Updated August 2, 2026. To replace a Social Security card for a child, begin at the Social Security Administration's official number and card page. A parent or other qualified adult should expect to prove two identities: the child's and their own. SSA may also ask for evidence showing custody of or responsibility for the child.
Quick Steps to Replace a Child's Card
- Use SSA's official number-and-card questions and select that the card is for a child.
- Choose “replacement” only if the child's record information is not changing.
- Review the personalized evidence list for the child and the filing adult.
- Submit the online start and schedule an office or Card Center appointment if prompted.
- Bring original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency.
- Wait for SSA to process and mail the card; there is no application fee.
The route can vary with the child's citizenship or immigration status, the adult's relationship to the child, and whether SSA already has certain evidence. Use this guide to prepare, but let the official application determine the final checklist.
Is This a Replacement, Correction, or First Card?
A replacement card repeats information already in SSA's record. A corrected card changes a legal name, citizenship information, date of birth, or another record item. An original-card request is for a child who has never been assigned a Social Security number.
This distinction prevents a common delay. If a child was adopted and now uses a different legal name, for example, the request may require correction evidence rather than a simple replacement. If a newborn never received a number, the family needs the original-number path. The online questions will route the request.
For an adult replacing their own card, see our separate adult Social Security card replacement guide. The child process deserves its own explanation because a young child may not have photo identification and another person is filing.
Who Can Request a Replacement for a Child?
A parent commonly files the request. A legal guardian, custodian, state placement representative, or another adult responsible for the child may have a different documentation path. SSA may check its records or request evidence establishing the adult's authority or responsibility.
Examples in SSA's evidence guidance include court custody documentation, a letter from a state social-service agency placing the child in the household, school records showing responsibility, or a rental agreement listing the child. Being related to the child does not eliminate the filing adult's own identity requirement.
Only create or use an online account in the adult account holder's own name. Do not share a Login.gov or ID.me account between spouses, relatives, or children. If access is a problem, our my Social Security login guide explains which help desk handles which issue.
Documents That Can Prove a Child's Identity
SSA needs evidence that shows the child continues to exist beyond the record of birth. An acceptable document must show the child's name and identifying information such as age, date of birth, or parents' names. A recent photograph is preferred, but SSA recognizes that young children often do not have photo ID.
| Evidence purpose | Examples SSA lists | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred child identity | U.S. passport | Must be current |
| Other possible child identity | State non-driver ID, adoption decree, doctor/clinic/hospital record, religious record, school or day-care record | Must identify the child under SSA's criteria |
| Age or citizenship | U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport | A birth certificate is not child identity evidence |
| Immigration status | Applicable current DHS documents, such as those specified by SSA | Follow the exact noncitizen branch |
Medical and school records
A current medical or school record can be useful for a child without photo identification, but it must be a document from the appropriate institution and contain enough identifying information. A parent-created note, a generic appointment reminder, or a screenshot with no clear issuer may not satisfy the requirement. Ask the school, day-care center, doctor, clinic, or hospital for a proper record rather than editing one yourself.
Why the birth certificate is not enough
The certificate documents facts at birth. SSA separately needs evidence connecting the child who exists now with the application. That is why the certificate can prove age or citizenship while a passport, medical record, school record, or other qualifying document proves identity. Bring both if the official checklist requests both purposes.
Documents for the Parent or Filing Adult
The filing adult must prove their own identity. SSA's preferred examples for a U.S. adult generally include a current U.S. driver's license, state-issued non-driver identification card, or U.S. passport. The official flow explains alternatives when the preferred document is unavailable under SSA's rules.
SSA may also need evidence of the adult's relationship, custody, or responsibility. A parent already listed in SSA records may not receive the same request as a guardian or foster placement. Do not assume a child's birth certificate always establishes everything about filing authority; follow the generated checklist.
One document can sometimes serve two evidence purposes, but that does not mean a single document will always complete the case. SSA's online document selector notes that at least two separate documents may be required in relevant branches. Bring the complete set identified for your circumstances.
How the Online Start and Appointment Work in 2026
SSA introduced a streamlined number-and-card process on February 23, 2026. The official portal asks questions, accepts the online start, and then tells the applicant whether SSA can process the request online or whether an office step is needed. SSA's child replacement fact sheet explains that a parent can start online and may be eligible to self-schedule an appointment at a local office or Card Center.
