---
title: SS-5 Customer-Assembly Preparation Kit
description: Prepare SS-5 online and receive an unsigned printed kit for your own final review, hand-signing, assembly, and submission.
seotitle: SS-5 Customer-Assembly Preparation Kit
seo-description: Prepare SS-5 online and receive an unsigned printed kit for your own final review, hand-signing, assembly, and submission.
group: resources
indexable: true
llms: false
schema: webpage
og-image: /forms/ss-5/thumbnail
og-image-alt: Form SS-5 — Application for a Social Security Card generated form preview
published: 2026-07-12
updated: 2026-07-12
tags:
  - social security
  - ssa
  - social security card
  - ssn
  - name change
path: /forms/ss-5
---
# SS-5 Customer-Assembly Preparation Kit

Prepare SS-5 online and receive an unsigned printed kit for your own final review, hand-signing, assembly, and submission.

## How it works
1. **Answer the guided questions and review the prepared form information.** - 
2. **PostalForm prints the official form with signature areas left blank and sends the customer-assembly kit only to your verified address.** - 
3. **After delivery, follow the cover instructions, hand-sign where required, and add every original, certified record, payment, witness, certification, companion form, or other physical item.** - 
4. **Verify the current deadline and destination, then personally complete final submission through the official channel.** -


## Form summary
This workflow helps you prepare an SSA Form SS-5 application for a new, replacement, or corrected Social Security card. PostalForm prepares the official form and delivers the unsigned preparation kit only to your verified address. PostalForm does not file, serve, or submit it. Hand-sign and date SS-5, gather the original or issuing-agency-certified evidence SSA requires, and personally submit the application through the correct SSA office or in-person process.

## What you need
- Name to be shown on the card, plus the name at birth or other names used, if different
- Date and place of birth, and the existing Social Security number for replacements or corrections
- Citizenship status or current work-authorized immigration status
- Parents' names — and their Social Security numbers when a child under 18 needs a first card
- Original or agency-certified evidence documents: identity for everyone (for example a driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport), plus age and citizenship or immigration status for original and corrected cards
- Signature of the applicant, or of a parent, legal guardian, or other authorized person
- Hand-sign the printed form after the preparation kit is delivered

## Data collected
- Name to appear on the card, name at birth, and other names used
- Date and place of birth, and any Social Security number previously assigned
- Citizenship or immigration status and sex, plus voluntary race and ethnicity
- Parents' names and Social Security numbers when a child needs a first card
- Prior Social Security card history
- Mailing address, daytime phone, and the signer's relationship to the applicant; signature and date remain blank

## Where it gets mailed
PostalForm mails the unsigned preparation kit only to the customer or authorized signer at the verified delivery address entered during checkout.

Final submission: Hand-sign and date SS-5, gather the original or issuing-agency-certified evidence SSA requires, and personally submit the application through the correct SSA office or in-person process.

## Packet order
- Customer assembly instruction cover (remove and keep before final submission)
- Prepared unsigned form (signature and reserved third-party fields blank)

## Common mistakes
- Paying a third-party "filing fee" — a Social Security card is always free from SSA.
- Mailing photocopies or notarized copies of evidence documents: SSA only accepts originals or copies certified by the issuing agency, and returns whatever you send.
- Filing the paper SS-5 for a plain replacement when most adults can order one free online at ssa.gov in minutes, with no documents to mail.
- Sending the application to SSA headquarters in Baltimore — there is no national mailing address; it goes to your local Social Security office or Card Center.
- Leaving parents' Social Security numbers blank on a child's first-card application instead of entering them or checking the Unknown box.
- Applying by mail for a first-ever number at age 12 or older — SSA requires those applicants to appear in person.

## Agent summary
Customer-assembly workflow for SS-5. It prepares the form and sends an unsigned kit only to the customer. It must never be represented as direct filing, service, or agency submission. Final customer action: Hand-sign and date SS-5, gather the original or issuing-agency-certified evidence SSA requires, and personally submit the application through the correct SSA office or in-person process.

