Social Security Cards

Social Security cards were first issued in 1936, and since that time cards have been issued to every person possessing a valid Social Security number. Cards are issued free of charge and are important for employment and tax verification purposes.

Social Security cards are issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Each card is individual to the person who carries it, and includes the person's name and their assigned Social security number.

Cards are not intended to ever be used as a form of identification, but rather as a verification of the correct Social Security number. Several agencies request valid cards from people. These organizations include, but are not limited to:

• Potential employers
• Some educational institutions
• Some governmental assistance programs

A request for a copy of a card from a merchant or an individual without valid reason should raise a big red flag. If there does not appear to be a legitimate need for a copy of your card to be given to the requesting person or organization, do not give it to them.

A primary protection against identification theft is not to carry your card in your wallet. Lock it away in a safe place, difficult for potential thieves to disclose.

A Social Security number is a valuable piece of information for a person who is looking to steal someone else's identity. With your number, a thief can apply for credit and obtain employment, all under the guise of your identity. For this reason, it is recommended that your card stays in a safe place until you need it for employment or other purposes. After all, credit card numbers can be cancelleed instantaneously, but obtaining a new Social Security number is a daunting process. It is better to simply eliminate the possibility of someone stealing your Social Security card because you were carrying it around with you.

It is the responsibility of new parents to file the paperwork necessary to get a Social Security card for their baby. Parents may receive the required paperwork from the hospital where the baby was born. Oftentimes the hospital will have an office dedicated to assisting parents with SSA filing.

In order to obtain a card, parents will need to fill out an application (Form SS-5) and prove their identity, in addition to providing a copy of the birth certificate or other proof of the baby's identity. If the hospital does not issue the documents for them, parents will need to take all the supporting documents to a Social Security office and request the card themselves.

Replacement cards are issued after the applicant proves both identity and citizenship. It is up to the person requesting the new card to supply sufficient documentation to prove both. Possible documents include:

• Driver's license
• Passport
• Other photo identification card

Requests for replacement cards cannot be made over the phone or on the SSA Website because original documents must be presented before a replacement card will be issued. The SSA limits the number of replacement cards a person can obtain over their lifetime, but there are exceptions to this rule if necessary.

Any change affecting the information on Social Security cards, such as a change in name or immigration status, needs to be reported to the SSA along with a request for an updated card. It is important to keep all of your personal information up-to-date with the SSA because an unreported name change might make filing for taxes more difficult. To request an official name change with the SSA, applicants must prove the legality behind the change, either with a court order, divorce decree, or marriage certificate. Other documents need to be filed as well, such as the SS-5 and proof of identity.

The Social Security Administration does not necessarily make the task of obtaining a card a daunting task. As long as an applicant possesses the proper paperwork then getting a new card, replacement card, or corrected card is a rather simple process.

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