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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteYes. A parent or another authorized adult can request a replacement Social Security card for a child. The replacement is free. You will generally need evidence of the child’s identity, your own identity, and your custody or relationship to the child. Social Security may also request proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship when citizenship has not already been established in its records.
Start with the Social Security Administration (SSA) Replace Social Security card page and its online Social Security Number and Card application. The answers you provide determine whether the request can be completed online or whether you must finish it with an appointment. A completed replacement is mailed; an SSA office does not print the card for same-day pickup.
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Who can request a child’s replacement card?
A parent can apply for a replacement card for a child. SSA also allows another person to apply on the child’s behalf when that person can document the relevant custody, guardianship, or relationship and responsibility. The adult applicant must establish their own identity and show why they are entitled to act for the child.
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The request is for a replacement Social Security number (SSN) card, not a new SSN. If the child’s number is already known, consider whether a physical card is necessary. SSA says that in most situations, knowing the SSN is enough and a physical card is not needed. The card may still be useful when a school, employer, government agency, financial institution, or other organization specifically asks for it.
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SSA’s official child-card FAQ, updated November 14, 2024, describes the evidence it may require. Requirements can vary with the child’s age, citizenship record, custody arrangement, and the documents available, so use the document list generated for the child’s case rather than relying on a generic checklist alone.
Documents to prepare before you apply
SSA evaluates several separate questions: Who is the child? Who is the adult applicant? What is the applicant’s relationship or custody status? Is the child’s citizenship already established? A document that answers one question may not answer another.
Child’s identity evidence
SSA prefers primary identity evidence. A U.S. passport is preferred when available. Children often do not have a passport or state identification card, so SSA’s guidance also describes secondary evidence showing the child’s name plus identifying information such as age, date of birth, or parents’ names. A recent photograph is preferred when the document includes one.
Examples listed in SSA guidance include:
- A state-issued identification card.
- An adoption decree.
- A doctor, clinic, or hospital record.
- A religious record.
- A school or daycare record.
- A school identification card.
The document should identify the child clearly and match the information used in the application. If you have more than one acceptable document, the strongest primary document is usually the simplest starting point; if none is available, follow the alternatives shown by SSA for the case.
Adult applicant’s identity evidence
The parent, guardian, or other adult applying must prove their own identity. SSA’s document guidance explains which identity documents it accepts and whether the document must be current, original, or certified by the issuing agency. Use the list produced by the online application or the local office’s instructions for the exact case.
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Do not assume that a document proving the child’s identity also proves the adult applicant’s identity. Each person’s identity must be established separately.
Proof of custody or relationship
SSA may ask for evidence showing that the adult is the child’s parent, legal custodian, guardian, or responsible placement adult. Examples in SSA’s child guidance include:
- Court custody documentation.
- A record showing the applicant as a parent in SSA records.
- A state social-services placement letter.
- School records showing that the applicant is responsible for the child.
- Another official record showing the relationship and responsibility.
The appropriate evidence depends on the circumstances. A parent with ordinary custody may use different records from a foster placement, court-ordered custody arrangement, or other placement. Let SSA’s route checker identify what is needed instead of submitting unrelated records.
Proof of citizenship, age, or other information
SSA may request proof of the child’s U.S. citizenship if it has not already been established in SSA records. A birth certificate can prove age or citizenship, but it does not prove identity for this purpose. SSA’s FAQ states: “We do NOT accept birth certificates as proof of identity.”
That distinction matters when assembling the packet. A birth certificate may satisfy an age or citizenship requirement while a passport, state ID, school ID, medical record, or another accepted record is needed for identity. The online application or office instructions will indicate which documents are required for the child’s particular record.
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Original and certified documents only
Bring or submit original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. SSA says it does not accept ordinary photocopies or notarized copies. Do not mail or hand over your only irreplaceable record unless the SSA instructions specifically require it and explain how it will be returned; instead, obtain an issuing-agency-certified copy when that is an available option.
Check every document for consistent spelling, dates of birth, and names. If a name changed because of adoption, custody, or another legal event, include the official record that explains the change when SSA’s instructions request it.
Choose the correct application route
SSA’s Social Security Number and Card application asks questions before it assigns the available route. The online option is not available for every child or every circumstance. Some applicants can begin online but must schedule an appointment to complete the request in person.
| Route | When it may apply | How documents are handled | Card delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online application | Only when the child’s situation meets SSA’s online eligibility rules. | Follow the online instructions. SSA may still direct you to an appointment for document review. | SSA mails the completed replacement card. |
| Online start followed by an appointment | When the online questions can be answered but in-person verification is required. | Schedule the appointment shown by SSA and bring the required original or issuing-agency-certified documents. | SSA mails the card after the request is completed. |
| In-person request | When the online route is unavailable or SSA directs you to an office or Card Center. | An appointment is required for in-person help. Present the documents listed for the child’s case. | The office does not print a card for same-day pickup; the card is mailed. |
| Form SS-5 | When the online process cannot be completed and SSA directs you to use the paper application. | Complete Form SS-5 and follow SSA’s submission instructions for the form and supporting documents. | SSA mails the replacement after processing. |
The route checker is important because it can change what you need to do next. Do not assume that every child can complete the process entirely online or that an office visit is optional.
Step-by-step: request the replacement card
- Open SSA’s application route. Go to the Replace Social Security card page and select the Social Security Number and Card application. Answer the questions about the child and the adult applying. SSA uses those answers to determine the available route.
