Form SS-5
Application for a Social Security Card
Agency
SSA
Version
12-2024
Fee
Free
Deadline
No statutory deadline; required before starting most jobs.
Official PDF hosted at www.ssa.gov · Verified 2026-05-19
Who Needs This Form
- Newborns and children needing an original Social Security card
- New US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and work-authorized noncitizens
- People who lost their card or need a replacement
- Anyone correcting a name change after marriage, divorce, or court order
- Adopted children receiving a new SSN
Step-by-Step Guide
Form SS-5 applies for an original Social Security card, a replacement card, or a card with a corrected name. Most adult applications must be filed in person at an SSA office with original documents. There is no fee. This is not legal advice — consult an attorney for complex immigration or naming-history situations.
Items 1-3 — Name
Provide the name you want on the card (Item 1), your full name at birth (Item 2 — first/middle/last), and any other names you have used (Item 3).
Item 1 — Name to be shown on card
How you want your name printed. The system allows up to 26 characters for first+middle, 13 for last. Long names get truncated — usually keeping legal first + last is the cleanest.
Common mistake: Listing a nickname or shortened name. The card name must match your tax filings, your job records, and your other government IDs. Use the legal version.
Item 2 — Full name at birth
Your name as it appeared on your birth certificate. For naturalized citizens with a Westernized name change, list the original name here.
Item 3 — Other names used
Maiden names, prior married names, religious or stage names you've used on official records. Helps SSA match prior records.
Items 4-5 — Social Security number assigned earlier
Only fill in if you've had a prior SSN. Original applicants (first card) leave blank.
Item 4 — SSN previously assigned
Your existing SSN. Required for replacement cards and name corrections.
Item 5 — Was the SSN assigned to you under a different name?
Yes if any prior cards were issued under a different name (e.g., maiden name).
Items 6-7 — Date and place of birth
Must match your birth certificate or passport exactly.
Item 6 — Date of birth
MM/DD/YYYY. SSA will compare to your evidence.
Item 7 — Place of birth
City and state (US) or city and country (foreign-born). For Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands — list the territory by name.
Item 8 — Citizenship status
Check exactly one box. Determines what documents SSA will require.
U.S. citizen
Born in US (including territories) OR naturalized OR US citizen at birth via a US-citizen parent abroad.
Legal alien allowed to work
Green card holders (I-551), conditional residents (I-551 with 2-year stamp), refugees and asylees with work authorization, and most employment-based visa holders (H-1B, L-1, etc.).
Legal alien NOT allowed to work
Rare. Issued when a non-work-authorized noncitizen needs an SSN for a state/local benefit or federal program that requires one.
Other
International students on F-1 with employment authorization, exchange visitors on J-1, certain dependents. Explain in writing on a separate sheet.
Item 9 — Ethnicity / race
Voluntary self-identification, used by SSA for statistical purposes. You can decline.
Optional
Leaving this blank does NOT delay processing.
Item 10 — Sex
Male, female, or you may request a sex marker change with proof. SSA accepts non-medical documentation.
Documentation
For an initial card, the sex marker comes from your birth certificate or other identity document. Changes after issuance require a separate request (form available on ssa.gov).
Items 11-12 — Parents' information
Required for original cards for anyone, and for any application by a child under 18. Helps SSA match birth records and prevent fraud.
Item 11 — Mother's name at her birth
Her maiden/birth name. Critical because SSA uses this in its matching algorithms.
Item 11 — Mother's SSN
If known. Required for children under 18; optional for adults applying for their own card.
Item 12 — Father's name and SSN
Same rules as mother. 'Unknown' is acceptable if applicable.
Items 13-14 — Prior cards
Only fill if you've previously received a card. Tells SSA which card(s) to associate with this application.
Item 13 — Different name on prior card
List the prior name as it appeared on the card.
Item 14 — Different date of birth on prior card
If you've corrected your DOB since your last card, list both.
Items 15-18 — Contact and signature
Mailing address (Item 15), phone (Item 17), then sign and date (Item 18). For minors and incapacitated adults, a parent or legal guardian signs and notes the relationship.
Item 15 — Mailing address
Where SSA will mail the card after processing. Must be a US address (P.O. box acceptable).
Item 18 — Your signature
Sign in ink. Parents signing for a child write the child's name on Item 1 and sign their own name on Item 18, then indicate relationship (e.g., 'Parent') in Item 18(b).
