Form SS-5: Social Security Card Application

What is Form SS-5?

Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, is the Social Security Administration (SSA) form used for three things: applying for an original Social Security card (a first Social Security number), getting a replacement card, and changing or correcting information on your Social Security number record, such as a new legal name after marriage or divorce, a change in citizenship, or a corrected date of birth. As the form says, applying for a Social Security card is free.

The application itself is one page (page 5 of the form); the first four pages explain which evidence documents you need. SSA only accepts original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them, not photocopies or notarized copies, and it returns any documents you send. You take or mail the signed application with your documents to a Social Security office. If you are 12 or older and have never had a Social Security number, you must apply in person.

FileIt walks you through all 18 items in plain English and prints your answers onto SSA's own official PDF (edition 12-2024). It pre-fills names and dates of birth from the People records in your vault, which helps when you are applying for a child, splits Social Security numbers into the form's boxes, and saves the finished PDF to that person's vault folder. You print it, sign it in ink and deliver it yourself; FileIt never submits anything to SSA.

Who fills it: The applicant, or a parent, legal guardian or other authorized person applying for them.
Given to: Taken or mailed, with original documents, to a Social Security office or Social Security Card Center.
When: For a first number, a lost or damaged card, or after a legal name change or other change to your record.
Signatures: Signed by hand in black or blue ink in item 17 by the applicant or someone allowed to sign for them.
Cost: Free: the form says applying for a Social Security card is free.
Edition: SS-5 (12-2024)

Who needs to fill out Form SS-5?

Parents getting a Social Security number for a child who didn't receive one at birth, or for an adopted child.
People who have lost their card or had it stolen or damaged and need a replacement.
Anyone who has legally changed their name, for example after marriage, divorce or a court order, and needs SSA's records to match.
Naturalized citizens and immigrants whose citizenship or work-authorization status has changed.
Noncitizens with work authorization from the Department of Homeland Security applying for their first number.
People whose Social Security record shows the wrong date of birth or other incorrect information.
Legal guardians and relatives applying on behalf of someone who can't apply for themselves.

When to use Form SS-5

Before starting a job, when an employer will need your Social Security number.
After a legal name change, so your earnings are recorded correctly and your card shows your new name.
When you become a U.S. citizen, so SSA can update your record.
When your card is lost, stolen or damaged. Replacements are limited to 3 per calendar year and 10 in a lifetime, not counting legal name changes or work-authorization changes.
When a child needs a number for tax, bank or benefit purposes and none was assigned at birth.

What you need before you start

Proof of age, usually a birth certificate (a U.S. hospital record, religious record, passport or final adoption decree may be accepted in some cases).
Proof of identity in your legal name that is current and unexpired: a U.S. driver's license, state-issued non-driver ID card or U.S. passport.
Proof of U.S. citizenship (U.S. birth certificate or passport, Consular Report of Birth, Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization), or a current DHS immigration document such as Form I-551, I-94 or I-766.
For a name change: a recent document showing both your old and new names, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.
Your Social Security number, if you have ever been assigned one.
Your place of birth (city and state or foreign country, not abbreviated) and date of birth.
Your parents' names and, for a child under 18 applying for an original card, their Social Security numbers.
A mailing address where you can receive the card 7 to 14 days from now, and a daytime phone number.
If applying for someone else, evidence of your authority to sign plus proof of your own identity.

What’s on Form SS-5

The 2024 edition has 5 pages. FileIt asks for it in 7 parts:

What you're applying forApplicant (or the parent or guardian applying for them)
Items 1–2: Name and Social Security numberApplicant (or the parent or guardian applying for them)
Items 3–8: Birth, citizenship and personal detailsApplicant (or the parent or guardian applying for them)
Items 9–10: ParentsApplicant (or the parent or guardian applying for them)
Items 11–13: Earlier cardsApplicant (or the parent or guardian applying for them)
Items 14–16: Date, phone and mailing addressApplicant (or the parent or guardian applying for them)
Items 17–18: Signature and relationshipApplicant (or the parent or guardian applying for them)

How to fill out Form SS-5, step by step

1 Item 1: Name

Enter the name to be shown on the card: first, full middle name and last. This should be your legal name as it appears on your identity document. If your name at birth was different, give your full name at birth on the second line, and list any other names you have used, such as a previous married name.

2 Item 2: Social Security number previously assigned

If the person in item 1 already has a Social Security number, enter it. Leave it blank if you are applying for a first number. FileIt shows this item when you choose a replacement or a change of record.

3 Items 3 and 4: Place and date of birth

Enter the city and the state or foreign country of birth, without abbreviating (Pennsylvania, not PA). Item 4 is the date of birth, with the full four-digit year.

4 Item 5: Citizenship

Check one: U.S. citizen, legal alien allowed to work, legal alien not allowed to work, or other. If you check "not allowed to work" or "other", you must bring a document from a U.S. federal, state or local government agency explaining why you need a Social Security number and that you meet all the requirements for the government benefit. The form notes that most agencies don't require a Social Security number, so contact SSA to see if your reason qualifies.

5 Items 6 to 8: Ethnicity, race and sex

Ethnicity (item 6) and race (item 7) are voluntary and don't affect decisions on your application; SSA collects them for research and statistical purposes. For race you can select one or more. Item 8 asks for sex.

