Application for a Social Security Card

SSA requires the information we collect from the form SS-5 and SS-5-FS to issue original, and replacement cards, and to change or correct information on a Social Security number record. The agency uses a number of different instruments to collect this information depending on when the collection happens (such as at birth or later in life), the evidence we need to collect from the respondent, the need to validate the respondent’s identity, and the different modes available (including paper applications, electronic, and in-person interviews). The instruments and modes we use to collect data for original and replacement SSN cards include: • Form SS-5/SS-5-FS – The agency uses this paper application to collect data to request an original and replacement Social Security number (SSN) card or a change or correct information on a social security number record. All respondents can use this form and submit it in person at a field office or Foreign Benefits Unit. Form SS-5-FS collects the same information as the SS-5 but includes separate instructions for respondents who are responding to the information collection overseas. An overseas respondent could submit an SS-5, but the SS-5-FS’s instructions are likely more relevant to them than those on the SS-5. • Social Security Number Application Process (SSNAP) – SSA technicians use this web based, Intranet application internally to collect and store SS-5 data during an in office interview with respondents. • Enumeration at Birth (EAB) – for newborns, a hospital, birthing center, or licensed midwife collects and submits information to SSA under the EAB process. The vast majority of applications for original SSN cards utilize EAB. In this process, parents of newborns provide information required to register newborns. This information is sent to State Bureaus of Vital Statistics (BVS) who send the information to SSA’s National Computer Center. SSA uses the information to assign a newborn an SSN and issue a Social Security Card. EAB also includes SSA receipt of race and ethnicity information for the newborn and parent(s) if the parent(s) consent to release of this voluntary information. With parental consent, States and Jurisdictions ask questions to collect a newborn’s race and ethnicity information. If the parent(s) give consent, the State BVS electronically shares the race and ethnicity of parent(s) and newborn, consistent with the EAB process. State BVS send the information electronically to SSA’s National Computer Center through data-matching agreements. SSA uploads the data to the SSA mainframe along with all other enumeration data and assigns the newborn a Social Security number (SSN) and issue a Social Security card. • Online Social Security Number Application Process (oSSNAP) – The Online Social Security Number Application Process (oSSNAP) is a streamlined Internet application that collects information similar to the paper SS-5 form. Depending on the applicant and their reason for applying, oSSNAP supports either a partially automated or fully automated Social Security Number (SSN) card processing experience. The respondents for this information collection are applicants for original and replacement Social Security cards, or individuals who wish to change information in their SSN records, who use any of the modalities described above.

The latest form for Application for a Social Security Card expires 2029-01-31 and can be found here.

Application for a Social Security Card - no need to provide parent's SSN (Paper or SSNAP Intranet Modalities)

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Income Security - General Retirement and Disability

Review document collections for all forms, instructions, and supporting documents - including paper/printable forms.