How to Replace Your Social Security Card
Your social security card is not magic. If you damage it, you can replace it up to three times a year and up to ten times in your life. (After that, the Social Security Administration will get a little stricter.) And in twenty-five states, any adult can apply online with only a driver’s license.
In the states listed here, your license or state ID is sufficient to verify your identity for a new card. For the rest, your passport will usually do this. ( Here are the full requirements – look at the options on the left for immigrants and non-citizens – and here is the application form .) You can mail your application or bring it to the SSA office and you will receive your new card in two weeks .
Keeping the card in a safe place is good, but the number really matters. You don’t have to carry your card with you; it’s designed to be tamper-proof , not indestructible. And for most cases, you can use a photocopy or printout. By law, even your employer cannot force you to show them the original. Your card should be in the desk drawer, but if it gets damaged somehow, everything will be fine.
How do I apply for a new Social Security card? | SSA.gov via Reddit