6 Items 9 and 10: Parents

Give the mother's name at her birth and the father's name, with first, full middle and last names. If you are applying for an original card for a child under 18, you must show the parents' Social Security numbers unless a parent was never assigned one. If a number isn't known and you can't obtain it, check "Unknown".

7 Items 11 to 13: Earlier cards

Item 11 asks whether the person, or anyone acting for them, has ever filed for or received a Social Security card before: yes, no or don't know. If yes, item 12 is the name shown on the most recent card, and item 13 is any different date of birth used on an earlier application. Fill in item 13 only if the date of birth on your Social Security record differs from item 4, and bring evidence supporting the date in item 4. If you answer "don't know", skip to item 14.

8 Items 14 to 16: Date, phone and mailing address

Item 14 is today's date, the date you sign. Item 15 is a daytime phone number with area code. Item 16 is the mailing address where you can receive your card 7 to 14 days from now: street address, apartment number, PO box or rural route, city, state or foreign country, and ZIP code, not abbreviated.

9 Items 17 and 18: Signature and relationship

Sign item 17 in black or blue ink. If you are 18 or older and physically and mentally able to read and complete the application, you must sign it yourself. Under 18, you may sign yourself or a parent or legal guardian may sign for you. Over 18 and unable to sign, a legal guardian, parent or close relative may generally sign. If you can't sign your name, sign with an "X" and have two people sign as witnesses beside the mark. Don't add anything else on the signature line.

Item 18 asks the signer's relationship to the person in item 1: self, natural or adoptive parent, legal guardian, or other (specify).

Common mistakes to avoid

Sending photocopies or notarized copies of documents. SSA only accepts originals or copies certified by the issuing agency.
Using a birth certificate as proof of identity. The form says a birth certificate, hospital souvenir birth certificate, Social Security card stub or Social Security record can't be used as evidence of identity.
Mailing the application for a first number when you are 12 or older. You must apply in person.
Leaving out the parents' Social Security numbers on an original application for a child under 18, instead of checking "Unknown" when a number can't be obtained.
Abbreviating the place of birth or mailing address, which the form asks you not to do.
Giving an address where you won't be able to receive mail in 7 to 14 days.
Signing someone else's application without bringing evidence of your authority to sign.
Paying someone to apply for you. Applying for a Social Security card is free.

After you fill it out

Print the application on 8.5 x 11 inch (or A4) paper, as the form asks, and sign item 17 in black or blue ink. The form says that in most cases you can take or mail the signed application with your documents to any Social Security office or Social Security Card Center. Any documents you mail are returned to you. If you are 12 or older and have never had a Social Security number, go in person.

Your card is mailed to the address in item 16, so make sure it is one where you'll receive mail in the coming weeks. When it arrives, keep it somewhere safe rather than in your wallet: the form advises not carrying your card and only taking it with you when you must show it, for example for a new job or to open a bank account.

FileIt keeps the completed application PDF in your vault, and you can store a scan of the new card alongside it. If you change your name again or your citizenship status changes, you'll fill in a new SS-5.

Fill out Form SS-5 online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 45 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Social Security Administration (SSA) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Form SS-5 now — it’s free

Form SS-5: frequently asked questions

How much does a Social Security card cost?

Nothing. The form says applying for a Social Security card is free. Be wary of any service that charges you to apply.

Can I mail Form SS-5 or do I have to go in person?

In most cases you can take or mail the signed application with your documents to a Social Security office. But if you are 12 or older and have never been assigned a Social Security number, you must apply in person.

What documents do I need for a replacement Social Security card?

One document proving your identity, such as a U.S. driver's license, state ID card or U.S. passport. If you were born outside the U.S., you also need proof of U.S. citizenship or current lawful, work-authorized immigration status. Documents must be originals or certified copies.

How do I change my name on my Social Security card?

Complete Form SS-5 with your new name in item 1 and your previous number in item 2, and provide a recent document showing both your old and new names, such as a marriage certificate or court order, plus proof of identity. If the name change happened over two years ago, you may need extra identity documents.

How many replacement Social Security cards can I get?

Public Law 108-458 limits replacements to 3 per calendar year and 10 in a lifetime. Cards issued because of a legal name change or a change to a work authorization legend don't count, and SSA may grant exceptions if you show a card is required.

Can a parent sign Form SS-5 for a child?

Yes. If the applicant is under 18, they may sign themselves or a parent or legal guardian may sign for them. The person signing must bring evidence of their authority and documents proving both their own identity and the child's.

Can I fill out Form SS-5 online?

You can with FileIt: it guides you through each item and prints your answers onto SSA's official PDF, saved in your vault. You then print it, sign it by hand in ink and take or mail it with your documents to Social Security; FileIt doesn't submit it.

Will SSA keep my original documents?

No. The form says SSA will return any documents submitted with your application, including documents you mail.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by Social Security Administration (SSA): https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.ssa.gov/number-card
Edition shown on this page: SS-5 (12-2024) UF, OMB No. 0960-0066 (checked 2026-09-26).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Social Security Administration (SSA) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-26.