Fill Out SSA Form SS-5 Online
Application for a Social Security Card
Social Security Administration
Applies for an original, replacement, or corrected Social Security card.
Reviewed July 2026
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Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, is the Social Security Administration form used to request an original Social Security card, replace a lost or damaged card, or correct the information on your record, such as a name change after marriage. The same form covers applications for adults and for children.
You can complete Form SS-5 in the Universal PDF editor, typing your answers directly into the official PDF instead of writing them by hand. When you are done, download the finished file, print it, sign it, and submit it with your documents.
What is Form SS-5 used for
The SS-5 is the all-purpose application for a Social Security card. The SSA uses the information you provide to assign a Social Security number to someone who has never had one, issue a replacement card with the same number, or update the name or other details shown on an existing record.
The SSA does not charge for a Social Security card, whether it is an original, a replacement, or a corrected card.
- Original card: for a U.S.-born or foreign-born person who has never been assigned a Social Security number
- Replacement card: same name and number, typically after a card is lost or damaged
- Corrected card: updates your record, for example after a legal name change
Who files Form SS-5
Anyone who needs a new, replacement, or corrected Social Security card files the SS-5. Parents or legal guardians can file on behalf of a child, and a person with legal authority can file for an adult who cannot sign for themselves. The form asks for the relationship of the signer when someone other than the applicant signs.
Noncitizens who are authorized to work in the United States can also use the SS-5, together with immigration documents that prove their status and work authorization.
How to fill out Form SS-5
The application itself is a single page, but read the instruction pages first because the document requirements are strict. Originals or copies certified by the issuing agency are required; the SSA does not accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
- Items 1 to 5: full name at birth, any other names used, Social Security number if one was assigned before, and place and date of birth
- Items 6 to 9: citizenship status, plus voluntary ethnicity, race, and sex fields
- Items 10 to 13: parents' names and Social Security numbers, used mainly for applicants under 18
- Items 14 to 15: whether the applicant ever had a card before and the details shown on the earlier record
- Items 16 to 18: contact phone number and mailing address where the card should be sent
- Item 17 signature block: sign and date, and state your relationship to the applicant if you are filing for someone else
How to submit it
Submit the signed SS-5 with your original supporting documents by mail or in person at a local Social Security office or Social Security Card Center. Documents you mail are returned after processing. In some states, adults who only need a replacement card with no changes can request one online through a my Social Security account without filing the paper form at all.
Check the SSA website for current processing times and to confirm which documents your situation requires before you visit or mail anything.
Frequently asked questions
At a minimum you need proof of identity, such as a U.S. driver's license, state ID, or passport. First-time applicants also need proof of age and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status. Originals or agency-certified copies are required.
No. The SSA never charges for an original, replacement, or corrected Social Security card. Be cautious of third-party sites that charge for the form itself, which the SSA provides at no cost.
In many states, adults with a my Social Security account can request a replacement card online if nothing on the record is changing. If you need a name correction or are applying for the first time, you generally need the paper SS-5.
The SSA limits replacement cards to a set number per year and per lifetime, with exceptions for legal name changes and certain hardship situations. Check the current limits on ssa.gov if you have replaced your card before.
Processing times vary, but the SSA typically mails the card within a few weeks after it receives your complete application and verifies your documents. Your mailed documents are returned to you.
Yes. File the SS-5 with proof of the legal name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, along with proof of identity. Your number stays the same; only the record and card are updated.
Related forms
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