Take The Following Steps If You Have Lost Your Social Security Card

Losing your social security card is no fun at all. It’s like losing your license or your birth certificate. All three of these are official documents, and that means you’re making a trip to a government office. Or does it? Do you really have to hurry up and wait? Not necessarily, and you’re going to find out more about that in a minute.

You are going to need your license or a state ID and your birth certificate in order to get a new social security card in person at the SSA office. There are alternative documents that are accepted, one of them being your passport. Your passport passes for both your license and your birth certificate, proving both identity and citizenship. Yet the fact of the matter remains that in person, you must show two forms of identification in order to get a replacement social security card.

Now, here’s the good news. As a small disclaimer, the following process isn’t applicable to people of all 50 states. There are states that aren’t on the list when it comes to online social security card applications. Yet for the most part, most people are going to find that they are eligible to apply for a replacement card online. You just have to understand the process and be ready and willing to complete it according to the SSA guidelines.

Have you ever been asked identity and credit report questions online before in order to confirm who you are? You’re going to have to be ready for that, and you’re going to need to register for an online SSA account. Don’t think that these stipulations make the process a hassle, however, as you have to remember that you’re going to be applying for a replacement social security card from the comfort of your own home.

Once you have an online account, you will get your email confirmation. You will also have agreed to receive all correspondence from the SSA office. That includes your yearly wage statements, so make sure you are comfortable with that. Many people find that to be a convenience in this day and age. If you are comfortable with receiving all correspondence online, then you can move forward with your registering and getting ready to fill out your application for a replacement social security card.

If you ever have any questions about social security matters or need to speak with someone in general, you can always stop by the local SSA office in your city. You aren’t relegated to doing everything online. In fact, some processes, like changing the name on your social security card, require an extra form and an in-person visit.

What you have in front of you is the option to apply for your social security card online. Now you are likely wondering if that is going to speed up the process. Yes and no. It might actually speed up the processing of your application according to certain sources. Yet after your application is processed, it still takes about 10-14 business days for you to receive your card.

If you are in a crunch and need your card faster, understand that there are different ways these days for employers and other organizations to verify social security numbers. An employer may be fine with that option, as long as your card is on the way and you can show it to him or her when it arrives. So relax, and just be patient because your card will be here in no time.

First, you have to complete that application and get your confirmation email. You have already at this point received the confirmation email for registration. The process moves very quickly, too. This in-depth description of what to do is supposed to serve as a thorough explanation for your benefit. When you go to take the actual steps for registering with the SSA and applying for a replacement card, you will be done in a matter of minutes.

Granted, it helps to have familiarized yourself with the process so that you are able to get the job done quickly. You are now going to click on the link for the replacement card application. You are then going to enter your personal information, and you are going to need your driver’s license or state ID number. Fill in all the information, click submit, and your application is ready for processing.

You are supposed to receive a confirmation email at that point, and then you’re supposed to receive another one after your application has been processed. Make sure to check your spam folder, although that seems odd that an email from the SSA would show up there. Trust me, it happens. After submitting your application, you are simply waiting for your card to arrive in the mail.

It was easy, right? You might be thinking that I skipped the payment method explanation, but there is no charge for the online application. That is a good question, however, if it was one you were thinking about. After all, the USPS charges $1 for an online change of address. The DMV charges for an online renewal of your license. In person, the DMV charges though, too, while the SSA and USPS do not.

Now you know everything there is to know about submitting your online application for a replacement social security card. It helps to know that your state of residence qualifies you to fill out an online application, too. Start there, and you can check the list of states on the official SSA website.

Once you see that your state is listed, you can start registering for an account. You will be done in minutes. Then you can fill out the online replacement card application. You will be done in minutes with that process, too. If you want, you can check out your wage statements online and check out what all you can on the SSA website. It’s certainly a convenience to at least be able to apply for the replacement of your lost social security card.