Welcome to our Social Security Card Application Preparation Service

We are experienced in document preparation for Social Security Card applications, and we make the process a smooth and simple experience. A multi-purpose government form is transformed into a brief online questionnaire with questions that change based on information you provide. Then we prepare your SS-5 application form and deliver it to you with a customized set of instructions on how, when, and where you can mail or file your application locally to request your Social Security Card. So ultimately, you spend less time to become familiar with something that most people will only ever need to do once.

You can obtain an empty SS-5 document at http://www.ssa.gov/, study the form and instructions, prepare the document yourself, and research your filing requirements, all for free. Or you can allow our service to do it for you.

We've put our experience to work by simplifying and de-mystifying the application process. And most importantly, we've personalized it. We give you all of the information you need, and none of the information you don't. Everything you see applies to you, based on the information you provide

We've taken an exacting and variable process, and distilled it down to a prepared application document and a simple set of instructions, all customized for your situation. So when you complete your filing with the Social Security Administration, you'll be confident that you're doing it correctly the first time.

Please visit our Fee Calculator to view the fee for our document preparation service for the Social Security Card application document.

You can e-mail us at support@SimpleFilings.com or by using the Contact Us page of this site. Our fax number is 866-687-7779, and our phone number is 866-659-5246. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm Central excluding holidays. Our specialists look forward to assisting you.

The first step is to complete an SS-5 application document, which you can do on your own or with our application preparation service. The next step is to gather original or certified copies of your supporting evidence documents. Different documents are required in different situations, and our service includes customized filing instructions which will itemize for your which documents your situation requires. The last step is to submit your SS-5 and supporting evidence documents to a specific Social Security Administration office in your area, which you can usually do by mail. After you have done so, the Social Security Administration will return your supporting evidence documents to you and deliver your new Social Security Card by mail. Their stated delivery time is 10-14 days, though it can sometimes take 4-6 weeks or more depending on the work load of your local SSA office.

Upon completion of your order, SimpleFilings will e-mail you a link to a secure page containing your prepared SS-5 application document, as well as customized filings instructions that will explain exactly how, when, and what local SSA office to file with to request your Social Security Card. You can print the materials, or if you don’t have access to a printer, you can request for SimpleFilings to mail them to you at no additional charge. Your new card is not mailed to you by SimpleFilings. The Social Security Administration will mail your new card to you directly, once you have completed all of the steps in the customized filing instructions that SimpleFilings will prepare for you, based on the information you provide.

Applying for a new, replacement, updated, or corrected Social Security Card requires a number supporting evidence documents such as a driver's license. The SSA specifically requires those evidence documents to be either originals or certified copies. Therefore, the evidence documents cannot be uploaded. You must mail them to the SSA, or present them in person. The SimpleFilings process is designed to assist you with your application, to remove confusion and save time by reducing mistakes.

Since filing the Application for a Social Security Card also requires submitting numerous personal evidence documents (described above), we only offer an application document preparation service for social security cards. You must take the prepared application and complete the filing directly with the Social Security Administration to request your social security card. However, as an added service to our application document preparation, we also prepare and provide you with clear, customized filing instructions which are tailored to your specific filing situation, based on the information you provide. In this way, you not only get confidence that comes with using our service; you also get the peace of mind that comes with retaining the privacy of your personal evidence documents.

If you choose to use our services, navigate to our form assistant page to get started. Upon submittal and payment, we'll prepare your official SS-5 form and present it to you along with a customized set of instructions on how to complete the process directly with the Social Security Administration.

To check the status of your order 24 hours a day, simply enter your transaction ID on the Existing Customers page of this site. Your transaction ID can be found on your receipt e-mail. If you cannot locate your receipt e-mail or transaction ID, please contact us.

We will e-mail you a secure link to print or download your prepared SS-5 form, along with a customized set of instruction on how, where, and when to file it. We recommend the method of filing by postal mail to your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office, in order to avoid waiting in line. Though in some cases, you may need to file in person. Your customized instructions will specify which method(s) you qualify for. Whichever way you file, you must supply the SSA with a number of "evidence documents" along with your SS-5, to verify your identity and date of birth, establish citizenship if applicable, etc. Your instructions will give more details on the exact types of documents you will need to submit.

It's important to understand that this SimpleFilings service is an application document preparation service. To receive your Social Security Card, you must take the application document that is prepared on your behalf, and use it to finish your filing directly with the SSA.

Yes. The information you submit is secured using SSL encryption technology. The "s" in the "https://" at the start of the address of pages that collect or display your information is what identifies this security. Click here for more information about our data security practices.

A Social Security Card displays your name and Social Security Number. It is issued by the Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov) and is approximately the size of a business card. There are three types of cards:

• • The first type shows your name and Social Security Number and lets you work without restriction. It is issued to US citizens and people lawfully admitted to the US on a permanent basis.
• • The second type shows your name, number, and the statement "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION." It is issued to people with DHS permission to temporarily work in the US.
• • The third type shows your name, number, and the statement "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT". It is issued to non-citizens who are lawfully admitted to the US without DHS work authorization who have a valid reason for needing a Social Security Number.

