Guide
Lost your Social Security card? How to replace it for free
- Cost
- Free
- Delivery
- By mail, 5 to 10 business days
- ID needed
- US driver's licence, state ID or passport
A replacement card is free, and you may not need one at all. Here is how the Social Security Administration handles a lost card, step by step.
A real moment
“A new job wants to see your Social Security card on Monday. You have not seen it since you moved, and you cannot remember the last time you needed it.”
Replacing a lost Social Security card is free. Start online at ssa.gov: adults with a US mailing address and a my Social Security account can often finish there. You need a US driver's licence, state ID or US passport. The card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days, and often knowing the number is enough.
The checklist
What to have ready
Last checked against the official sources on 1 October 2026
Everyone
- Proof of identityA US driver's licence, state-issued ID card or US passport. Other IDs only if you cannot get one of these within 10 days.
- Originals or certified copiesNo photocopies, notarised copies or receipts, and nothing expired.
Only if they apply
- A my Social Security accountLets you apply online.Only if you are 18 or older with a US mailing address
- Form SS-5The paper application, taken to a Social Security office or Card Center with your documents.Only if you cannot finish online
- Proof of US citizenshipA US birth certificate or US passport.Only if SSA does not already have it on record
- Your current immigration documentSuch as an I-551, I-766 or I-94.Only if you are not a US citizen
Free, and often started online
The exact ID SSA accepts
The replacement limits
Cost
Free
Delivery
By mail, 5 to 10 business days
ID needed
US driver's licence, state ID or passport
Limits
3 a year, 10 in a lifetime
Do you even need the card?
SSA says you may not need a replacement if you know your Social Security number: in most cases, the physical card is not necessary. A scan of the card in DigiSafe keeps the number to hand, encrypted, without carrying the card.
Start online
The fastest way is to start online at ssa.gov. Depending on your case, you finish online or book an office visit; a local office cannot print a card on the spot. The card comes by mail in 5 to 10 business days.
The ID SSA accepts
SSA wants to see a US driver's licence, state ID card or US passport. If it has not already confirmed your citizenship, it also needs a US birth certificate or US passport. Documents must be originals or certified copies, and current.
Three a year, ten in a lifetime
You can get three replacement cards a year and ten in your lifetime. Legal name changes and some other cases do not count, and SSA can make an exception if you need the card to prevent a significant hardship.
Keep the number safe
The IRS advises keeping your card and any document showing your number in a safe place, and not carrying it routinely. Keep the card at home and an encrypted copy on your phone.
Step by step
- 1
Check whether you need the card or only the number.
- 2
Start the replacement online at ssa.gov.
- 3
Have your driver's licence, state ID or passport ready.
- 4
Finish online, or bring your documents to an office if asked.
- 5
Wait 5 to 10 business days for the card by mail.
- 6
Scan it into DigiSafe and store the card at home.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to replace a Social Security card?+
Nothing. SSA says there is no charge for a replacement card.
Can I replace my Social Security card online?+
Often, yes. If you are 18 or older, have a US mailing address and a my Social Security account, SSA lets you apply online in most states.
How many times can I replace my Social Security card?+
Three times a year and ten times in your lifetime. Legal name changes do not count toward these limits.
How long does a replacement card take?+
SSA says it arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days once your application is processed.
Where this comes from
Official sources, dated.
Every requirement on this page comes from the official pages listed here, last checked on 1 October 2026. Rules change and offices can ask for more, so check the official page before you go.
Read next
Do it in a minute, on your phone.
DigiSafe is free, encrypted on your device, and it works offline.