So you lost your social security card. Now you are likely wondering what you are supposed to do. If you are in a hurry and you need a new social security card fast, there is a protocol that you are going to want to follow. In this article, we will be going over some of the most frequently asked questions that you will want to know the answers to in order to get your social security card fast. 
Most Frequently Asked Questions:
- How To Apply For A New and/or Replacement Card?
If you are someone that either lost or had your social security card stolen, you are not going to need to pay for the new card. The service is provided for free. There are ways you can apply for it online as long as you meet specific requirements. For one, you have to be a United States citizen age 18 or older with a registered U.S mailing address. Along with this, you are going to need to be simply requesting a card and not a subsequent name change or any other changes to be made to your card. Along with this, you must have a valid driver’s license or some other form of identification that was state issued. Some states do not participate in the online process so you will not be eligible if you are from a state that is not yet participating in the online program.
If you are unable to apply for a new card online, you are going to need to apply directly to your local social security office. You will need to bring all of the required documents in order to verify your identity and you will need to print out and file an application for a new card.
- How Long Is It Going To Take?
If you are in a rush to get a new social security card, you are likely going to be concerned with how long the entire process is going to take. You want to understand how long the entire process is going to take because you might need it within a certain time period. When you request a brand new social security card, the office will typically mail the new card as soon as they have all of the required documentation from you. Therefore, you should be able to expect the new card to arrive anywhere from 10 to 14 days from the date that your application is received and fully processed.
- How Many Times Can I File For A Replacement Card?
You must keep in mind that you are only going to be eligible for three replacement cards in a single year. Therefore, if you lose and/or misplace it more than three times, you are out of luck. At the same time, you want to be sure to take good care of your social security card because you are only going to be able to replace it up to 10 times throughout your entire life. Anytime you make legal name changes or other changes to your card, it is not going to count against these limits.
- Does It Cost Money?
As noted previously, you are not going to be required to pay money for your replacement card. The card can be replaced for free. You want to steer free of any provider that is asking you to pay any type of money towards your new replacement card. The service is provided for free so you are not going to have to spend any money on it.
- What Documents Do I Need?
When you are filing for your application, it is important to fully understand all of the documentation that you are going to require for the process.
Citizenship
You will need to prove citizenship. Therefore, you will need to provide certain documentation proving that you have citizenship. This is going to be either with a birth certificate or a U.S passport.
Birth Certificate
Along with this, you are going to need to prove your age. Ideally, you will be able to do this with your birth certificate. If you do not have a birth certificate available, you are going to need to use something to prove your age whether its a hospital record providing your birth year or your U.S passport. Anyone that is over the age of 12 is going to be required to show up for an in-person interview if you are requesting a social security number for the first time.
Identity
Another thing that you are going to have to prove when you are applying for a social security card is your identity. You are going to need to do this with specific documents. Therefore, you want to have these documents on hand when you are looking to prove your identity. You will want to use either your U.S driver’s license, a state-issued license, or your U.S passport to prove your identity. If you do not have these required documents, you can use a health insurance card, U.S military ID, or an employee or school identification card.
Overall, there are a lot of different things that you are going to want to be aware of when it comes to filing for a new social security card. If you are looking to get it fast, you can expect anywhere from a 10 to 14-day turnaround. As long as you provide all of the required documents the first time, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting your card in a quick manner. It is important to understand that you are going to need to provide all of the required documents in order to get the application processed. Along with this, if you are in a state that offers online applications, you will be able to file online which can speed up the process considerably. If not, you are going to have to visit your local social security office and it might take a bit longer due to the processing times being slower.