Replacing A Lost Social Security Card
| by Jim Wang |  Print Article
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Luckily I’ve never lost my social security card (which is good because I have a lot of money saved up in it!) but the key to being prepared is to be educated before a crisis strikes, so today I’m just going to review what you should do if you lose your social security card and how to get a replacement.
Unfortunately, when you lose your card there is no one you can report it to in order to prevent any sort of identity theft or other shenanigans. If you were to tell the Social Security Administration, they unfortunately will do nothing because there isn’t anything they can do. Most of the time you only need the card itself when you apply for something like a job, driver’s license, etc. and need proof of identification; but when you’re applying for something like a credit card, you only need the number (the card is meaningless). So, the first thing you should do if you lose a card is to put steps into place to prevent identity theft like freezing credit reports.
How do you replace the card? You’re allowed three per year and ten lifetime, excluding name changes and a few other exceptions. If you haven’t met your maximum limit, first you want to fill out this application, and then prepare all your identification documents. You will need:
- U.S. driver’s license;
- State-issued nondriver identity card; or
- U.S. passport.
If you don’t have those, there are some other replacements you can use instead.
You can either mail the documents in (I doubt this is a good idea) or go to a social security card center and submit the application.
Hopefully you’ll never need this information (don’t carry your card around in your purse or wallet, you’ll never need it!) but in case you do, I hope it has helped.
{ 19 comments, please add your thoughts now! }
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Wait, what happens if you reach the 10 maximum and then lose your card? You can’t get another one? Do they deport you?
Thanks for the info.
hmm….what happens when you reach the lifetime limit? are you simply left without a social security card? i may be missing something here, but the lifetime limit sounds absurd. just my opinion.
That lifetime limit seems a bit scary to me too. I’m only 22 and I’ve already had my SS replaced twice. Once due to flood damage, and the second time it was stolen along with some other personal belongings.
The absolute worst thing to lose is a passport. If you do, its $100 to replace and a couple of hours during the work week.
I keep my SS card in a Safe Deposit box … I guess many people carry there SS card with them?
I need to get mine replaced. I’ve been w/o it for about 5 years!
I got married last year and need to get a new social security card. My maiden name is Petersen (with an “e”) and my new last name is Peterson (with an “o”). Thanks for your help!
how long does it take to get it replaced and
if it takes long, is there a temporary replacement that can be used?
PLease I have lost my Social Security and two of my childrens Social Securitys. I lost my purse and I really did not know how important they were until now.
i lost my wallet and everything in it. so now i need a new SS CARD. I NEED IT ASAP. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS???
FIRST AND FORMOST HOW CAN I PREVENT MYSELF FROM FROUD. SECOND
WHAT IS THE BEST AND FASTEST WAY TO GET A NEW CARD?
PLEASE HELP, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, DENNIS G I HAVE COPYS OF MY CARD IF THIS WILL HELP.
DEPORT THAT GUY WHO LOST HIS CARD 10 TIMES. HE HAS SOLD THEM TO HIS BUDDYS FOR CASH. SO I SAY GET HIM OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
THERES MY 2 CENTS
Here is the answer to the question.
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458)
Section 7213:
Simple answer
Yes, but it is more of a pain in the back side.
Can someone please explain to me if you need a social security card for your child and you dont know what the social security number is, without having to go and sit for 10000000 million hours at the social security office because you are stationed overseas in the military and unable to go in and to do it online?
I forget my kids SSN all every year when I fill out taxes…
I simply use last years tax forms to look up their SSN. If you don’t have them then I don’t know. Good question!
Will
I lost my SS Card and I have a lot of money saved up, U.S born citizen, with an excellent clean record and no credit as of right now because I’m only 24 and I hate Credit Cards. What should I do? I am freaking out! what if someone’s using my Social? I already received a strange letter from the Hall of Records/Clerks office stating that in order to change my surname that to fill out a registration Form. I’m not married and I have never tried changing my last name… what should I do???
Someone please help
I recently tried to open a bank account for my child and realized that i misplaced her card. (Along with two other children’s. DUmb. i know!) Getting a replacement has been ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! Everything is a catch-22. I guess I’m happy that it is so difficult to get a replacement, with identity theft and everything else, but when there is a true, legit need, there is nothing anyone can do to work with a person who has genuninely lost a card. DO NOT LOOSE your cards. A safe deposit box at a bank is looking better and better….
I haven’t had my card for over 40 years. I live in Europe and know my number by heart. Never been asked for the actual card. hmmm. wonder what I should do now? keep on going and hope I die before I get asked for my card?
fm
YEA I JUST LOST MY SS A COUPLE DAYS AGO & BELIEVE ME,I WAS GOING CRAZY. IM EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD AND DONT REALLY HAVE ANY CREDIT BUT AM STILL UPSET ABOUT IT.I GOT SO SCARED THAT I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. CAN I GET A NEW ONE AND IS THERE ANY WAY THAT I CAN KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT ME & ALSO IF I CAN TRACK ANYONE WHO IS USING MY NUMBER? IM IN DESPERATE NEED FOR SOME ANSWERS! THANK YOU
I have been married before and switched my driver’s license to my married name but never switched my social security card over because I was young didn’t know I had to and the marriage did not last long. Apperently when I got my divorce the lawyer never gave me my maiden name back. My social security card was stolen a while ago. I am getting married again I need a new social security card but I am kind of stuck between names. I have no clue where the old marriage license is have proof that I switched names and I don’t have an ID that says my maiden name…. What do I do?