To get a new Social Security card in Kentucky, submit Form SS-5 along with original identity documents to the Social Security Administration online, by mail, or in person at a local field office by appointment. The card is free, and most applicants receive it within about two weeks.
Documents You Need Before You Apply
What you have to prove depends on the type of card. For a replacement, you need to prove your identity. For an original card, you also need to prove your age and your U.S. citizenship or immigration status.1eCFR. 20 CFR 422.107 – Evidence Requirements
Every document has to be an original or a certified copy from the agency that issued it. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted, no matter how clean they look.1eCFR. 20 CFR 422.107 – Evidence Requirements
Proof of Identity
For most Kentucky residents, a current Kentucky driver’s license or state ID card is the easiest option. A U.S. passport also works. The document has to show your name and either your date of birth, your age, or a photograph.1eCFR. 20 CFR 422.107 – Evidence Requirements If your Kentucky license went missing with your card, a replacement license costs $15 through the Kentucky Department of Vehicle Regulation.2Kentucky Department of Vehicle Regulation. Renew, Replace, Update a Credential – DRIVE
Proof of Citizenship and Age
When you need to prove citizenship, a U.S. birth certificate is the most common document. A current U.S. passport covers citizenship and identity at the same time.1eCFR. 20 CFR 422.107 – Evidence Requirements
Form SS-5
Everyone applying fills out Form SS-5, a one-page Application for a Social Security Card available as a PDF on the SSA’s website.3Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card It asks for your legal name at birth, any later name changes, your place of birth, and your parents’ names and Social Security numbers. Use black or blue ink, and make every field match your supporting documents exactly. A small mismatch between the form and your birth certificate can slow the application down.
Three Ways to Apply
Kentucky residents can apply online, in person at a local SSA office, or by mail. Which route you can use depends on whether you are making any change to your record.
Online Through My Social Security
The online portal at ssa.gov is the fastest option. To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen age 18 or older, have a U.S. mailing address, hold a driver’s license or state ID from a participating state, and not be requesting a name change or other update to your record.4Social Security Administration. SSN Replacement Card Applications Filed via the Internet The SSA has been expanding online access to more states over time. Check whether Kentucky is currently participating on the SSA’s Social Security Number and Card page before you start.
The advantage of the online route is simple: no original documents leave your possession.
In Person at a Local Office
If you need a name change, an original card, or you would rather deal with someone face to face, visit a local SSA field office. The SSA’s Office Locator at ssa.gov shows the office assigned to your ZIP code.
As of January 2025, the SSA requires an appointment before visiting a field office, including for card requests. You can schedule one by calling 1-800-772-1213. The agency has said it will not turn away vulnerable populations or people with urgent needs who walk in, but calling ahead avoids a wasted trip.5Social Security Administration. Changes to Accessing Our In-Person Services
Bring your completed Form SS-5 and every original document. The agent reviews the originals and hands them back before you leave.
By Mail
You can also mail your completed Form SS-5 and original documents to your local SSA office. This route is the least popular for a practical reason: you will be without your driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate for several weeks while the SSA processes the application and returns your paperwork. If you use the mail, send everything by certified mail with a return receipt so you have a tracking number.
Mail-in applications may take two to four weeks to process, and your original documents come back separately from the card.6Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card?
Updating Your Name on the Card
If your name has changed through marriage, divorce, or a court order, update your Social Security record before or when you request the new card. That means providing a document that proves the legal name change:
- A certified marriage certificate from the county or state.
- A final divorce decree that restores or grants a new legal name.
- A court-issued name change order for any other reason.
The SSA may also ask for identity documents showing both your old name and your new name. Expired documents in your old name are acceptable for this purpose.7Social Security Administration. U.S. Citizen – Adult Name Change on Social Security Card Name changes cannot be processed online. You have to apply in person or by mail.
Applying for a Child’s Card
Parents follow the same process but need extra documents. You must prove the child’s age, identity, and citizenship, plus your own identity and your relationship to the child.8Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Children
A birth certificate usually covers the child’s age, citizenship, and the parent-child relationship in one document. You still need a separate document for the child’s identity, such as a school ID, medical record, or the child’s passport. The SSA requires at least two separate documents total, though one document can serve two purposes. For children under 18, the form also asks for both parents’ Social Security numbers. If a parent was never assigned a number, check the “unknown” box on Form SS-5.3Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card
Non-Citizen Applications
Non-citizens living in Kentucky can apply, but the paperwork is heavier. You need a current foreign passport along with U.S. immigration documents that show your work authorization. Acceptable immigration documents include a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), an Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94), or an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766).9Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens
Exchange visitors on J-1 or J-2 visas also need their DS-2019 form and, in some cases, a sponsor authorization letter. International students on F-1 or M-1 visas need their Form I-20 or a letter from their designated school official. Every document must be an original or a certified copy from the issuing agency, and at least two separate documents are required even if one covers multiple purposes.9Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens
Cost, Timing, and What Comes Next
Cards are free at every step when you go directly through the SSA.10Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card Any website charging a fee is either a scam or a middleman selling something you can do yourself for nothing.
Once the SSA processes your application, your card arrives by mail in a plain envelope. Online and in-person applications typically deliver in 7 to 10 business days.6Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card? Mail-in applications take longer because the SSA has to process the paperwork before the card is printed.
If You Need to Start a Job Before the Card Arrives
A receipt showing you have applied for a replacement Social Security card counts as a valid document for Form I-9 employment verification. The receipt is good for 90 days, and by then you should have the physical card to give your employer.11USCIS. Receipts
If Your Card Was Stolen
A stolen card is a different situation from a lost one. Someone now has the number that connects to your tax records, credit history, and work eligibility. Apply for a replacement through the steps above, but also report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov, which will walk you through steps to protect your credit and flag your accounts.12Social Security Administration. Report Stolen Social Security Number Consider a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus as well. A new card does not change your Social Security number, so the stolen number stays valid and vulnerable unless you take those protective steps.
Lifetime Limits on Replacement Cards
Federal rules cap you at three replacement Social Security cards per calendar year and ten over your entire lifetime.13Social Security Administration. Code of Federal Regulations 422.103 – Replacement of Social Security Number Card The caps have been in place since December 2005 and are intended to prevent fraud.
Not every new card counts. Cards issued for a legal name change or a change to the work-authorization legend do not reduce your count. The SSA can also grant exceptions for significant hardship, such as when an agency or employer requires the physical card to release benefits or start a job. If you have hit a limit, you will need a letter from the agency or employer explaining why the card is necessary.14Social Security Administration (SSA). Exception to SSN Card Limits Due to Hardship
Given these caps, think about whether you actually need the physical card. Most employers and agencies only need the nine-digit number, not the card itself. If you already know your number, a replacement may not be necessary at all.