OtterFillHow to fill in Form SS-5
Form SS-5, “Application for a Social Security Card”, is the form for asking the U.S. Social Security Administration for a first Social Security number, a replacement card, or a change to your record such as a new name. U.S. citizens and noncitizens with permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fill it in and bring it with original documents to a Social Security office.
Last checked against the official form:
- Form
- SS-5
- Edition
- Form SS-5 (12-2024)
- Issued by
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
- Form language
- English
- Who receives it
- The Social Security Administration (SSA), at a local Social Security office or Social Security Card Center
- Who fills it in
- You, or a parent or legal guardian for a child; the form is the same for citizens and noncitizens
- Documents
- Originals or copies certified by the office that issued them; no photocopies or notarized copies. They are returned to you
- In person
- Required if you are 12 or older and have never had a Social Security number
- Cost
- Free. This guide follows the edition marked SS-5 (12-2024)
What this form is
Form SS-5 is the paper application for a Social Security number (SSN) and card. The same form is used for three things: an original card (your first number), a replacement card (same number, new card), and a change or correction to your record, such as a new legal name, a change of citizenship, or a corrected date of birth.
The form has five pages. Pages 1 to 4 explain which documents you need, how to complete some items, and where to send it. Page 5 is the application itself, with 18 numbered items. You fill it in with black or blue ink, sign it by hand, and bring or mail it with your documents to a Social Security office. SSA only accepts original documents or copies certified by the office that keeps the record, and gives them back.
For an original card you prove your age, your identity, and either U.S. citizenship or a current, lawful, work-authorized immigration status, with at least 2 documents. If you are 12 or older and have never had a number, you must go in person. SSA also lets you start the application online at ssa.gov/number-card and then finish it at an office with your documents.
Who has to fill it in
You use Form SS-5 if:
- You are a U.S. citizen who never received a Social Security number, for example a child whose number was not requested at the hospital.
- You are a noncitizen who is in the United States lawfully with permission to work from DHS, for example a permanent resident, a worker on a work visa, someone with an Employment Authorization Document, or a student with authorized work, and you did not request a number through your immigration application.
- Your card was lost, stolen or damaged and you need a replacement, and you cannot request it online.
- Your name changed, you became a U.S. citizen, or your record shows wrong information that you want corrected.
You may not need it, or different rules apply, if:
- You asked for a Social Security number on your immigrant visa application, on Form I-765 or on Form I-485: SSA issues the card from that application, without a visit to an office.
- You are a newborn’s parent: the easiest way is to request the number at the hospital when you give the information for the birth certificate.
- You are an international student without a job or work authorization: SSA does not issue a number just to enroll in a school.
- You are not allowed to work and need a number only for taxes: you usually apply to the IRS for an ITIN with Form W-7 instead.
Field-by-field instructions
Items 1–4: Name and birth
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Item 1NAME TO BE SHOWN ON CARD (First / Full Middle Name / Last) | Your legal name, which is the name printed on the card. | Write your first name, full middle name if you have one, and last name, exactly as on your identity document. If you are not a U.S. citizen, use the spelling on your immigration document and passport. A middle name is not part of your legal name for SSA, so leaving it out does not matter. |
| Item 1FULL NAME AT BIRTH IF OTHER THAN ABOVE | Your full name when you were born, if it is different from the name above. | Fill it in only if your name changed, for example after marriage or adoption. If your name is the same as at birth, leave it blank. |
| Item 1OTHER NAMES USED | Any other names you have used. | List earlier last names or other spellings you have used. If there are none, leave it blank. |
| Item 2Social Security number previously assigned to the person listed in item 1 | The Social Security number you already have, if any. | Write it when you ask for a replacement card or a change to your record. If you are applying for your first number, leave it blank. |
| Item 3PLACE OF BIRTH (Do Not Abbreviate) City / State or Foreign Country | The city and state, or the city and country, where you were born. | Write the city, then the U.S. state or the foreign country, in full: the form says not to abbreviate. Copy them from your birth certificate or passport. |
| Item 4DATE OF BIRTH MM/DD/YYYY | The day you were born. | Write month, day and full 4-digit year as MM/DD/YYYY. For example, March 5, 1998 becomes 03/05/1998. |
Items 5–8: Citizenship, ethnicity, race and sex
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Item 5CITIZENSHIP (Check One): U.S. Citizen | You are a citizen of the United States. | Check this box only if it is true, including if you became a citizen by naturalization. For an original card you need proof such as a U.S. passport, a U.S. birth certificate, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. |
| Item 5Legal Alien Allowed To Work | You are not a U.S. citizen but are in the United States lawfully and have permission from DHS to work. | This is the usual box for permanent residents, people with an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), workers whose visa allows work, and students with authorized on-campus work or practical training. Bring the DHS document that shows your status, such as Form I-551, I-94 or I-766, and your foreign passport. |
