Under section 205(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)), the United States government is authorized to issue nine-digit Social Security numbers (SSN) to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary, working residents. The Social Security Administration (SSA), an independent agency of the federal government, issues SSNs to individuals. The main purpose of an SSN is to track individuals for Social Security taxes and benefits. However, in the last several decades, Social Security numbers have become greatly used for identification and taxation purposes.
An applicant may obtain a Social Security number using Form SS-5, Application for A Social Security Number Card. The following must be verified to receive a Social Security Number:
- S. citizenship,
- immigration status,
- age, and
- identity.
You also need to prove the above information to obtain a Social Security replacement card. Proof of U.S. citizenship and age is unnecessary for a replacement card if they’re already in the SSA’s records. Only certain documents are accepted by the SSA as proof of U.S. citizenship. These documents include a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship.
For individuals who are not yet U.S. citizens, immigration documentation proving work authorization must be provided to the SSA. Otherwise, a different set of rules applies to any verification. For proof of identity, current documents showing name, identifying information and preferably, a recent photograph, such as a driver’s license or state-issued identification card, or a U.S. passport are acceptable forms of verification.
Social Security cards are valuable. The SSA limits the number of replacement cards a citizen can obtain to three in a year, and ten during a lifetime. Legal name changes and other exceptions don’t count toward these limits. Also, these limits may not apply if obtaining the card is necessary to prevent a significant hardship.
Our Social Security number links us to the Social Security Administration. A Social Security number is used to track earnings during an American’s period of lifetime employment, as well as to track benefits after Social Security benefits commence. It’s an important piece of personal information, perhaps more important than our name.
Do you have a potential Social Security disability claim? To improve your chances of meeting all of the requirements for the allowance of a claim (and avoiding the denial of benefits), retain the services of a qualified Kentucky Social Security Disability attorney. Contact Sullivan Law Office today. We offer free consultations, so you have absolutely nothing to lose! We look forward to hearing from you. Call 888-587-0228 or visit us online.
