{"id":26504,"date":"2023-04-10T12:46:28","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T20:46:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=26504"},"modified":"2023-04-06T12:57:17","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T20:57:17","slug":"what-to-do-if-you-lose-your-social-security-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/what-to-do-if-you-lose-your-social-security-card\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do If You Lose Your Social Security Card (It\u2019s a Pretty Big Deal)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your Social Security number was never originally intended to serve as a piece of general-purpose identification \u2014 in fact, it was explicitly meant not <\/em>to fill that niche \u2014 but, decades later, that\u2019s where we\u2019ve ended up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t often need the physical card; just knowing your SSN is enough for most purposes.  That doesn\u2019t mean the card itself is meaningless, though.  If yours is lost or stolen, the repercussions can range from mild inconvenience to a lengthy (and costly) nightmare of identity theft.  Here\u2019s a quick look at what to do if you lose your Social Security card, and what the consequences might be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Lost Social Security Card Is No Joke<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most of the time you\u2019ll be able to get by with simply knowing your SSN, but occasionally you\u2019ll need to physically show the card (if you\u2019re starting a new job, for example).  That\u2019s only a minor inconvenience, because replacing the physical card is not a terribly arduous process.  If this was all you had to fear from losing your card, it wouldn\u2019t be a very big deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, that\u2019s not the case.  A valid SSN card is pure gold to an identity thief, because it has<\/em> come to be such an important piece of identification.  Criminals could sell your SSN card to someone who\u2019s not legally entitled to work, or use it themselves to get credit or file a tax refund in your name, or incorporate it into a hard-to-detect \u201csynthetic\u201d identity.  The potential for trouble is limited only by the criminals\u2019 imagination and resources, which should leave you very worried indeed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what should you do? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What to Do If You Lose Your Social Security Card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a number of things you\u2019ll need to do if your Social Security card goes missing.  The first is to report it to the Social Security Administration and to begin the process of replacing your card.  You\u2019re entitled to three replacements<\/a> in the course of a year, and 10 in your lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most states, you can order your replacement online<\/a> by setting up a my Social Security <\/em>account online.  You\u2019ll need to have a state-issued driver\u2019s license or equivalent state-issued ID, and you can\u2019t be a minor.  You also can\u2019t make any changes to your card, such as a name change.  At the time of writing, only residents of six states \u2014 Alaska, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and West Virginia \u2014 and the overseas U.S. territories can\u2019t apply this way.  If you live in one of those places, you\u2019ll need to download and complete a paper application<\/a>, then go to your nearest SSA office with that and your physical ID. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you\u2019ve taken this first step, prudence suggests that you should also be proactive about reducing the risks of identity theft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protecting against Identity Theft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your missing card may eventually turn up somewhere, but it\u2019s safest to assume that it\u2019s out \u201cin the wild\u201d and will eventually fall into the wrong hands.  It\u2019s probably the single most useful piece of ID a scammer could find or buy, so there are a number of additional things you should do to limit the risks (and impact!) of potential identity theft.  These include the following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check Your Credit Reports Regularly <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re entitled to a free one every year from each of the \u201cBig Three\u201d reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), so if you take them in turn that\u2019s a free one every four months.  If you spot any irregularities (new applications you didn\u2019t make, overdue payments you\u2019re not aware of), it\u2019s worth paying to get them more often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freeze Your Credit <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Placing a fraud alert and\/or a credit freeze<\/a> on your file with each of the Big Three means potential creditors can\u2019t pull a report, and therefore identity thieves are less likely to get credit in your name.  The downside is that you\u2019ll need to have it temporarily lifted if you need to apply for credit yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch Your Accounts Like a Hawk <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Check your bank and credit accounts periodically online, and scrutinize your statements every month.  