| Item 5Legal Alien Not Allowed To Work (See Instructions On Page 3) / Other (See Instructions On Page 3) | You are not allowed to work in the United States, but a government benefit requires you to have a number. | Check one of these only with a letter from a U.S. federal, state or local government agency that says why you need a number and that you meet all the other requirements for the benefit. Most agencies do not require a number, so ask SSA first. A card issued this way is marked that you cannot work with it. |
| Item 6ETHNICITY Are You Hispanic or Latino? (Your Response is Voluntary) | Whether you are Hispanic or Latino. | Answering is voluntary. The answer is used for research and statistics and does not affect the decision on your application. |
| Item 7RACE Select One or More (Your Response is Voluntary) | The race or races you identify with. | Answering is voluntary and you may check more than one box. It does not affect the decision on your application. |
| Item 8SEX Male / Female | Your sex as recorded by SSA. | Check Male or Female. Use the one that matches your identity documents, such as your passport. |
Items 9–10: Parents
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Item 9.APARENT/ MOTHER'S NAME AT HER BIRTH | Your mother’s, or a parent’s, full name at that parent’s birth. | Write first name, full middle name and last name. For your mother, use the last name she had when she was born (her maiden name), not a later married name. |
| Item 9.BPARENT/ MOTHER'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER / Unknown | That parent’s Social Security number. | It is required when the application is for an original card for a child under 18, unless the parent never had a number. If you do not know it and cannot get it, check “Unknown”. Outside that case the instructions do not require it. |
| Item 10.APARENT/ FATHER'S NAME | Your father’s, or the other parent’s, full name. | Write first name, full middle name and last name. |
| Item 10.BPARENT/ FATHER'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER / Unknown | That parent’s Social Security number. | The same rule as item 9.B: required for an original card for a child under 18, unless the parent never had a number. Check “Unknown” if you cannot find it out. |
Items 11–13: Earlier cards
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Item 11Has the person listed in item 1 or anyone acting on his/her behalf ever filed for or received a Social Security number card before? Yes / No / Don't Know | Whether you, or someone for you, ever applied for or received a Social Security card before. | Check Yes if you have a number or ever applied for one, and then answer items 12 and 13. If you check “Don’t Know”, skip to item 14. If you check No, items 12 and 13 do not apply. |
| Item 12Name shown on the most recent Social Security card issued for the person listed in item 1 | The name printed on your most recent Social Security card. | Copy the name exactly as it is on that card, even if it is your old name. |
| Item 13Enter any different date of birth if used on an earlier application for a card | A different date of birth that is on your Social Security record. | Fill it in only if the date in item 4 is different from the one SSA has. Then bring evidence, such as a birth certificate, for the date in item 4. Otherwise leave it blank. |
Items 14–18: Contact, address and signature
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Item 14TODAY'S DATE MM/DD/YYYY | The day you complete and sign the form. | Write the date as MM/DD/YYYY. |
| Item 15DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER Area Code / Number | A number where SSA can reach you during the day. | Write the area code and the number. |
| Item 16MAILING ADDRESS (Do Not Abbreviate) Street Address, Apt. No., PO Box, Rural Route No. / City / State/Foreign Country / ZIP Code | The address where SSA will mail your card. | Give an address where you can receive mail 7 to 14 days from now, written in full without abbreviations. If you live in temporary housing, use an address that will still reach you, such as your school’s mailroom if it offers one. |
| Item 17YOUR SIGNATURE | Your signature declaring under penalty of perjury that the information is true and correct. | If you are 18 or older and able to, you must sign yourself, by hand. A parent or legal guardian may sign for a child under 18. If you cannot write your name, sign with an “X” and have 2 people sign as witnesses beside it. Do not add anything else on the signature line. |
| Item 18YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE PERSON IN ITEM 1 IS: Self / Natural Or Adoptive Parent / Legal Guardian / Other | How the person who signs is related to the person in item 1. | Check Self if you apply for yourself. A parent checks “Natural Or Adoptive Parent”, a guardian checks “Legal Guardian”, anyone else checks Other and writes the relationship. Anyone who signs for another person must also prove their authority and their own identity. |
Key terms
| Term on the form | What it means |
|---|---|
| Social Security number (SSN) | A 9-digit number SSA gives to U.S. citizens and to noncitizens allowed to work. It is used to report your wages and to decide your Social Security benefits. |
| Original Social Security card | Your first Social Security card, issued with a new number. |
| Replacement Social Security card | A new card with the same number, for example when the old one is lost. |
| Legal name | Your first and last name as shown on the document that proves your identity. It is the name printed on the card. |
| Evidence of Age | Proof of your date of birth, usually a birth certificate. A passport or a DHS document may be accepted if you cannot get your birth certificate. |
