Understanding Social Security Form SS-5

Fill out and submit the Social Safety Type SS-5 if you’re updating or changing your present Social Safety card, or in the event you’re requesting one for the primary time. Type SS-5 is one web page, nevertheless it has 18 bins that request 22 various kinds of data.

Despite the fact that Social Safety Type SS-5 contains directions, filling it out could be complicated. Right here’s what that you must know to grasp and precisely full it.

Type SS-5 is for requesting a Social Safety card for the primary time, changing an present Social Safety card or altering data related together with your Social Safety file^[0]. It is part of the applying course of with the Social Safety Administration (SSA), and usually it’s essential to present supporting documentation to show your identification.

Tips on how to fill out Type SS-5

Type SS-5 has 18 bins — some are elective, however it’s essential to fill out each area that applies to you. The Social Safety Administration would possibly deny your utility in the event you don’t present the entire related data.

For field 1, all candidates should fill out the primary line. Spell out your present title as you need it spelled in your Social Safety card. If you happen to had a distinct title at delivery — the one in your delivery certificates — write it on the second line. If you happen to’ve used every other authorized names, similar to in the event you’ve modified your title earlier than, embrace these names within the third line.

Field 2 requires you to fill in your Social Safety quantity if you have already got one. If you’re requesting your first Social Safety card, go away this line clean.

Packing containers 3 and 4 are aspect by aspect, so make sure you fill in each bins. In field 3, present your hometown. This could match your delivery certificates. Spell out the locations quite than abbreviating them.

In field 4, enter your date of delivery. Use numbers solely, and put the total 4 digits for the 12 months. This must also match your different documentation.

Choose the choice in field 5 that matches your citizenship standing. It’s possible you’ll solely choose one class. If you happen to verify a field for “Authorized Alien Not Allowed to Work” or “Different,” you’ll want to supply documentation for why you want a Social Safety card. The documentation could be from a federal, state or native company. If you happen to’re undecided in the event you want a Social Safety quantity, you may name the SSA to ask.

Packing containers 6 and seven are additionally aspect by aspect. These bins are elective, and your utility is not going to be affected in the event you skip each bins. If you wish to embrace this data, verify the suitable reply in field 6 to categorize your ethnic identification. For field 7, verify as many bins as essential to seize your racial identification.

Field 8 enables you to mark your most popular gender identification. Though the shape makes use of the time period “intercourse,” you might be allowed to decide on which gender you need related together with your Social Safety file. You’ll be able to choose a gender identification that does not match the one presently on file, and you are not required to supply authorized or medical data to help the gender you choose in your utility.

Field 9A requires you to supply your mom’s delivery title. This is perhaps totally different from her present title if she legally modified her title for any purpose, similar to getting married. For field 9B, fill in your mom’s Social Safety quantity.

For field 10A, fill in your father’s delivery title as effectively. This is perhaps totally different from his present title if he legally modified his title for any purpose, similar to getting married. For field 10B, fill in your father’s Social Safety quantity.

If you do not know the Social Safety quantity for one or each of your dad and mom and don’t have any means of discovering out, verify the field for “Unknown” on the fitting. Do not go away the field clean — it is best to both fill within the Social Safety quantity or verify the field for “Unknown.”

Step 8: Point out whether or not you have already got a Social Safety quantity

For field 11, verify the field that applies to you:

• “Sure” you probably have a Social Safety quantity and are requesting a brand new card or updating the knowledge.

• “No” in the event you’ve by no means had a Social Safety quantity and are requesting one for the primary time.

• “Don’t Know” if you’re not sure you probably have a Social Safety quantity. 

If you happen to answered “Sure” for field 11, it’s essential to fill out field 12 to finish the applying. This data pertains to your outdated Social Safety card. For field 12, put your title because it seems in your most up-to-date Social Safety card. Spell it the identical because it seems on the cardboard, even when it’s misspelled on the cardboard.

If you happen to or your dad or mum used a distinct date of delivery when making use of in your earlier Social Safety card — as in, you made a typo — enter that date in field 13. For an utility the place the date of delivery in field 4 differs from the date of delivery you entered in field 13, you’ll want to supply documentation to show that the date of delivery in field 4 is your precise date of delivery, similar to an amended delivery certificates.

If you happen to’ve all the time used the identical date of delivery for Social Safety card documentation, go away field 13 clean.

Enter the present date in field 14. In field 15, enter a cellphone quantity the place you could be reached through the daytime, similar to a cellphone quantity.

In field 16, put your full mailing handle. Solely use an handle the place you might have common entry to obtain mail and can be capable of get your card within the mail inside seven to 14 days of submitting your utility. Don’t abbreviate any phrases within the handle. For instance, spell out “Road” as an alternative of utilizing “St.”

Signal the shape in field 17. Make sure you learn the assertion proper above field 17 earlier than signing. If you’re not sure who ought to signal the applying, learn the directions on web page 3 of the applying. For field 17, there’s a part titled “WHO CAN SIGN THE APPLICATION?” that outlines who ought to register sure conditions.

In field 18, verify the field that describes your relationship to the particular person requesting a card:

• “Self” means you might be requesting a card for your self.

• “Pure Or Adoptive Dad or mum” means you might be both a organic dad or mum or a dad or mum who adopted the kid requesting the cardboard.

• “Authorized Guardian” means you might have court-ordered custody of the kid requesting the cardboard and the authority to fill out the shape on the kid’s behalf^[0].

• “Different Specify” means the opposite three choices don’t suit your relationship to the kid or particular person requesting the cardboard. If you happen to select this feature, that you must fill within the clean together with your relationship to the particular person.

Generally, you may fill out the SS-5 kind on-line on the SSA’s website^[0]. You’ll be able to often submit the shape on-line if you’re altering your title or requesting a Social Safety quantity for the primary time. You’ll nonetheless want to supply your supporting documentation in particular person at a Social Safety workplace to finish your utility.

Nonetheless, in the event you reside in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Alaska or a U.S. territory, you would possibly have to submit the shape by means of the mail if you wish to exchange your Social Safety card. Meaning you’ll have to print out the shape, fill it out and mail it (alongside together with your supporting paperwork) to your nearest Social Security office.

You’ll have to submit the SS-5 kind in particular person in the event you’re altering any of the next data in your Social Safety card or file:

To submit your kind in particular person:

1. Obtain and fill out the S-55 form. You’ll be able to fill it out digitally, then print it, or print it first, then fill it out by hand.

2. Collect the required documentation. All data should be authentic variations or a type of certification, similar to a signature or raised seal. You’ll be able to’t submit photocopies.

3. Find the SSA workplace you wish to go to.

4. Name forward to make sure you don’t want an appointment to talk with somebody.

4 suggestions for submitting Type SS-5

1. Collect the knowledge you want earlier than beginning. This may make the method go extra easily. That is very true for data you would possibly want from another person, similar to your mom’s Social Safety quantity.

2. Learn the directions earlier than filling out a field. If it’s not instantly clear to you what that you must put in a field, take a minute to learn the directions. If you happen to nonetheless have questions, name your native SSA workplace to ask what data it is best to embrace. The time spent clarifying the knowledge will probably be a lot shorter than time spent redoing the applying in the event you fill it out incorrectly.

3. Double-check the knowledge earlier than submitting it. Learn by means of the finished utility rigorously and double-check that every little thing is right, particularly your contact data. If the SSA has a query, that is how they may contact you.

4. Examine the mail usually. It may take seven to 14 days to get your Social Safety card within the mail, and it may come anytime in that vary. Examine your mail regularly to make sure you get it when it’s delivered; don’t go away it in a mailbox the place it might be stolen.