For a child request, be prepared for an in-person evidence review. Complete the online portion first when available because it can shorten the office visit and reveal missing documents before travel. If the portal offers an appointment, use that path. Otherwise, confirm the office and service through SSA's official locator.
Do not rely on an old map listing to decide that an office is open for walk-ins. Appointment availability and Card Center coverage are location-specific. For the national phone line and current service hours, see our SSA contact guide.
Using Form SS-5 for a Child
Form SS-5 is the official Application for a Social Security Card. It is used for original, replacement, and corrected cards. If the guided online process tells you to use the form, download the current PDF from SSA.gov and read its evidence and signature instructions.
The form is free. It contains sensitive fields, so do not email a completed copy to an unofficial helper, upload it in a blog comment, or use a paid website that claims to be SSA. This independent site cannot receive or forward the form.
Avoid preventable document rejection
- Bring originals or copies certified by the agency that issued them.
- Do not substitute ordinary photocopies, notarized copies, or receipts for documents.
- Use current documents and check expiration dates.
- Make sure names and biographical details consistently identify the child.
- Bring identity evidence for both the child and filing adult.
- Include responsibility or custody evidence if SSA requests it.
How Much Does a Child's Replacement Card Cost?
There is no charge. SSA's Office of the Inspector General issued a March 10, 2026 scam alert specifically warning that first-time, replacement, and name-change cards are free. A business asking for payment is selling its own service; it is not collecting an SSA filing fee.
Never pay someone who promises a guaranteed approval, a new number, or a faster government mailing date. Never send a child's Social Security number, card image, birth certificate, medical record, or school record through an unsolicited text or social-media message.
How Long Does the Card Take to Arrive?
SSA public guidance commonly says the card is mailed and usually arrives within about 14 business days after SSA has all information needed to process the application. This is a general expectation, not a guarantee. Evidence review, corrections, postal delivery, or a request for additional information can extend the timeline.
Keep the official confirmation securely. If the expected period passes, contact SSA using the instructions connected to the request rather than submitting multiple new applications. A replacement normally has the same Social Security number; losing the card does not itself create a new number.
Replacement Limits Apply to Children Too
Federal rules generally limit each number holder to three replacement cards in one calendar year and ten over a lifetime. For a child request, the count belongs to the child whose card is issued, not to the parent who completes the application.
Original cards do not count. Legal name changes, changes to a restrictive legend, non-receipt, an SSA mistake, or a documented hardship may be excluded or treated as exceptions under SSA policy. SSA decides whether an exception applies; explain the facts and provide the requested evidence rather than guessing.
Special Situations Need the Correct SSA Branch
Adoption or legal name change
If the child's legal name or parent information needs updating, this may be a corrected-card request. Bring the legal evidence identified by SSA. Do not submit a same-information replacement and expect it to update the record.
Foreign-born child or noncitizen
Citizenship and immigration evidence depends on the child's status and existing SSA record. Use the specific branch in SSA's document selector. Immigration documents must meet current DHS and SSA requirements.
Child age 12 or older with no prior number
This is an original-number request, not a replacement. Form SS-5 instructions say a person age 12 or older who has never received an SSN must apply in person and provide additional information about the absence of a prior number.
Concern about identity theft
A lost card alone does not prove misuse. If there are unfamiliar tax, credit, employment, or benefit records, create a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov and contact the relevant agency. Store the new card securely rather than having the child carry it routinely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace my child's Social Security card fully online?
Start online, but do not assume the entire child request will be remote. SSA's questions tell you whether online processing is available or an office/Card Center appointment is needed.
Can I use my child's birth certificate as identification?
No. It may prove age or citizenship, but SSA requires separate evidence of the child's identity, such as a qualifying passport, medical record, school/day-care record, or another document SSA accepts.
Does my child need to attend the appointment?
Attendance requirements are case-specific. Follow the appointment instructions generated by SSA or confirm with the office before traveling; do not infer the answer from a generic checklist.
Can I send photocopies?
SSA requires originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Ordinary photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted under its published card evidence rules.
Official Sources
- SSA: U.S. Citizen/Child — Replacement Social Security Card
- SSA: Document selector
- SSA: Form SS-5
- SSA: Social Security Numbers for Children
- SSA OIG: Social Security cards are free
SocialSecurityPayment.net is an independent information site and is not affiliated with SSA. Requirements vary by record. Do not send us a child's or adult's Social Security number, card image, identity documents, account credentials, or appointment confirmation.
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