| Evidence of Identity | A current document in your legal name, such as a U.S. driver’s license, state ID card or U.S. passport. A noncitizen shows the U.S. immigration document and the foreign passport. |
| Evidence of U.S. Citizenship | Proof that you are a U.S. citizen, such as a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Consular Report of Birth, or Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship. |
| Evidence of Immigration Status | A current, unexpired DHS document that shows your immigration status. A receipt that you applied for it is not accepted. |
| Documents certified by the custodian of the original record | A copy certified by the office that keeps the original record. It is accepted; a photocopy or a notarized copy is not. |
| Form I-551, I-94, or I-766 | The Permanent Resident Card (I-551), the Arrival/Departure Record (I-94) and the Employment Authorization Document (I-766), the usual proofs of status and work permission. |
| Form I-20, DS-2019 | Form I-20 for F-1 and M-1 students and Form DS-2019 for J-1 exchange visitors. Students also bring a letter that authorizes their work. |
| DHS work authorization | Permission from the Department of Homeland Security to work in the United States, through your status or an Employment Authorization Document. |
| Valid non-work reason | A need for a number without permission to work, accepted only when a law requires it for a government benefit. |
| Limits on replacement Social Security cards | You can receive at most 3 replacement cards a year and 10 in your lifetime. Cards for a legal name change or a change to the work legend do not count. |
| Social Security Card Center | An SSA office for Social Security number and card applications. SSA’s office locator shows which office or Card Center serves your area. |
Common mistakes
- 1
Bringing photocopies or notarized copies
SSA accepts only originals or copies certified by the office that issued them, and returns them to you.
- 2
Bringing a receipt instead of the document
A receipt showing that you applied for an immigration document is not accepted. Wait until you have the document itself.
- 3
Applying the day you arrive
SSA suggests waiting 10 days after you arrive in the United States, and students 48 hours after reporting to their school, so that DHS records can be checked.
- 4
Applying as a student without a job
SSA issues a number only with work authorization. For on-campus work, bring a letter from your school official and from your employer; SSA cannot process it if the work starts more than 30 days after you apply.
- 5
Checking “Legal Alien Not Allowed To Work” without a letter
This box needs a letter from a government agency that requires the number. If you may work, check “Legal Alien Allowed To Work”.
- 6
A name that does not match your documents
Write the name as on your identity or immigration document. Spelling differences slow the check.
- 7
Abbreviating the place of birth or the address
Items 3 and 16 say “Do Not Abbreviate”: write city, state or country, and street names in full.
- 8
Skipping items 12 and 13
If you ever had a card or applied for one, check Yes in item 11 and fill in items 12 and 13.
- 9
Mailing an application you must make in person
If you are 12 or older and never had a number, you must go to an office.
- 10
Using a pencil or another ink color
Write legibly with black or blue ink only, and sign by hand.
Questions and answers
Does a Social Security card cost anything?
No. Applying for a Social Security number or card is free.
Can I apply for a Social Security number online?
You can start the application online at ssa.gov/number-card. You then visit a Social Security office or Card Center with your documents to finish it, within 45 days. In most states a replacement card can be requested fully online through a my Social Security account.
I applied for a work permit or a green card. Do I still need Form SS-5?
Not if you answered the Social Security questions on Form I-765 or Form I-485: SSA mails the card after USCIS approves. Contact SSA if it has not arrived 14 days after you receive your work permit or green card. If you did not ask for it there, use Form SS-5 once you have the document.
Which documents do I need as a noncitizen?
Your current U.S. immigration document, such as Form I-551, I-94 or I-766, and your unexpired foreign passport. F-1 and M-1 students add Form I-20 and J-1 visitors Form DS-2019, plus the work letters. For age, bring your foreign birth certificate if you have it or can get it within 10 business days; otherwise SSA may accept your passport or a DHS document.
Can I start work before I have my number?
Yes. SSA does not require you to have a number before you start, and your immigration documents prove that you may work. Your employer needs the number to report your wages, and may use a letter from SSA that you applied.
How long does it take to get the card?
The form asks for an address where you can receive the card 7 to 14 days from now. If SSA has to verify your immigration documents with DHS, it can take longer. Check the official page for current times.
How many replacement cards can I get?
At most 3 a year and 10 in your lifetime. Cards issued for a legal name change or a change to the work legend do not count.
How do I get a number for my child?
The easiest way is at the hospital when you give the information for the birth certificate. Later, you complete Form SS-5 for the child and show the child’s proof of citizenship, age and identity, plus your own identity and proof that you are the parent. A child of 12 or older must also be interviewed in person.
I am not allowed to work. Can I still get a number?
Only for a valid non-work reason: a federal, state or local law must require a number for a benefit you qualify for, and you bring a letter from that agency. For tax returns, you usually apply to the IRS for an ITIN instead.
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