## For assistants
This is a human-only customer-assembly workflow and is not available for automated or machine ordering.

- PostalForm delivers an unsigned preparation kit only to the customer or authorized signer.
- The customer must remove and keep the PostalForm cover, complete every physical signature, enclosure, certification, and final-submission step, and verify the current deadline and destination.

## LLM field schema
```json
[
  {
    "id": "card_reason",
    "label": "What kind of card does this application request?",
    "type": "select",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "full",
    "group_id": "reason",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "relationship_self",
    "label": "Myself — I need the card",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "reason",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "relationship_parent",
    "label": "My child — I'm the natural or adoptive parent",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "reason",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "relationship_guardian",
    "label": "Someone I'm the legal guardian of",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "reason",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "relationship_other",
    "label": "Someone else",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "reason",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "relationship_other_specify",
    "label": "Your relationship to the person who needs the card",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "reason",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "relationship_other",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "evidence_ack",
    "label": "I understand SSA only accepts original documents (or copies certified by the issuing agency) as evidence — photocopies and notarized copies are rejected",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "plain_checkbox",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "reason",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "name_first",
    "label": "First name to show on the card",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "name_middle",
    "label": "Full middle name to show on the card",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "name_last",
    "label": "Last name to show on the card",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "birth_name_different",
    "label": "Was this person's name at birth different from the name above?",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "yes_no",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "birth_name_first",
    "label": "First name at birth",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "birth_name_different",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "birth_name_middle",
    "label": "Full middle name at birth",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "birth_name_different",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "birth_name_last",
    "label": "Last name at birth",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "birth_name_different",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "used_other_names",
    "label": "Has this person used any other names?",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "yes_no",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "other_names_used",
    "label": "Other names used",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "used_other_names",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "birth_city",
    "label": "City where this person was born",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "city",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "birth_state_or_country",
    "label": "State or foreign country of birth",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "birth_date",
    "label": "Date of birth",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "date",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "prior_ssn",
    "label": "Social Security number previously assigned to this person",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "ssn",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "applicant",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "card_reason",
      "operator": "not_equals",
      "value": "First-ever Social Security card (never had a number)"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "citizenship_us",
    "label": "U.S. citizen",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "citizenship",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "citizenship_legal_allowed",
    "label": "Legal alien allowed to work",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "citizenship",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "citizenship_legal_not_allowed",
    "label": "Legal alien not allowed to work",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "citizenship",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "citizenship_other",
    "label": "Other (see SSA instructions)",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "citizenship",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "sex_male",
    "label": "Male",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "citizenship",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "sex_female",
    "label": "Female",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "citizenship",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mother_name_first",
    "label": "Mother's first name (at her birth)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mother_name_middle",
    "label": "Mother's full middle name (at her birth)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mother_name_last",
    "label": "Mother's last name (at her birth)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mother_ssn",
    "label": "Mother's Social Security number",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "ssn",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mother_ssn_unknown",
    "label": "I can't obtain the mother's Social Security number",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "plain_checkbox",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "father_name_first",
    "label": "Father's first name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "father_name_middle",
    "label": "Father's full middle name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "father_name_last",
    "label": "Father's last name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "father_ssn",
    "label": "Father's Social Security number",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "ssn",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "father_ssn_unknown",
    "label": "I can't obtain the father's Social Security number",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "plain_checkbox",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "parents",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "prior_card_yes",
    "label": "Yes",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "prior-card",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "prior_card_no",
    "label": "No",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "prior-card",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "prior_card_dont_know",
    "label": "Don't know",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "prior-card",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "prior_card_first",
    "label": "First name shown on the most recent card",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "prior-card-details",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "prior_card_middle",
    "label": "Full middle name shown on that card",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "prior-card-details",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "prior_card_last",
    "label": "Last name shown on the most recent card",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "prior-card-details",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "prior_card_dob",
    "label": "Date of birth used on an earlier application (only if different from the date above)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "date",
    "ui_width": "half",
    "group_id": "prior-card-details",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mailing_street",
    "label": "Street address, apt, PO Box, or rural route",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "address",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "contact",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mailing_city",
    "label": "City",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "city",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "contact",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mailing_state_or_country",
    "label": "State or foreign country",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "contact",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "mailing_zip",
    "label": "ZIP code",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "zip",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "contact",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "phone_area_code",
    "label": "Daytime phone — area code",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "contact",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "phone_number",
    "label": "Daytime phone number",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "phone",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "contact",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "ethnicity_yes",
    "label": "Yes",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "ethnicity_no",
    "label": "No",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "radio",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "race_native_hawaiian",
    "label": "Native Hawaiian",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "multi_select",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "race_american_indian",
    "label": "American Indian",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "multi_select",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "race_other_pacific_islander",
    "label": "Other Pacific Islander",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "multi_select",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "race_alaska_native",
    "label": "Alaska Native",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "multi_select",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "race_black_african_american",
    "label": "Black/African American",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "multi_select",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "race_white",
    "label": "White",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "multi_select",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "race_asian",
    "label": "Asian",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "multi_select",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "voluntary",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "todays_date",
    "label": "Today's date",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "date",
    "ui_width": "third",
    "group_id": "signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "signature",
    "label": "Signature",
    "type": "signature",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  }
]
```

