Social Security Payments: What To Do If You've Lost Your Social Security Card

A Social Security card is an important tool to get your Social Security payments. In addition, it enables government agencies to identify their records and businesses to review an individual's financial background.

There are certain documents individuals are required to present when eyeing to apply for a Social Security card.

Social Security Administration noted that the original documents needed are proof of citizenship such as a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport. In addition, proof of identity will be needed such as a U.S. driver's license, U.S. passport, and state-issued non-driver identification card.

SSA noted that applicants for the first time for an original social security card must present original documents or copies certified by the government agency that issued them.

In addition, all documents must be current and applicants cannot present a receipt showing they applied for the required documents.

However, losing a replacement card if you lost your Social Security card might take a different process.

How To Request a New Social Security Card

SSA gives its beneficiaries three ways to request a new Social Security card; recipients can either request a new card in person, online or through the mail.

The easiest way to request a replacement for a lost Social Security card is online, especially if there will be no changes in your information and you do not live near a Social Security office.

Individuals will need to create a My Social Security account to get started. Once signed in, you should click "Replace your Social Security Card at the top."

You will then be asked a series of questions to identify if you are eligible to request a replacement card online once you clicked the link.

Applicants for a replacement card will need to verify their identities by answering several other questions, then they will have to electronically sign their name before submitting their request.

However, there are people who are not eligible to request a card online such as those who live in Alaska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, or West Virginia.

Those requesting any change to their card, such as a name change, are also not eligible for a replacement process online.

Lastly, those with a driver's license or ID card issued by a U.S. territory are not eligible for online requests for a new card.

The Social Security agency noted that it will take around seven to 10 business days to receive the requested Social Security card replacement if they applied online or in person.

Meanwhile, those who applied and submitted it through the mail could receive it between two and four weeks before the agency processes and return the documents.

Social Security Payments

The monthly maximum federal allotments for 2023 are $914 for an eligible individual, $1,371 for an individual with an eligible spouse, and $458 for an essential person.

The cost-of-living adjustment increase will be implemented in January 2023, which is an increase of 8.7%.

Most of the beneficiaries will get their first check in January, while some will get their increased payments in December this year due to January 1 falling on a holiday.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: How Do You Replace Your Social Security Card? - from AARP Answers