To find your Social Security number, start with paperwork you already have at home: your most recent federal tax return, a W-2 or 1099 from any employer, or an SSA-1099 benefit statement all print the full nine-digit number. If none of those are within reach, you can view your number by signing in to a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. A physical replacement card is free and usually arrives within about ten business days, but in most everyday situations you only need the number itself, not the card.
Documents That Already Show Your Number
The quickest way to recover a forgotten number is to look through records you likely already keep. A federal Form 1040 prints the filer’s SSN at the top of the first page, and a spouse’s number if you filed jointly. W-2 forms from current or past employers show your full number because employers are required to record it for wage reporting.1Internal Revenue Service. Hiring Employees Independent contractors will find the same number on 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC forms.
If you receive Social Security benefits, your annual Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefit Statement) includes it, and you can download a copy through your online my Social Security account instead of searching through paper.2Social Security Administration. Get Tax Form (1099/1042S)
Other places the number may appear: older employment contracts, signed loan applications, and military discharge papers (DD-214). Some health insurance cards still carry it. Medicare cards issued before April 2019 displayed the SSN, but newer Medicare cards use a separate Medicare Beneficiary Identifier instead.3Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. New Medicare Card Project
View It Through My Social Security
If nothing in your files turns it up, the SSA’s online portal at ssa.gov/myaccount lets you view your Social Security Statement, which summarizes your lifetime earnings and projected benefits and includes your number.4Social Security Administration. my Social Security Setting up an account means choosing between two identity verification options, Login.gov or ID.me, and answering questions to confirm who you are. Once you’re in, the same account lets you request a replacement card, check an application status, or estimate future benefits.
Do You Actually Need the Physical Card?
Before you go through a replacement, think about whether you really need the card. The SSA recommends against carrying your Social Security card and advises keeping it in a secure place. In most situations, simply knowing the number is enough.5Social Security Administration. Guard Your Card: Protect What’s Important to You Employers verifying work eligibility, for example, accept a range of identity and authorization documents; the Social Security card is only one option. If you can confirm your number through the my Social Security portal or your tax records, a replacement card may be unnecessary.
Requesting a Replacement Card Online
If you do need the card, the fastest route is through your my Social Security account. You can use the online option only if all of the following are true:
- You are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older.
- You have a driver’s license or state-issued ID from a participating state or the District of Columbia. The current list is at ssa.gov/ssnumber.
- You have a U.S. mailing address, including APO, FPO, and DPO addresses.
- You are not changing your name, date of birth, place of birth, or any other information on the card.
Sign in, follow the prompts, and the SSA will verify your information and mail the new card. There is no fee.6Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card Delivery usually takes about ten business days.7Social Security Administration. A Faster and More Convenient Way to Request a Social Security Number and Card
Requesting a Replacement by Mail or In Person
If your state doesn’t participate, you’re under 18, or you need to change something on the card, apply by mail or at a local office. Both routes use Form SS-5, the Application for a Social Security Card, downloadable at ssa.gov.8Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card
To apply by mail, send the signed Form SS-5 with your original identity and citizenship documents to your local Social Security office. The office locator is at secure.ssa.gov/FOLO/fo001.jsp. The SSA returns originals by mail after verifying them. To apply in person, bring the same materials to the office. Either way, expect the card in roughly ten business days.7Social Security Administration. A Faster and More Convenient Way to Request a Social Security Number and Card
Documents You’ll Need
Whichever route you take, you must prove your identity with at least one current, unexpired document. For adults, the SSA accepts:
- U.S. driver’s license
- State-issued non-driver identification card
- U.S. passport
If you were born outside the United States and your citizenship isn’t already on file with the SSA, you’ll also need to prove citizenship. Acceptable proof includes a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Citizenship, or Certificate of Naturalization.8Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card
Every document must be an original or a copy certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies aren’t accepted. Mailed originals come back after verification.8Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card
For a Child’s Card
Children rarely have a driver’s license or passport, so the SSA accepts alternatives:
- School or daycare record
- School identification card
- Doctor, clinic, or hospital record
- Adoption decree
- Religious record
A birth certificate can prove a child’s age and citizenship but doesn’t count as identity proof on its own, because the SSA also needs evidence that the child exists beyond the date of birth. Documents still must be originals or certified copies, and they cannot be expired.9Social Security Administration. U.S. Citizen/Child — Replacement Social Security Card
Limits on Replacement Cards
Federal law caps you at three replacement cards per calendar year and ten over a lifetime.8Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Some cards don’t count against the caps:
- Cards issued to reflect a new legal name after marriage, divorce, or a court order.
- Cards issued to update the work-authorization legend for non-citizens.
- Hardship exceptions the SSA grants case by case, for instance when a government social services agency requires the card before releasing benefits.
Outside those exceptions, once you hit the lifetime cap the SSA will not issue more replacements.10Social Security Administration. Code of Federal Regulations 20 Part 422 – Section 422.103
Changing the Name on Your Card
If you legally change your name through marriage, divorce, or a court order, you need to update the SSA so its records match. The number stays the same; only the name on the card changes. This can’t be done through the online replacement tool. A name change requires Form SS-5 submitted by mail or in person.
Along with a standard identity document, you’ll need proof of the legal name change. The SSA accepts:
- Marriage document
- Divorce decree
- Court order approving the name change
- Certificate of Naturalization showing the new name
If the name change happened more than two years ago (four years for someone under 18), the SSA may ask for an identity document in your prior name. An expired ID in the old name is fine here. If you have nothing in the old name, an unexpired ID in the new name may work as long as SSA records can otherwise confirm your identity.11Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
Once You Have the Number Back, Protect It
Because your SSN is tied to your credit history, tax filings, and employment records, a stolen number can do real financial damage. Several free tools help.
Credit Freeze
A credit freeze, also called a security freeze, blocks lenders from pulling your credit report to open new accounts in your name. Under a 2018 amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, placing, lifting, and removing a freeze is free at all three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Contact each separately, and lift the freeze temporarily when you apply for credit yourself.
Fraud Alert
A fraud alert tells potential creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts. You only need to contact one of the three bureaus, and that bureau notifies the other two. An initial alert lasts one year. If you have already been a victim and have an FTC Identity Theft Report or police report, you can place an extended alert lasting seven years.
IRS Identity Protection PIN
The IRS offers a free Identity Protection PIN, a six-digit number that blocks someone from filing a fraudulent return using your SSN. Anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can verify their identity is eligible. A new PIN is generated each year, and it goes on your federal return. Enroll through your IRS Online Account at irs.gov.12Internal Revenue Service. FAQs About the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN)
Lock Your Number in E-Verify
The Department of Homeland Security’s myE-Verify service offers a Self Lock feature. When activated, your SSN is flagged in E-Verify so any employer running an employment check with your locked number gets a mismatch. You can unlock it when starting a new job. The feature is free through a myE-Verify account.13E-Verify. Self Lock
If Fraud Has Already Happened
If someone is already using your number to open accounts or commit other fraud, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC will generate an Identity Theft Report and a personalized recovery plan.14Federal Trade Commission. IdentityTheft.gov You can also report SSN misuse to the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or oig.ssa.gov.15Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. Fraud Hotline