give you the full number.
Request a Replacement Card Online
If nothing at home turns up the number, the SSA’s online portal at ssa.gov is the next step. A “my Social Security” account lets you request a free replacement card without visiting an office or mailing documents. The card comes by mail in 5 to 10 business days.
To use the online option, all of the following must be true:
- You are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older.
- You have a U.S. mailing address.
- You have a valid state-issued driver’s license or ID card.
- You are not making any changes to your Social Security record, such as a name change.
Setting up the account involves identity verification through Login.gov or ID.me, with multi-factor authentication, so keep your phone handy.
An important caveat: the portal does not show your SSN on screen. You cannot log in and read the number. The account only lets you order a replacement card, which is then mailed to you. Even the online route involves waiting for that card to arrive.
Apply by Mail or In Person
If you don’t qualify for the online request, you can apply by mail or at a local Social Security office. Both methods use Form SS-5, the Application for a Social Security Card, available at ssa.gov or any SSA office.
By Mail
Complete Form SS-5 and mail it with your original supporting documents to your local Social Security office. The SSA does not accept photocopies or notarized copies. Your originals are returned after processing, but you’ll be without them while the application is pending, which matters if you need your driver’s license or passport for daily use. Mail-in applications generally take two to four weeks.
In Person
The SSA now prefers appointments over walk-ins. Call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule one, or follow the scheduling prompt after starting an application online. Bring your completed Form SS-5 and your original documents. The replacement card is mailed within 5 to 10 business days after your appointment.
Documents You’ll Need
Whichever method you use, you have to prove three things: identity, U.S. citizenship or immigration status, and age. Original documents only. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted; copies certified by the issuing agency are.
Identity
A current U.S. driver’s license, state-issued non-driver ID card, or U.S. passport.
Citizenship and Age
A U.S. birth certificate covers both in one document. A U.S. passport also proves citizenship.
If You’re Not a U.S. Citizen
You’ll need a current, unexpired document from the Department of Homeland Security showing your immigration status. Accepted forms include the I-551 (Permanent Resident Card), I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record), or I-766 (Employment Authorization Document), along with your foreign passport. International students and exchange visitors may also need Form I-20 or DS-2019 and a letter from their school or sponsor authorizing employment. A receipt showing you applied for an immigration document is not enough.
Cost and How Often You Can Replace It
Replacement cards are free. The SSA does not charge to issue one.
There are limits, though. You can get three replacement cards per year and ten per lifetime. Legal name changes and updates to the immigration-status legend on the card don’t count against either limit, and the SSA can grant exceptions for significant hardship on a case-by-case basis. If you’ve replaced your card several times over the years, check your documents at home carefully before applying again.
If You Think Your Number Was Stolen, Not Just Forgotten
Forgetting your SSN and having it misused are different problems. If unfamiliar accounts or wages you didn’t earn are showing up, take steps beyond ordering a replacement card.
You can place a free one-year fraud alert by contacting any one of the three credit bureaus, which is then required to notify the other two: Experian at 888-397-3742, TransUnion at 888-909-8872, or Equifax at 800-685-1111. A credit freeze goes further and blocks new accounts from being opened in your name; freezes are free under federal law and don’t affect your credit score, but you have to contact each bureau separately.
File an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov or by calling 1-877-438-4338. If you suspect the number is being used for employment specifically, you can check the earnings history in your my Social Security account for employers you’ve never worked for.
Once you have the number back in hand, memorize it and keep the card itself at home rather than in your wallet. The card is rarely needed day to day, and carrying it mostly creates opportunities to lose it again.