Your social security number is essential to living in the United States. You need it to get jobs, collect social security, and other benefits. That’s why you need to make sure you have your social security card in a safe place. If you need to get a social security card replacement or get a new social security card, you can either request your card online or bring your form to the social security office in person.

Request Your Card Online

The easiest way to get a replacement security card is to request one online. You can create a My Social Security Account if you don’t have one, then sign in to apply. You are eligible to get a replacement card online if you are a U.S. citizen with a U.S. mailing address, have a state-issued driver’s license, and if you are not requesting a name change to your card.

If one of all of these doesn’t apply to you, or you are from the states Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, or West Virginia, the online service won’t apply to you. You’ll need to take in or mail an application. Follow these next three steps to apply for your card.

Request a New, Replacement, or Corrected Card

1. Gather Your Documents

Citizenship

You need a document proving U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport to prove citizenship.

Age

If it exists, you must present your birth certificate as proof of your age. If you don’t have one, you may present a U.S. hospital record of your birth, a U.S. passport, or a religious record made before age 5 showing your date of birth. For those aged 12 or older requesting an original social security number, you must show evidence for why you don’t have one. Some examples of this include a previous passport or any other record showing you lived outside the United States. If you lived inside the United States, tax records or information from schools attended would show that you were never assigned a social security number.

Identity

Bring a U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. Passport, or state-issued non-driver identification card for proof of identity. If you don’t have any of these, bring a current document showing your name, identifying information including a recent photograph. This could include a school identification card, employee identification card, or U.S. military card. Bring only original documents because the Social Security Office won’t accept copies, they will only accept original documents.

2. Fill Out Your Application

The application is free to fill out! Just print out the application and fill it out. You can either mail it to the Social Security Office with your documents or bring it into the office. You will need to fill out an application if you are legally changing your name for any reason, including marriage or divorce.

3. Mail or Take the Information to the Social Security Office

Not every social security office offers card services, so check your local offices for what services they offer before you go. Your local office may require appointments, so it’s important to check online or call before you go.

Getting a new social security card is pretty easy! All you need is the correct documents and application to get a new card or replacement.