## Sources
- [SSA — Replace your Social Security card](https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/replace-card)
- [SSA FAQ — Applying for a replacement card online (KA-02017)](https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-02017.html)
- [SSA — Documents needed for a Social Security card](https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm)
- [SSA Field Office Locator](https://www.ssa.gov/locator)
- [SSA news — streamlined online SSN application process (February 2026)](https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/advocates/2026-02-23.html)
- [Official instructions](https://www.ssa.gov/number-card)
- [Official PDF](https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf)

## Last verified
2026-07-12


## FAQs
- **Can I replace my Social Security card online instead of filing Form SS-5?** Usually, yes. U.S. citizens age 18 or older with a state-issued driver's license or ID card can request a replacement free through a my Social Security account in nearly every state, as long as the name and other details on the card are not changing. Online replacement cards typically arrive in 5 to 10 business days.
- **Where do I mail Form SS-5?** To the Social Security office or Card Center that serves your area — there is no single national address. Use SSA's office locator at ssa.gov/locator. SSA also lets you start most card applications online and finish them at a scheduled office visit, which avoids mailing documents at all.
- **Does a Social Security card cost anything?** No. SSA never charges for an original, replacement, or corrected card. Replacements are limited to 3 per calendar year and 10 per lifetime, but cards issued for legal name changes or work-authorization updates don't count against those limits.
- **What documents does SSA require with the application?** Originals or copies certified by the issuing agency — for example a birth certificate to prove age and an unexpired driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport to prove identity. Photocopies and notarized copies are rejected. SSA mails your documents back after processing.
- **How long does it take to get the card?** SSA usually mails the card within 14 business days after it processes a complete application. Fully-online replacement requests typically arrive in 5 to 10 business days.
- **Can an adult or a child age 12 or older get a first Social Security number by mail?** No. Anyone age 12 or older who has never been assigned a Social Security number must apply in person at a Social Security office, even if they start the application online.


## Related
- [SSA-1696 — Appointment of Representative (Social Security)](/forms/ssa-1696)
- [SSA-3288 — Consent for Release of Information](/forms/ssa-3288)
- [Form SSA-44 — Medicare IRMAA Reduction Request (Life-Changing Event)](/forms/ssa-44)
- [SSA-7008 — Request for Correction of Earnings Record](/forms/ssa-7008)
- [SSA-795 — Statement of Claimant or Other Person](/forms/ssa-795)
- [SSA-827 — Authorization to Disclose Information to SSA](/forms/ssa-827)