Evidence of Age In general, you must provide your birth certificate. In some situations, Social Security Administration may accept another document that shows your age. Some of the other documents Social Security Administration may accept are:

• U.S. hospital record of your birth (created at the time of birth)
• Religious record established before age five showing your age or date of birth
• Passport
• Final Adoption Decree (the adoption decree must show that the birth information was taken from the original birth certificate)

Evidence of Identity You must provide current, unexpired evidence of identity in your legal name. Your legal name will be shown on the Social Security card. Generally, Social Security Administration prefer to see documents issued in the U.S. Documents you submit to establish identity must show your legal name AND provide biographical information (your date of birth, age, or parents' names) and/or physical information (photograph, or physical description - height, eye and hair color, etc.). If you send a photo identity document but do not appear in person, the document must show your biographical information (e.g., your date of birth, age, or parents' names). Generally, documents without an expiration date should have been issued within the past two years for adults and within the past four years for children.

As proof of your identity, you must provide a:

• U.S. driver's license; or
• U.S. State-issued non-driver identity card; or
• U.S. passport

If you do not have one of the documents above or cannot get a replacement within 10 work days, Social Security Administration may accept other documents that show your legal name and biographical information, such as a U.S. military identity card, Certificate of Naturalization, employee identity card, certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor or hospital), health insurance card, Medicaid card, or school identity card/record. For young children, Social Security Administration may accept medical records (clinic, doctor, or hospital) maintained by the medical provider. Social Security Administration may also accept a final adoption decree, or a school identity card, or other school record maintained by the school.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social Security Administration must see your current U.S. immigration document(s) and your foreign passport with biographical information or photograph.

Evidence of U.S. Citizenship In general, you must provide your U.S. birth certificate or U.S. Passport. Other documents you may provide are a Consular Report of Birth, Certificate of Citizenship, or Certificate of Naturalization.

Evidence of Immigration Status You must provide a current unexpired document issued to you by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) showing your immigration status, such as Form I-551, I-94, or I-766. If you are an international student or exchange visitor, you may need to provide additional documents, such as Form I-20, DS-2019, or a letter authorizing employment from your school and employer (F-1) or sponsor (J-1). Social Security Administration CANNOT accept a receipt showing you applied for the document. If you are not authorized to work in the U.S., Social Security Administration can issue you a Social Security card only if you need the number for a valid non-work reason. Your card will be marked to show you cannot work and if you do work, Social Security Administration will notify DHS. See page 3, item 5 for more information.

Note: If you are completing this application on behalf of someone else, you must provide evidence that shows your authority to sign the application as well as documents to prove your identity and the identity of the person for whom you are filing the application. We can only accept original documents or documents certified by the custodian of the original record. Notarized copies or photocopies which have not been certified by the custodian of the record are not acceptable.

Red Number Reality

According to a presentation given by Donald F. Walton, United States Trustee for Region 21 (Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands) to a meeting of the American Bankruptcy Institute in April 2009, the number printed on the back of the card is a "sequential control number."

These alpha-numeric codes are printed in red, black or blue ink and help authenticate the card as valid. This information was shared in the context of Bankruptcy Courts checking Social Security cards through the Social Security Administration, to prevent identity theft. The sequential control number, which bears no obvious correlation to an individual's Social Security Number should correspond to the date, area, and application of a particular cardholder.

According to Mr. Walton:

"Sequential Control Number. On the rear of a legitimate card there is a sequential control number. The control number is a combination of alpha and numeric that bears no relation to the actual. social security number on the card. However, the computer records of the Social Security Administration should show a correlation between the control number and the social security number and name on the card."

One blog commenter noted that she and her husband had applied for duplicate cards at approximately the same time, and that their sequential control numbers were identical except for the last two digits. This tends to support the idea that the numbers are generated at the printer before the card is assigned a Social Security Number.

Rumors about the "red number" containing biometric data, such as racial profiles, economic status, and other personal information are false, as are claims about it being a routing number to the Federal Reserve, a special bank account, or any potential source of windfall.

Some internet users have asked if the number can be used to pay bills. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Internet: Fraud Reporting Form

U.S. Mail: Social Security Fraud Hotline

P.O. Box 17785

Baltimore, Maryland 21235

FAX: 410-597-0118

Telephone: 1-800-269-0271 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

TTY: 1-866-501-2101 for the deaf or hard of hearing.

Note: If you cannot reach a representative on the Fraud Hotline between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, you can report Social Security program fraud directly to any Social Security office, including representatives at the SSA's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. SSA employees will take your information and send it directly to our office.