- Review the case-specific document list. Identify the required child identity evidence, adult identity evidence, relationship or custody evidence, and any citizenship evidence. The list may differ from another child’s list because eligibility depends on the circumstances.
- Complete the online portion if SSA allows it. Follow the route SSA provides. If the system says the request can be finished online, complete all required fields. If it directs you to schedule an appointment, save the appointment details and prepare the documents before attending.
- Schedule an appointment when required. SSA’s child FAQ says an appointment is required for in-person help. Use the appointment instructions supplied by SSA for a Social Security office or Card Center. An appointment is not a promise of same-day card issuance.
- Prepare acceptable documents. Bring originals or copies certified by the agency that issued them. Do not substitute photocopies or notarized copies. Include evidence for both the child and the adult, plus the relationship or custody record SSA requested.
- Use Form SS-5 if SSA directs you to do so. The Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5) allows an applicant under 18 or a parent or legal guardian to sign. Follow the SSA route checker and local office instructions for where and how to submit the completed form and documents.
- Submit the request through the assigned route. Online cases are completed through the SSA process. In-person cases are reviewed at the appointment. Paper cases should be submitted exactly as SSA directs; do not choose an unlisted delivery method simply because it is convenient.
- Wait for mailed delivery. Once the request is completed and accepted for processing, SSA mails the replacement card. An office does not provide a printed replacement for immediate pickup.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The replacement card is free. You do not need to pay a private service to submit the request.
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SSA’s current replacement-card page says the card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days after the request is completed. That is an agency estimate, not a guaranteed delivery date. The estimate starts after completion of the request, not necessarily when you first answer the online questions or book an appointment.
Timing can therefore include two different periods: the time needed to establish eligibility and gather acceptable documents, followed by the mailing period after SSA completes the request. If an appointment is required, the appointment date is part of the first period. Keep the appointment confirmation and any submission record until the card arrives.
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The online tool says the child is not eligible for online completion
This result does not mean the child cannot receive a replacement. It means SSA has assigned another route for the circumstances entered. Follow the instructions to schedule an appointment or use Form SS-5. Do not create a second online application with different answers merely to obtain a different route.
You have a birth certificate but no photo identification
A birth certificate may establish age or citizenship but is not accepted as proof of identity. Look for another child identity record listed in SSA’s guidance, such as a state-issued ID, adoption decree, medical record, religious record, school or daycare record, or school ID. A U.S. passport is preferred when available. The document should include the child’s name and identifying details; a recent photograph is preferred where possible.
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The adult applicant should obtain the custody, placement, or responsibility record SSA requests. Depending on the situation, that may be a court custody document, state social-services placement letter, school record showing responsibility, or another official relationship record. Bring the adult’s identity evidence as well as the child’s documents.
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SSA asks for proof of citizenship even though you have identity documents
Identity and citizenship are separate requirements. Provide the citizenship evidence requested by SSA if the child’s citizenship has not already been established in its records. A document can satisfy citizenship without satisfying identity, so follow the document categories separately.
Your copies are rejected
Replace ordinary photocopies and notarized copies with original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency. SSA’s document guidance specifically excludes photocopies and notarized copies. If an original is held by a court, school, hospital, or government agency, ask the issuing organization about an official certified copy.
You expected to leave the office with the card
SSA mails completed replacement cards; offices do not print them for same-day pickup. Plan around the mailing estimate of 5 to 10 business days after completion rather than an immediate handoff.
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Before applying, check whether the requesting organization actually needs the physical card or only the SSN. SSA says that in most cases, knowing the number is enough. If the number is already available and no physical-card requirement exists, avoiding an unnecessary replacement request can save time and document handling.
Situation-based preparation checklist
| Your situation | What to confirm before submitting |
|---|---|
| Parent applying for a child with a passport | Child’s passport, adult identity document, and any relationship record SSA requests; confirm whether citizenship is already established. |
| Parent applying without a child passport | One of SSA’s accepted secondary identity records, such as a school, daycare, medical, religious, adoption, or state-issued record, plus the adult’s identity evidence. |
| Legal guardian or custodian applying | Adult identity evidence and the court, placement, school, or other responsibility record identified by SSA. |
| Child’s citizenship is not established in SSA records | Citizenship evidence in addition to identity evidence; do not rely on a birth certificate as the identity document. |
| Online route unavailable | Appointment instructions or Form SS-5 instructions from SSA, plus originals or issuing-agency-certified copies. |
Official SSA pages to use
Use the following pages for the current route, document requirements, and form:
- Replace Social Security card — current replacement process, fee, and mailing estimate.
- What documents are required to request a replacement Social Security number (SSN) card for a child? — child-specific document guidance and the identity warning about birth certificates.
- How do I apply for a replacement Social Security number card online? — online eligibility and route information.
- Learn what documents you will need to get a Social Security Card — SSA’s document standards, including original and certified-copy rules.
- Application for Social Security Card (Form SS-5) — the paper application when SSA directs you to use it.
What to remember
A child can receive a free replacement Social Security card, but the adult applicant must prove both identities and the authority to act for the child. Use SSA’s route checker first, separate identity documents from citizenship or relationship documents, and submit only originals or issuing-agency-certified copies. If an in-person appointment is required, schedule it; if the online route is unavailable, use Form SS-5 as SSA directs. After the request is completed, allow the agency’s estimated 5 to 10 business days for mailed delivery.
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