You're required to show a Social Security Card when starting a new job. Another common reason for needing a card is opening a new bank account.

Yes. But if you continue to lose your card, there is generally a limit to how many replacement cards you can receive. That limit is 3 per year, and 10 per lifetime. But note that new cards issued due to changes in your legal name or work authorization do not count toward these limits.

Yes. Last names often change due to marriage or divorce, and you may want your Social Security Card to reflect that. A change in citizenship is also a common reason to get an updated Social Security Card. You can also fix an incorrect spelling of your name or an incorrect date of birth on your card.

If the applicant is 18 or older, and is physically and mentally capable, they must complete the application and filing process themselves. But if the applicant is under 18, a parent or legal guardian may sign the application for them. Or if the applicant is over 18 but not physically or mentally capable, a parent, legal guardian, or close relative may generally sign the application for them. Note that if someone does sign for the applicant, evidence documents will be required for the signer as well as for the applicant. See below for more information about evidence documents.

After we have finished preparing your SS-5 application document and filing instructions, your last step is to simply follow the filing instructions. After you complete your filing, you'll receive your Social Security Card in the mail directly from the Social Security Administration. Their stated delivery time is 10-14 days, though it can sometimes take 4-6 weeks or more depending on the work load of your local office.

The SS-5 is a free application from the Social Security Administration for a Social Security Card. It is a multi-purpose form that needs to be filled out differently for different application scenarios. The SimpleFilings service is designed to simplify this process by asking you only questions that apply to your particular application scenario, and then preparing the SS-5 form for you based off of your answers. We'll also direct you to the exact local address you'll need to mail or take the prepared SS-5 to, and what else you'll need to include or bring with it to successfully complete the application process. If you wish to research the filing of this form without using our service, visit www.ssa.gov.

Evidence documents are supporting documents that the Social Security Administration requires you to submit along with your SS-5 form, in order to prove various claims that you make on the SS-5.

Depending on your specific filing situation, evidence documents may be required to prove your age, identity, citizenship, immigration status, authority to sign for someone else, and/or a specific correction or change that you're requesting.

Not all documents are considered acceptable as evidence. Specific types of documents are accepted for each type of proof required, and more detail on this is given below. In addition, all evidence documents must be either originals or certified copies to be acceptable. See below for the definition of "certified copy".

The Social Security Administration will return all evidence documents that you submit, whether you apply in person or by mail, and whether the documents are originals or certified copies. The desire not to part with sensitive original documents leads many applicants to apply in person rather than by mail.

A certified copy includes some kind of endorsement, stamp, or certificate from the issuer/custodian of the original record, verifying that the copy is a true copy of the original.

To get a certified copy of a document, contact the issuer/custodian of the original record. For example, to get a certified copy of a birth certificate, contact the state Department of Health in the state in which the birth took place. For a complete directory of the places to contact to get a certified copy of a document showing a birth, death, marriage, or divorce, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm.

There is usually a small fee charged for issuing a certified copy, but the reason people like them is so that they can keep their original documents protected from loss. They can also replace an original document if the original has already been lost.

For some types of documents, certified copies may not be available. In those cases, the only acceptable substitute is a current, unexpired original.

The types of documents you are required to submit vary based on your reason for applying, your citizenship, and whether or not you're signing for someone else. Categories of documents are listed below. In the personalized filing instructions you receive at the conclusion of your order, you will be informed of what categories you need to provide an evidence document for. Note that the Social Security Administration will accept either original or certified copies of documents. Notarized copies will not suffice. In addition, documents issued in the United States are highly preferred over those issued in a foreign country. Foreign issued documents may cause a problem with your application. If you have any questions about whether a document you have will work for evidence or not, you may call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.

Category 1 - Documents to Prove Age:

• • A birth certificate is required

In some cases, another document may be accepted in place of a birth certificate such as:

• • US hospital record of birth (created at the time of birth)
• • Passport
• • Religious record established before age 5 showing age or date of birth
• • Final Adoption Decree (must show that the birth information was taken from the original birth certificate)

Category 2 - Documents to Prove Identity for US Citizens:
One of the following is required:

• • US driver's license
• • US state-issued non-driver identity card
• • US passport

In some cases, other documents may be accepted such as:

• • US military identity card
• • Certificate of Naturalization
• • employee identity card
• • certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital)
• • health insurance card
• • Medicaid card
• • school identity card
• • other school record maintained by the school
• • For young children, a final adoption decree or medical record maintained by the medical provider

Other guidelines:

• • Documents must be current and unexpired
• • Generally, documents without an expiration date should have been issued within the past 2 years for adults or within the past 4 years for children
• • Documents must reflect the legal name and provide either biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names) or physical information (photograph or physical description)
• • If a photo identity document is used but the application is done by mail, the document must show biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names)
• • Documents issued in the US are preferable
• • Birth certificates, Social Security Card stubs, and Social Security Records are not acceptable as proof of identity

Category 3 - Documents to Prove Identity for Non-US Citizens:
Both of the following are required:

• • current US immigration documents
• • foreign passport with photograph or biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names)

