A restricted Social Security card is a regular Social Security card whose face carries a printed notation limiting how it can be used for employment. The Social Security Administration issues two restricted versions: one reads “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION,” and the other reads “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.” The nine-digit number on the card is a real Social Security number and works normally for taxes, banking, and benefits that require an SSN by law. The notation controls only what the physical card can be used to prove about your right to work.1Social Security Administration. Types of Social Security Cards
The Two Restricted Versions and Who Gets Each
Which legend appears on your card depends on your immigration status when the SSA processes your application.
The “Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization” card goes to people lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis who hold work authorization from the Department of Homeland Security. Common examples include H-1B workers and others with an Employment Authorization Document. You can work while your DHS authorization remains valid.
The “Not Valid for Employment” card goes to people who are lawfully present but do not have DHS work authorization, and who need an SSN for a non-work reason. That usually means a federal law requires an SSN as a condition of receiving a benefit or service. Programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fall into this category; federal law requires states to collect an SSN from applicants.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 1320b-7 – Income and Eligibility Verification System
An unrestricted card, with no notation, is issued only to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.1Social Security Administration. Types of Social Security Cards
What the Number Still Lets You Do
Regardless of which restriction appears on the card, the SSN itself is fully valid for non-employment purposes. You use it to file federal income tax returns, receive refunds, and report income. Banks accept it when you open accounts. State and federal agencies accept it for benefits you qualify for. Within the tax system, the number functions as your identity the same way it does for any other holder.
Because a restricted card carries a real SSN, it also gives you access to tax credits that require one, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which a taxpayer using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number cannot claim. If you previously filed with an ITIN and later received an SSN, you need to notify the IRS in writing so your records are combined under the SSN and the ITIN is voided; otherwise you can lose credit for wages and withholding tied to the old number.3Internal Revenue Service. Additional ITIN Information
Why the Card Itself Won’t Work at Hiring
This is the point that catches people off guard. Even the “Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization” card cannot be used as a List C document on Form I-9, the employment eligibility verification form every new hire completes. Employers must reject any Social Security card carrying a restrictive notation for I-9 purposes, including the DHS Authorization version.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 13.3 List C Documents That Establish Employment Authorization
So if your card has either legend on it, do not present it as your work-authorization document at a new job. Instead, prove your right to work with the DHS documents that actually grant it: your Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), or your foreign passport paired with a Form I-94 showing a work-authorized class of admission. Having the “DHS Authorization” card does not shortcut the I-9. It is the underlying DHS document that satisfies the employer.
The “Not Valid for Employment” card, of course, cannot be used for hiring at all. Using it or altering it to work is a federal felony under 42 U.S.C. ยง 408, punishable by a fine and up to five years in prison.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 US Code 408 – Penalties
Getting the Restriction Removed
The restriction is tied to your immigration status, so it comes off when your status changes.
After You Get a Green Card
Lawful permanent residents qualify for an unrestricted card. You can request the replacement on Form I-765 or Form I-485 at the time you file with USCIS, or you can visit a local SSA office after your Permanent Resident Card arrives, bringing proof of identity and your new Green Card.6Social Security Administration. How Do I Change My Work Status on My Social Security Card?
After You Naturalize
New citizens who file Form N-400 using the 04/01/24 edition or later can request the replacement Social Security card directly on that form. USCIS then transmits the information to the SSA and the unrestricted card is mailed without a separate SSA visit. If you used an earlier N-400 edition or did not check the SSA box, you will need to bring your Certificate of Naturalization to an SSA office to update the card.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. New Citizens Will Be Able to Seamlessly Request Social Security Updates
Watch Out for E-Verify Timing
Government databases do not sync instantly. After an E-Verify mismatch is resolved, it can take up to two federal working days for the case status to update.8E-Verify. DHS and SSA Mismatches If a new employer runs E-Verify right after your restriction is lifted but before SSA records reflect the change, you may receive a tentative nonconfirmation. You have the right to contest and clear it, but the easier path is to leave a short buffer between receiving your new card and starting a new job.
Replacements When Your Status Changes
Federal regulations cap Social Security card replacements at three per year and ten per lifetime. Cards issued because of a change in the restrictive legend, however, do not count against those limits. Neither do name-change replacements.9Social Security Administration. Code of Federal Regulations 422-0103
That matters if your immigration status shifts more than once. Moving from “Not Valid for Employment” to “DHS Authorization,” or from either restricted version to an unrestricted card, gives you a free replacement each time. You will not use up your lifetime allotment because your work authorization evolves. There is also no fee to apply for or replace a Social Security card.10Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card
The SSA may grant additional replacements beyond the caps for significant hardship on a case-by-case basis.9Social Security Administration. Code of Federal Regulations 422-0103
Applying in the First Place
If you do not yet have any Social Security card, non-citizens apply using Form SS-5. You can start online, but you must complete the application in person at an SSA office or Card Center with original documents within 45 days.11Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers For Noncitizens The SSA recommends waiting at least 10 days after arriving in the United States so that DHS records can verify electronically. Bring your unexpired foreign passport along with your current U.S. immigration document, such as Form I-551, Form I-94, Form I-766, or an admission stamp showing a work-authorized class.
You can also skip the SSA visit entirely by requesting an SSN on Form I-765 or Form I-485 when you file with USCIS, or through the State Department as part of an immigrant visa application. Once approved, expect the card in the mail within 7 to 10 business days.12Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card?