New Social Security Numbers for
Domestic Violence Victims
Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. If
you’re a victim of family violence, harassment,
abuse, or life-endangering situations, Social Security
may be able to help you.
Public awareness campaigns stress how important
it is for victims to develop safety plans that include
gathering personal papers and choosing a safe
place to go. Sometimes, the best way to evade an
abuser and reduce the risk of further violence may
be to relocate and establish a new identity. Following
these changes, getting a new Social Security
number (SSN) may also be helpful.
Although we don’t routinely assign new numbers,
we’ll do so when evidence shows you are being
harassed or abused, or your life is endangered.
Applying for a new number is a big decision. Your
ability to interact with federal and state agencies,
employers, and others may be affected. Your
nancial, medical, employment, and other records
will be under your former SSN and name (if you
change your name). If you expect to change your
name, please do so before applying for a new
number.
How to apply for a new number
You must apply in person at any Social Security
ofce. We’ll help you complete a statement
explaining why you need a new number and
an application for a new number. In addition,
you must present:
• Evidence documenting the harassment, abuse,
or life endangerment.
• Your current SSN.
• Evidence documents establishing your:
— U.S. citizenship or work-authorized
immigration status.
— Age.
— Identity.
• Evidence of your legal name change if you’ve
changed your name.
Also, we’ll need to see documents showing you
have custody of any children for whom you’re
requesting new numbers and documentation proving
their U.S. citizenship, ages, and identities.
All documents must be either originals or copies
certied by the issuing agency. We can’t accept
photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
We may use one document for two purposes.
For example, we may use your U.S. passport as
proof of both citizenship and identity. Or, we may
use your U.S. birth certicate as proof of age and
citizenship. However, you must provide at least
two separate documents.
We’ll mail your number and card as soon as we
have all of your information and have veried your
documents with the issuing ofces.
Citizenship or immigration status
U.S. citizen: We can accept only certain documents
as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include a U.S.
birth certicate or a U.S. passport.
Noncitizen: To prove your U.S. immigration status,
show us a current immigration document. This may
be your I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, showing a
class of admission permitting work, or your Form
I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD,
work permit). If you’re an F-1 or M-1 student, you
also must show us your I-20, Certicate of Eligibility
for Nonimmigrant Student Status. If you’re a J-1
or J-2 exchange visitor, show us your DS-2019,
Certicate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status.
Age
U.S. born: You must present your birth certicate if
you have one. If you don’t have a birth certicate, we
may be able to accept any of the following:
• A religious record made before age ve showing
the date of birth.
• A U.S. hospital record of birth.
• A U.S. passport or passport card.
Foreign born: You must present your foreign birth
certicate if you have it or can get a copy within 10
business days. If you can’t get it, we may be able to
accept your:
• Foreign passport.
• I-551, Permanent Resident Card.
• I-766, Employment Authorization Document
(EAD).
• I-94 Arrival/Departure Record.
(over)
New Social Security Numbers for Domestic Violence Victims
SSA.gov
Identity
We can accept only certain documents as proof of
identity. An acceptable document must be current
(not expired) and show your name, identifying
information and preferably a recent photograph.
U.S. citizen: We will ask to see a U.S. driver’s
license, U.S. state-issued non-driver identication
card, or U.S. passport as proof of identity. If you
don’t have the specic documents we ask for, we’ll
ask to see other documents, including:
• Certicate of Naturalization.
• Certicate of U.S. Citizenship.
• Employee identication card.
• School identication card.
• Health insurance card (not a Medicare card).
• U.S. military identication card.
Noncitizen: We will ask to see your current U.S.
immigration documents. Acceptable immigration
documents include your:
• I-551, Permanent Resident Card.
• I-94, Arrival/Departure Record with your
unexpired foreign passport.
• I-766, Employment Authorization Document
(EAD).
Changing your name on your card
We can accept only a court-order-approved
legal name change document that supports your
requested name change.
Providing the evidence you need
The best evidence of abuse comes from third
parties, such as police or medical personnel, and
describes the nature and extent of harassment,
abuse, or life endangerment. Other evidence may
include court restraining orders and letters from
shelters, family members, friends, counselors,
or others who have knowledge of the domestic
violence or abuse. We’ll help you get any additional
evidence needed.
Blocking access to your record
If you know your Social Security information has
been compromised, you can request to Block
Electronic Access. This is done by calling our
National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or
TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Once requested,
any automated telephone and electronic access to
your Social Security record will be blocked. No one,
including you, will be able to see or change your
personal information on the internet or through our
automated telephone service. If you have access to
your record blocked and then change your mind in
the future, you can contact us and ask to unblock it
after you prove your identity.
Contacting Social Security
The most convenient way to do business with us
from anywhere, on any device, is to visit
www.ssa.gov. There are several things you can do
online: apply for benets; get useful information; nd
publications; and get answers to frequently asked
questions.
When you open a personal my Social Security
account, you have more capabilities. You can review
your Social Security Statement, verify your earnings,
and get estimates of future benets. You can also
print a benet verication letter, change your direct
deposit information, request a replacement Medicare
card, get a replacement SSA-1099/1042S, and
request a replacement Social Security card (if you
have no changes and your state participates).
If you don’t have access to the internet, we offer
many automated services by tele-phone, 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. Call us toll-free at
1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number,
1-800-325-0778, if you’re deaf or hard of hearing.
A member of our staff can answer your call from 7
a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Fri-day. We ask for
your patience during busy periods since you may
experience a high rate of busy signals and longer
hold times to speak to us. We look forward to serving
you.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
(TTY) 1-800-787-3224
Social Security Administration
Publication No. 05-10093
July 2021 (Recycle prior editions)
New Social Security Numbers for Domestic Violence Victims
Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense
