Learn About Applying for a Social Security Number

Understanding What a Social Security Number Is and Why You Need One

A Social Security Number (SSN) is a nine-digit identification number issued by the U.S. Social Security Administration. The format is XXX-XX-XXXX, where each set of numbers has a specific meaning based on when and where the number was issued. This number serves as a unique identifier that connects you to your work history, earnings record, and benefits under the Social Security system.

The Social Security Administration created this numbering system in 1936, originally to track workers' earnings for retirement benefits. Today, the SSN has expanded far beyond its original purpose. Government agencies, banks, employers, and other organizations use SSNs to verify your identity and maintain records about you. Your SSN links to information about your wages, taxes paid, and any benefits you may receive from programs like Social Security retirement, disability, or Medicare.

You need an SSN for several important reasons. Employers require an SSN to report your wages and withhold taxes from your paychecks. Banks and financial institutions use your SSN to check your credit history and open accounts. If you want to work legally in the United States, you must have an SSN. Some state and federal programs also require an SSN to determine what services or support you may receive. Without an SSN, you cannot legally work, file taxes, or access many services.

Different categories of people may need SSNs for different reasons. U.S. citizens born in the country typically receive an SSN shortly after birth. Immigrants who are granted permission to work in the U.S. can obtain an SSN. Children born to non-citizen parents may also receive SSNs under certain conditions. Even if you are not a U.S. citizen, you may still be able to get an SSN if you have a valid reason, such as being authorized to work in the United States.

Practical Takeaway: Before beginning the process of obtaining an SSN, understand that this number will become linked to your employment, tax records, and potentially your credit history. It is a permanent identifier that you will use throughout your life in the United States.

Who Can Obtain a Social Security Number

Not everyone can obtain a Social Security Number. The Social Security Administration has specific rules about who is permitted to receive one. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are the primary groups who can get an SSN. However, the rules also extend to certain non-citizens who meet specific criteria set by the government.

U.S. citizens include people born in the United States, American territories (like Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands), or to U.S. citizen parents abroad. Naturalized citizens—people who were born in other countries and went through the naturalization process—can also obtain an SSN. Most U.S. citizens receive an SSN automatically as infants, but some citizens born before SSN programs expanded may never have received one.

Lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, are foreign nationals who have been granted permission to live and work permanently in the United States. They can obtain an SSN as long as they meet work authorization requirements. Green card holders need an SSN to work, file taxes, and access certain benefits they may be entitled to receive.

Certain non-citizens can also receive an SSN under specific circumstances. This includes people authorized to work in the United States under immigration laws, such as those with an employment-based visa (like an H-1B visa), temporary protected status, or a work permit. People granted asylum or refugee status can obtain an SSN. Additionally, some visa holders, such as F-1 students or J-1 exchange visitors, may receive an SSN if they need one for on-campus or authorized work. However, undocumented immigrants—people without legal authorization to work or live in the U.S.—cannot receive a regular SSN, though they may receive an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for tax purposes.

Children can receive SSNs regardless of their citizenship status if at least one parent is authorized to work in the United States or is a U.S. citizen. Dependent children born to non-citizen parents may receive an SSN if the parents meet work authorization requirements. Non-citizen children adopted by U.S. citizens or permanent residents can also receive an SSN.

Practical Takeaway: Determine your immigration status first, as this directly affects whether you can obtain an SSN. Your status—whether you are a U.S. citizen, green card holder, work visa holder, or another category—determines what documents you will need to provide and which Social Security Administration office you should contact.

Required Documents and Evidence for Your Request

The Social Security Administration requires specific documents to process your SSN request. These documents serve as proof of your identity, age, citizenship or immigration status, and in some cases, your need for an SSN. The exact documents you need depend on your personal situation, but certain categories of documents are universally required.

To prove your identity, the Social Security Administration accepts documents such as a passport, driver's license, state identification card, or other government-issued ID. For children, a birth certificate or hospital birth record can serve as identity proof. The document must be original or certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies are generally not acceptable unless they are certified.

Age verification typically comes through your birth certificate. The birth certificate must show your name, date of birth, and place of birth. It should be an official document issued by the state or locality where you were born. Birth certificates from foreign countries are acceptable if they are official documents. Hospital birth records, baptism records, or immigration documents showing your birth date may be used as alternatives if an official birth certificate is not available.

For U.S. citizens, you must provide proof of citizenship. This can be a U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a birth certificate issued in the United States. If you were born abroad to U.S. citizen parents, you may provide a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, form FS-240, or a Certificate of Birth Abroad, form DS-1350.

For lawful permanent residents, you must provide your green card (Permanent Resident Card) or your immigration documents. Current green cards show the expiration date and include a photograph. Expired green cards are acceptable for SSN purposes as long as they show your legal permanent resident status. If your green card was issued before 1977, it may look different from current cards, but it is still valid.

For non-citizens authorized to work, you must provide documents showing your work authorization. This might include an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), a visa with work authorization noted, an I-94 or I-94A arrival/departure record with work authorization, or other immigration documents showing you are permitted to work in the United States. Some work authorization documents have expiration dates, and the Social Security Administration may deny your request if your authorization has expired.

Adoptive parents requesting an SSN for a non-citizen child must provide adoption papers or a court order showing adoption. Foster parents typically cannot obtain an SSN for foster children unless they have legal guardianship or adoption paperwork.

Practical Takeaway: Gather all your documents before visiting a Social Security Administration office. Bring originals or certified copies—do not bring only photocopies. If you are missing documents, contact the Social Security Administration in advance to learn what alternatives they may accept in your specific situation.

The Step-by-Step Process for Requesting a Social Security Number

The process of requesting an SSN involves several steps. Most people begin by completing an application form, visiting a Social Security Administration office in person, and then waiting for the SSN to be issued. Understanding each step helps you prepare properly and know what to expect.

The first step is to complete Form SS-5, which is the "Application for a Social Security Card." You can obtain this form in several ways. You can download it from the official Social Security Administration website (ssa.gov), request it by mail from your local Social Security office, or pick it up in person at a Social Security office. The form asks for your personal information, including your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, current address, and citizenship or immigration status. You must provide your mother's maiden name, your father's name, and information about any previous SSNs you may have had.

The form also includes questions about your reason for requesting an SSN and whether you have ever had a Social Security card before. You