If you see unexplained purchases, new accounts being opened or any other activity you didn\u2019t initiate, that\u2019s a red flag and you\u2019ll need to follow up with your institution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Report Signs of Identity Theft <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you notice signs that identity thieves<\/a> have your information, report it immediately to your financial institution, the credit reporting agencies and to law enforcement.  It\u2019s also a good idea to open a file at the FTC\u2019s IdentityTheft.gov website<\/a>.  As part of the process, you\u2019ll be guided through creating a personalized recovery plan laying out steps you should take to minimize the damage to your reputation and finances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider an Identity Protection Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For added peace of mind \u2014 and tireless eyes to see the things you miss \u2014 consider using an identity protection service like Spokeo Protect<\/a>.  Spokeo\u2019s service actively monitors the dark web, where criminals traffic in personal data like SSNs.  If your information is offered up for sale<\/a>, we can give you a heads-up, so you can take preemptive counter-measures before your good name is actively compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking Stronger Measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your identity has been seriously compromised \u2014 or if you\u2019re concerned that it could be \u2014 there are a few stronger measures you can take to protect yourself.  These involve some inconvenience at a minimum, and can potentially complicate your life, but they\u2019re worth knowing and considering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secure your SSN <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several steps you can take to tighten security<\/a> around your SSN.  One is setting up two-factor authorization, which means you\u2019ll need to receive a verification code by text or email whenever you log in.  You can also choose \u201cAdd Extra Security\u201d in your my<\/em> Social Security<\/em> account settings, which will require you to enter additional information (from your credit card number, your W-2 or your 1040 Schedule SE if you\u2019re self-employed). You can also Block Electronic Access, which thwarts automatic access to your SSN by phone or computer.  You\u2019ll need to suspend the block when you apply for credit or a new job, but a scammer can\u2019t do that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lock your Social Security Number<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s one further step you can take, which is locking your SSN.  To do that, you\u2019ll need to create and log in to a myE-Verify account<\/a>, then provide and \u201clock\u201d your SSN.  Once it\u2019s locked, no one can use your SSN to get work with an E-Verify employer, which in turn means you\u2019re less likely to have identity theft mess with your taxes.  Again, you\u2019ll need to unlock your SSN if you apply for a new job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get an Identity Protection PIN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Identity thieves can really complicate your life by filing bogus tax returns with the IRS, claiming your deductions, or simply working under your SSN (which creates income that you won\u2019t report, because you don\u2019t know about it). Setting up an Identity Protection PIN<\/a> with the IRS means nobody can file under your name, and with your SSN, unless they have that six-digit PIN.  It slows your refund slightly, and you\u2019ll have to keep track of a new PIN every year, but it can block a lot of nefarious activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get a new SSN  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the \u201cnuclear option,\u201d and it\u2019s not a step to take lightly. You absolutely are<\/em> entitled to request a new SSN<\/a> if you have solid proof that identity thieves are actively exploiting your existing SSN.  It\u2019s not necessarily going to give you a clean start, though: A lot of businesses and government agencies will still have your information attached to the old number, so there are still gray areas scammers can exploit.  The only way it\u2019s a completely \u201cclean slate\u201d is actually a negative: Your credit history will still be attached to the old SSN, and you\u2019ll often have to re-establish your creditworthiness from scratch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Path Forward<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s always a possibility that your original card might still turn up, perhaps down behind your nightstand or stuck to the back of the library card in your wallet.  Realistically, though, it\u2019s probably gone forever and this increased level of vigilance represents your \u201cnew normal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that it\u2019s probably also the \u201csmart normal,\u201d whether or not you currently see signs of active identity theft.  There\u2019s a surprising amount of your information out there (search yourself on Spokeo<\/a> periodically as a benchmark; it\u2019s a good habit to develop), and it\u2019s only reasonable to assume that some of it will<\/em> get into the wrong hands sooner or later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you make a habit of checking your accounts regularly and maximizing account security, you\u2019ll be better positioned to recognize identity theft if (or when) it happens, and to nip it in the bud before it can become troublesome.  That\u2019s not just peace of mind, it\u2019s a genuine modern-day life skill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n