Scams to steal personal information are at an all-time high.
That's why it remains critical to safeguard important personal documents like your Social Security card.
A Social Security card is not an identification document. In many situations, a person only needs to know their Social Security number (SSN). The physical card is not necessary for most business needs.
Do you need evidence for work? There are several documents you can use instead of your card. These include:
Birth certificate
Employment authorization document
Form I-94 or form I-94A
You do not need to show your physical card to apply for certain benefits. You can simply provide your SSN for benefits like:
Housing
Health insurance
Food assistance
You should also know your physical card is not required as evidence for the Department of Motor Vehicles. The only state that requires a physical card is Pennsylvania. For all other states, acceptable evidence includes:
W-2 forms.
Form SSA-1099
Non-SSA-1099 forms
Pay stubs
Keeping your card at home reduces the risk of loss or theft – and helps you keep your information safe. To learn more about keeping your card and information safe, please visit our Fraud Prevention and Reporting webpage at www.ssa.gov/fraud.