Replacement or Corrected Social Security Cards during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: February 21, 2023
Social Security offices are currently open only for in-person appointments for limited, critical situations, depending upon local office conditions. However, you can continue to apply for a replacement Social Security card online and by mail.
Before requesting a replacement card, please remember that you might not need the physical card. Most of the time, simply knowing your Social Security number is enough.
If you have a critical situation that requires you to have a physical card and you cannot apply by mail or online, you should call your local Social Security office. Please visit our website for more information.
Applying Online
If you don’t need any changes to your Social Security Number record (such as a name or date of birth change), applying for a replacement card online is your most convenient option. You don’t need to mail proof or visit an office.
You can use our online application if you are an adult, have a State-issued drivers’ license or non-driver identification card, and live in the District of Columbia or one of the 45 States that verifies State-issued documents for us. All you need to do is create a my Social Security account to access and complete the online application.
If you live in one of the five States that do not participate—Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and West Virginia—know that we are working hard to bring this service to you as soon as possible.
Applying by Mail
We require proof of your identity with your replacement card application, usually a State-issued drivers’ license or non-driver identification card, or U.S. passport. We call these documents “primary” identity proofs. We understand mailing primary identity proofs with your replacement card application can be challenging. To help, we are temporarily expanding our policy to accept alternative identity documents—or what we call “secondary proofs”—when you cannot mail primary proof.
Acceptable secondary proofs include, but are not limited to:
- Employee identification card.
- School identification card.
- Health insurance card (not a Medicare card).
- U.S. military identification card.
These proofs must be current (not expired), show your name and identifying information (such as your date of birth or age), and be an original or a certified copy.
If you need to change your name, when you mail your replacement card application, you will need to submit proof of identity plus proof of the name change. The proof of identity can be primary or secondary proof. Proof of the name change could be a marriage certificate, divorce decree, Certificate of Naturalization showing the new name, or a court order approving the name change.
You may be able to submit one document to serve as proof of your name change and identity. For example, you may submit a marriage certificate as proof of name change and identity if the certificate shows the marriage occurred within the prior two years and:
- Includes your prior name.
- Includes your age, birth date or parents’ names.
- This information matches your Social Security Number record.
We will return any documents you send us.
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Tags: COVID-19, Social Security card
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Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
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Jerri L.
Hi i gained legal guardianship of my 2 year old grandson until hes 18 and i need to get a replacement social security card for him and add him to my SSI benefits i get every month what do i need to do to get this done asap
Vonda
Thank you for using our blog, Jerri. That is not something that you can do online. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information on how to replace a Social Security card for a child. To learn more on the process and what documents you and your child will need to get a card, please visit our Learn what documents you will need to get a Social Security Card web page. Use our Social Security Office Locator to find your local office address.
You may also find our Social Security and Coronavirus web page helpful.
Kai
Hi, I sent an application in march and got my new card mid-april, however I still haven’t gotten my documents (passport, court order) back.
Vonda
Hi Kai, thanks for using our blog. Please call your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Maria K.
I am green card holder. I recieved card with a mistake in my last name. I need to fix it. Can I send SS-5 form with the secondary documents to replacement my social security card?
Vonda
Hi Maria. We apologize for the mistake. Please call your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Dharma
Where I should mail the application?
Vonda
Hi Dharma, thanks for using our blog. Use our Social Security Office Locator to obtain your local office mailing address. Thanks!
Will H.
Hi! My wife’s employer has required her to get her last name changed by June 1st, and she has all of the paperwork and documentation she needs to get it taken care of. I have some concerns, however, about mailing this material, having just had to deal with a situation where it took literally a month for an envelope to to travel from Norfolk, VA to Richmond, VA. Is there a drop box at the Norfolk office? Or is there any way to take care of it via appointment? She’s very worried about the possibility of loss of employment if she isn’t able to take care of the name situation in the time required. Thanks!
Vonda
Hi Will, thank you for your question. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to change your name. All submitted documents must be either originals or certified copies by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
Our Social Security and Coronavirus web page, under “Getting Help from Social Security heading”, provides details on the documents you need to mail in with your Social Security card application to get a replacement card with your new name. We temporarily expanded our policy to accept secondary identity documents.
To inquire on a potential drop box, please call your local office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this helps!
Kelsey B.
Hello. I was told I need to send in my actual (not a copy) drivers license in order to change my name. How am I supposed to drive without a license for weeks? What do I tell a cop that may pull me over and then ticket me for driving without a license? I now see on here that many people have reported that their documents have not been returned to them, yet offices are not open for in-person appointments. This is seriously flawed. I want to know how I am protected from getting ticketed for driving without a license and how I know that my license will be returned to me. I have tried calling about this but am left on hold for hours waiting to reach someone.
Vonda
Hi Kelsey, thank you for your question. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to change your name. All submitted documents must be either originals or certified copies by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
Our Social Security and Coronavirus web page, under “Getting Help from Social Security heading”, provides details on the documents you need to mail in with your Social Security card application to get a replacement card with your new name. We temporarily expanded our policy to accept secondary identity documents. We hope this helps!
Michael
This is a non-answer answer. You should have just been hinds and said: “I don’t care”
Michael
*”should have been honest”
Artur
Hello in 2019 i went to a social security card center to correct my name by one letter & the social security worker messed up my file/paper work and didn’t give me the right information…i had proof of my current name on my certificate of citizenship.She told me no that’s not what we need you need to get a name change court order.Is a certificate of citizenship document used to correct my name on my SS card
Vonda
For your security, Artur, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Augusto C.
I have the same concern…Why do I have to send my original passport or my driving license, when I can submit opy of different ID’s as proof of authenticity of legal citizen..?????? Like I did recently and my request was rejected ?????
Makes no sense, and I do understand the security side of it….But like these other guys, I don’t want to loose neither of my documents
Dhiven
A comment was just made earlier with the exact same concerns that I have. I applied for a replacement SS card, I came into the officeon April 5 and dropped off my Passport and application. I have since received my replacement social security card and have no idea what happened to my passport. I need to travel in a week and I’m stressing out big time. Please let me know how I can have access to my passport asap.
Vonda
Hi Dhiven, thanks for using our blog. Please call your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Jerry
I would like to know. How u guys return our important documents. I sent in my passport and marriage license. I received my new SS card. But no one can tell me where my documents are. No one answers the phone at any of the brooklyn offices. Today was in hood for 5 hours. I sent in paper work in March of this year. Do I guys use UPS. Or FedEx. Can u track where my paperwork is. Smh.
Vonda
Hi Jerry, thanks for using our blog. We are sorry to hear about your experience. Please call the office where you sent your application and documents. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Cyril
How long did it take to receive your new social security card