By Sheryl Schroeder
Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Brenham, TX
2018 is here! It’s the New Year. There’s no better time to tell you about the new features we have in my Social Security. They not only save you time, but also put you in control of your retirement future.
There are a growing number of states (and the District of Columbia) where, if you’re a resident, you can request a replacement Social Security card online.
Our new online version of the Application for a Replacement Social Security Card can make getting a replacement easy and stress free.
It allows people to apply for a replacement card through my Social Security without traveling to a field office or card center, as long as you’re not requesting a name change or any other change to your card. We are working to add this capability to every state.
Your personal my Social Security account is secure and gives you ready access to your earnings records, Social Security benefit estimates, and printable Statements.
Those who already receive benefits can view their payment history, current status, and manage their benefits.
Lost your Social Security card, or was it stolen? If so, replacement social security card florida will replace it for free, but you are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime.
Legal name changes and other exceptions do not count toward these limits. For example, changes in immigration status that require card updates may not count toward these limits. Also, you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship. For instance, if the date of birth originally provided is not correct, you must provide a birth certificate or other evidence of your age.
To change your name, you must show evidence of a legal name change. The evidence should identify you by both your old and new names, and have information about you that can be compared with old records, such as date of birth and parents’ names. If the evidence of legal name change doesn’t provide sufficient information, additional evidence will be requested. If you were born outside the U.S., you must also provide evidence of U.S. citizenship if not already shown on your record, or current lawful immigration status.
The number of replacement Social Security cards you can receive is limited to three per year, and ten per lifetime. The SSA will not count changes in legal name or a restrictive legend (such as Not Valid for Employment) in determining the limits. They may also grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis if you can establish a need for a card beyond these limits. For instance, you may obtain a letter from a social services agency stating that you must show the card in order to receive benefits.
The first requirement is to complete the official application for a Social Security card. The application can be found on the website for the Social Security Administration. This application can be filled out on your computer or printed out and filled in by hand printing.
Whether the applicant is a child or an adult, a legally admitted immigrant or newborn baby, the requirements are about the same. They include documentation proving citizenship, age and identity. All documents presented must be either originals or certified copies.
In any case, it may be necessary for the applicant to appear in person at his local Social Security office. The exception to this is the American born adult who is simply applying for a replacement Social Security card.
Social Security has also made replacing your annual Benefit Statement even easier. The Benefit Statement (known as the SSA-1099 or the SSA-1042S) shows the amount of benefits you received the previous year and is needed for filing taxes.
Now you have the ability to download it using our online services. There’s no need to visit a field office. A replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S is available after February 1 for the previous tax year.
If you don’t have a my Social Security account, creating a secure account is very easy to do and usually takes less than 15 minutes.
Putting you in control of your future is a key part of securing today and tomorrow. With my Social Security, we give you the power to steer your future in the direction you deserve.