Other guidelines:

• • Documents must be current and unexpired
• • Generally, documents without an expiration date should have been issued within the past 2 years for adults or within the past 4 years for children
• • Documents must reflect the legal name and provide either biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names) or physical information (photograph or physical description)
• • If a photo identity document is used but the application is done by mail, the document must show biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names)
• • Documents issued in the US are preferable
• • Birth certificates, Social Security Card stubs, and Social Security Records are not acceptable as proof of identity

Category 4 - Documents to Prove US Citizenship:
One of the following is required:

• • US birth certificate
• • US Passport

In some cases, other documents may be accepted such as:

• • Consular Report of Birth
• • Certificate of Citizenship
• • Certificate of Naturalization

Category 5 - Documents to Prove Immigration Status:
For work-authorized immigration status, one of the following current, unexpired documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is required:

• • DHS Form I-551
• • DHS Form I-94
• • DHS Form I-688B
• • DHS Form I-766

International students or exchange visitors may need to provide additional documents such as:

• • DHS Form I-20
• • US Department of State Form DS-2019
• • A letter authorizing employment from their school and employer (F-1) or sponsor (J-1)

Please note that a receipt showing that you applied for a document is not an acceptable substitute for a document.

For non-work authorized immigration status, some document proving a valid non-work reason for needing a Social Security Card is required. The card issued in this case will specify that you cannot work in the US.

Category 6 - Documents to Prove a Need for Updated or Corrected Information:
The document or documents must establish the reason for the change and support the requested change. For example:

• •To correct a date of birth, a birth certificate is required.
• •For a name change, a recent name change document identifying the applicant by both their new and old legal names is required. If the name change occurred over two years ago or if the name change document does not have enough information to prove the applicant's identity, additional documents proving the applicant's identity in both the new and old names are also required. To prove identity, a document must show the applicant's legal name and eitherbiographical information (like date of birth, age, or parents' names), or physical information (like a photograph or description of height/eye color/hair color).

Category 7 - Documents to prove the identity and authority of a non-applicant signer:
If the applicant is under 18, a parent or legal guardian may sign the SS-5 application form for them. Or if the applicant is over 18 but not physically or mentally capable, a parent, legal guardian, or close relative may generally sign for them.

In these cases, evidence documents must be submitted to prove the identity of the signer, and to prove their authority to sign for the applicant.

Acceptable documents to prove identity differ depending on if the signer is a US citizen or not:

Documents to prove identity for a US citizen signer:
One of the following is required:

• • US driver's license
• • US state-issued non-driver identity card
• • US passport

In some cases, other documents may be accepted such as:

• • US military identity card
• • Certificate of Naturalization
• • employee identity card
• • certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital)
• • health insurance card
• • Medicaid card
• • school identity card
• • other school record maintained by the school

Other guidelines:

• • Documents must be current and unexpired
• • Generally, documents without an expiration date should have been issued within the past 2 years for adults or within the past 4 years for children
• • Documents must reflect the legal name and provide either biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names) or physical information (photograph or physical description)
• • If a photo identity document is used but the application is done by mail, the document must show biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names)
• • Documents issued in the US are preferable

Documents to prove identity for a non-US citizen signer:
Both of the following are required:

• • current US immigration documents
• • foreign passport with photograph or biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names)

Other guidelines:

• • Documents must be current and unexpired
• • Generally, documents without an expiration date should have been issued within the past 2 years for adults or within the past 4 years for children
• • Documents must reflect the legal name and provide either biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names) or physical information (photograph or physical description)
• • If a photo identity document is used but the application is done by mail, the document must show biographical information (date of birth, age, or parents' names)
• • Documents issued in the US are preferable

To prove the signer's authority to sign for the applicant, documents must be submitted to prove one of the following situations:

• 1. The applicant is under 18, and the signer is their parent or legal guardian. For example, the applicant's birth certificate may prove this.
• 2. The applicant is over 18 but is not physically or mentally capable, and the signer is their parent, legal guardian, or close relative. Documents proving the applicant's physical or mental incapacity, as well as documents proving the relationship of the signer to the applicant must be provided.

Social Security Numbers do not expire. A Social Security Number is a unique number connected to its owner for life. And after the death of the owner, the number is not re-assigned to another owner. To date, over 415 million Social Security Numbers have been issued, with over 5 million new numbers being issued annually. The current numbering system is expected to suffice without redesign for several more generations into the future.

Take care to protect your Social Security Number and Social Security Card from loss and theft. Do not carry your Social Security Card with you every day. Keep the card in a safe place, and only take it with you when you are required to show it, such as when starting a new job, opening a new bank account, or applying for certain government benefits.

One good rule of thumb is to never give out your Social Security Number for a request that you did not initiate. For example, when asked for your Social Security Number at the start of a new job, that is a request that you initiated by starting the new job. But if you get a phone call "out of the blue" requesting your number for whatever reason, exercise caution. Ask yourself, is the request for your number really initiated by something you did recently? If you're not sure, it can never hurt to double check with a trusted third party such as a family member before giving out your number to anyone.