SSA · Federal
Fill out Form SS-5 on your phone
Form SS-5 is how you apply for a first Social Security card, a replacement, or a corrected card after a name change. Typing the answers on your phone gives the Social Security Administration a legible form, but the application must then be printed, signed in ink and handed in or mailed with original documents. Many replacement cards can be requested without the form at all through a my Social Security account.
- Form
- Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card
- Source
- SSA: Form SS-5
- Length
- 1 page to fill (plus instructions)
- Cost
- Free. Public-domain government form; we link the agency's own PDF rather than hosting a copy, so you always get the current revision.
What the SS-5 is for, and who fills it in
What it is for. An original card (for a newborn or a new arrival), a replacement for a lost card, or a corrected card after a legal name change or a fix to your record.
Who fills it in. The applicant, or a parent or legal guardian for a child, or an authorized representative. Items about the parents are required for a child under 18.
Where it goes. To a Social Security office, in person or by mail, together with original or certified documents proving identity, age and citizenship or immigration status. The documents are returned to you.
The fields that matter
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Item 1, Name | The full name to show on the card, your full name at birth if different, and any other names used. |
| Item 2, Social Security number | Your existing number if you have one. Blank for a first card. |
| Items 3 to 5, Birth | Place of birth (city, state or foreign country), date of birth, and citizenship status. |
| Items 6 and 7, Ethnicity and race | Voluntary. Leaving them blank does not affect the application. |
| Item 8, Sex | As requested on the form. |
| Items 9 and 10, Parents | Mother's and father's names at their birth and their Social Security numbers, if known. Required when the applicant is under 18. |
| Items 11 and 12, Prior cards | Whether a card was ever issued to the applicant before, and the name and date of birth on the last card if they differ. |
| Items 13 to 15, Contact | Daytime phone number and the mailing address where the card should be sent. |
| Items 16 and 17, Signature | Sign in ink on the printed form, and check whether you are the applicant, a parent, a guardian or another representative. |
How to fill out the SS-5 in FormFill
- Get the official PDF onto your phone. Tap the agency link above and save the PDF (on iPhone, Share, then Save to Files; on Android it lands in Downloads). Only use the agency's own copy: the form changes, and an old revision can be rejected.
- Import it into FormFill. Open FormFill and tap Import PDF, then pick the file. FormFill writes on top of the page, so it does not matter whether the PDF has fillable fields or is a flat scan.
- Fill the fields. Tap Text, then tap where an answer belongs and type it. Drag to move, pull a corner to resize. Use Check for the checkboxes and Date where a date is asked for. Pinch to zoom on the small boxes.
- Sign it. Tap Sign to draw your signature (or reuse a saved one with Pro) and place it on the signature line, not on the printed-name line. Initials covers any initial boxes.
- Finish and send. Tap Done. FormFill flattens your entries into the PDF and offers Share a copy or Save to device. Open the exported file once before you send it.
On this form: Type items 1 to 15 in FormFill and leave the signature block empty. Tap Done, Save to device, then print the PDF and sign item 16 with a pen in front of the office or before mailing. SSA asks for an original signature on the SS-5, so do not use the Sign tool here.
Mistakes to avoid
- You must show original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.
- A replacement card is often faster online: if you only need a replacement with no changes, check my Social Security on ssa.gov before filling the form.
- Replacements are limited to three per year and ten in a lifetime, with exceptions for name changes and some other situations.
- Mail the form to or visit your local office; do not email it.
Fill out the SS-5 in FormFill
FormFill opens the official PDF on your phone, lets you tap anywhere to type, check, date and sign, then flattens a clean copy to send. No account, no upload, no subscription needed to finish your first document. Available on iPhone and Android.
Questions people ask
Can I submit Form SS-5 online or by email?
No. The paper form is handed in at a Social Security office or mailed with your documents. Many replacement-card requests can instead be made through a my Social Security account without the form.
Can I sign the SS-5 on my phone?
The SSA requires an original ink signature on the application. Fill the typed items in FormFill, print the PDF, then sign item 16 by hand.
What documents go with the SS-5?
Proof of identity (such as a U.S. driver's license, state ID or passport), proof of age for a first card (such as a birth certificate), and proof of U.S. citizenship or current immigration status. They must be originals or agency-certified copies and are returned to you.
Is there a fee for a Social Security card?
No. Social Security cards are free, whether original, replacement or corrected.
Source checked 2026-10-16 against SSA: Form SS-5. The PDF link points at the agency's own file, which is in the public domain; FormFill does not host or alter it.