How to Order a New Social Security Card (Replacement Card Guide)
How do I get a new Social Security card? Order a replacement free from SSA — it arrives in 5 to 10 business days. Use our checker to see whether you can order fully online and exactly which documents to bring, then follow the steps for a lost card or a name change.
Written and fact-checked by the CheckPayDate.com Editorial TeamPublished October 27, 2026Last reviewed October 27, 2026How we review
Quick Answer
- It's free. SSA never charges for a Social Security card.
- Many adults can do it online through my Social Security with a driver's license or state ID.
- Everyone else starts online and books an appointment to show original documents.
- Your card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days. Offices can't print one on the spot.
- You may not need one. Knowing your number is usually enough.
Social Security Card Checker
Answer 5 questions to see how to apply and what to bring
You can likely do this fully online
Based on your answers, you meet SSA's requirements to request your card through my Social Security without visiting an office.
Start on ssa.govWhat you'll need
- Your driver's license or state ID number (you'll enter it online).
- Bring originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. SSA can't accept photocopies, notarized copies, or expired documents.
- Sign in at ssa.gov/myaccount and choose to replace your card. If online verification fails, SSA will let you book an office appointment instead.
- You can get up to 3 replacement cards a year and 10 in your lifetime.
What Is a Social Security Number (SSN)?
- What it is
- A nine-digit number (format XXX-XX-XXXX) that SSA assigns to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and noncitizens authorized to work.
- What it's for
- Recording your earnings so SSA can figure your benefits. Employers, banks, and the IRS also use it to identify you.
- Since when
- SSA began issuing numbers in 1936, after the Social Security Act of 1935.
- What the digits mean
- Since June 25, 2011, numbers are assigned randomly. Before that, the first three digits were tied to the state where the number was issued.
- Is it reused?
- No. SSA doesn't reassign a number to anyone else, even after the holder dies.
| Card says | Issued to |
|---|---|
| No restriction | U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents |
| "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" | People admitted temporarily with permission to work |
| "Not valid for employment" | Noncitizens without work permission who need a number for a federal benefit or a state law requirement |
Your number matters more than the card. You rarely need to show the card itself, so keep it somewhere safe rather than in your wallet. Noncitizens can read more in our guide to green card holders and SSNs.
How to Order a New Social Security Card Online
You can complete a replacement fully online if all of these are true:
- You're a U.S. citizen age 18 or older, and SSA already has your citizenship on record.
- You have a my Social Security account (Login.gov or ID.me).
- You have a current driver's license or state ID from a participating state or D.C.
- You have a U.S. mailing address (APO, FPO, and DPO addresses count).
- You aren't changing anything on your record, or you're changing your last name after marriage in a participating state.
- Sign in to my Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount (or create an account).
- Choose to replace your Social Security card.
- Confirm your email, pick the state that issued your license or ID, and answer the background questions.
- Enter your license or ID details to verify your identity, then submit.
Not sure your state participates? SSA checks automatically as you apply, or see the list at ssa.gov/ssnumber.
Social Security Name Change: How to Update Your Name and Card
SSA updates your name by issuing a replacement card with the new name. Do this before you update your name with the IRS or your employer, so your wages and tax refund match SSA's records.
After marriage
Since January 31, 2026, you can change your last name fully online if your marriage certificate and license or ID are from participating states and you meet the other online requirements.
After divorce, court order, or naturalization
Start online, then bring the divorce decree, court order, or Certificate of Naturalization plus a current ID to your appointment. If the change was over 2 years ago, also bring an ID in your old name.
Name-change cards don't count toward the replacement limits.
How to Get a Social Security Card for the First Time
- Newborns: parents can usually request a number at the hospital when applying for the birth certificate.
- Older children and adults: apply online, then visit an office with proof of age, identity, and citizenship or immigration status.
- Noncitizens: you generally need work authorization or a valid nonwork reason. See SSNs for green card holders.
Replacement Card Rules at a Glance
| Cost | Free |
|---|---|
| Delivery time | 5 to 10 business days by mail after SSA approves |
| Limit | 3 per calendar year, 10 per lifetime (name changes excluded) |
| Documents | Originals or certified copies only; no photocopies, notarized copies, or expired IDs |
| Paper option | Form SS-5, brought to an office or Card Center |
| Same-day card | Not available; offices can't print cards |
Lost or Stolen Card? Protect Your Identity
If your card was stolen, report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov and consider freezing your credit. Avoid sites that charge a fee to "process" a card — the official application on ssa.gov is free. See which SSA services are free and which have a fee.
How to spot Social Security scamsFrequently asked questions
Related guides & tools
Official Primary Data Sources
Based on SSA guidance checked October 27, 2026. The checker is an independent guide, not an SSA decision; SSA's online application makes the final determination.
Free replacement; online or by appointment; card arrives in 5–10 business days.
Name changes are made by requesting a replacement card.
Required documents by situation; replacement limits; name-change evidence.
Requirements for the online replacement path.
Evidence rules and the 3-per-year, 10-per-lifetime limit (Public Law 108-458).
Since January 31, 2026, marriage-related last name changes can be completed online in participating states.
Who can get a number and how to apply.
What an SSN is used for, the three card types, and protecting your number.
Random assignment of SSNs since June 25, 2011.