Common mistake: An adult applicant having someone else sign 'on their behalf.' Unless you have a court-ordered legal guardianship/power of attorney for an incapacitated adult, only the applicant can sign.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mailing the application when in-person is required
Adult applicants for an ORIGINAL card almost always must apply in person — SSA needs to inspect original documents. Mailed applications are accepted only for limited circumstances (some replacement cards by mail in eligible states).
Fix: Check ssa.gov for current rules and your local office's policy. For most original-card adult applicants, walk in (or schedule online).
Bringing photocopied documents
SSA requires originals or certified copies issued by the original issuing authority. Plain photocopies, even notarized, are rejected.
Fix: Birth certificate from the state/county vital records office. Passport in original form. Marriage certificate from the issuing court or vital records — not a notarized photocopy.
Using the legal name your job uses but doesn't match your birth certificate
If you go by a nickname at work but the legal name on your birth certificate is different, SSA will reject a card application that uses the work name.
Fix: Apply with your legal name. If you want a new legal name, complete a court-order name change first, then apply for a corrected card.
Forgetting the immigration documents for noncitizen applicants
Noncitizens need to show their I-551 (green card), I-94, EAD (I-766), or other USCIS document. Without it the application is incomplete.
Fix: Bring ALL of: original I-94, original EAD if applicable, original I-551 or visa/passport. Recent printouts from i94.cbp.dhs.gov count as the original.
Applying for a child without both parents' info
For minors under 18, SSA strongly prefers both parents' info even when one is absent. Missing info can delay processing.
Fix: Provide what you have. If a parent is unknown or unavailable, write 'Unknown' rather than leaving blank.
Trying to apply right after immigration status approval
SSA typically waits 10 days after USCIS issues a new I-551 or work authorization before SSA's systems show the record. Applying immediately can result in 'cannot verify status.'
Fix: Wait at least 10 business days after your immigration approval before applying. If urgent, bring the USCIS approval notice — SSA can manually verify.
Expecting a card the same day
SSA never issues cards on the spot. After your application is accepted, the card is mailed from a central facility.
Fix: Expect 10-14 business days for mailing. The SSA office can give you a printout showing your SSN immediately for I-9 purposes, but the card itself comes by mail.
Letting a third-party 'service' file SS-5 for a fee
SS-5 is free directly from SSA. Companies that charge to 'help you get an SSN' are unnecessary and sometimes scams collecting your SSN.
Fix: Use ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf for the official form. Use ssa.gov/locator to find your nearest office. The application costs nothing.
Download & fill manually
Get the official Form SS-5 PDF
For this form, downloading the official PDF and filling it manually is the recommended path. Every field on this page maps to a field in the PDF.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is SS-5 free?
Yes — no application fee, no replacement-card fee. Any 'service' charging to file for you is unnecessary.
How long does it take to get the card?
Typically 10-14 business days after SSA accepts your application. Some offices issue a printout showing your number immediately so you can start work; the physical card follows in the mail.
Can I apply online?
Online application for a replacement card is available in most states via your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount (US citizen adults only, with state-issued ID from a participating state). All other applications require in-person visit.
Do I need to apply in person?
For original cards, almost always yes. For name changes, yes (originals must be inspected). For some replacement cards (no other changes), the online or mail path may be available depending on your state and citizenship.
What if I just need proof of SSN for a job — not a new card?
Your employer cannot require you to produce the card itself for I-9 — Form W-4 just needs the number. If your card is delayed but you need to show proof, SSA can issue a free printout of your SSN at the office.
I changed my name — what do I bring?
Original (or certified copy) of the legal document showing the change: marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Plus current proof of identity (driver's license or state ID). SSA returns originals after viewing.
My child needs an SSN. Do I file SS-5?
Yes. Most US-born babies get an SSN automatically at the hospital if parents check the enumeration-at-birth box on the birth certificate worksheet. If that didn't happen, fill out SS-5 for the child, sign as parent on Item 18, and bring the child's birth certificate plus your own ID to the SSA office.
Lost my card — do I need a replacement?
Replacement isn't always necessary. Most situations only require the NUMBER, not the physical card. Plus there's a lifetime limit on replacements (3 per year and 10 per lifetime, with exceptions for legal name changes). If you've memorized your SSN, you may not need a new card.
Sources
Disclaimer: Mubboo Editorial Team. This guide is for general information only and is not tax, legal, or immigration advice. Tax and immigration rules change — always confirm with the official agency, a licensed tax professional, or an immigration attorney before relying on these instructions for filing.