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Social Security Office: Social Security Numbers
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Applying for a Social Security number, and a Social Security card, is free of charge. When you apply for a Social Security number at a Social Security office, you must complete Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, and provide the necessary supporting documents. All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies of documents are not accepted. Here are some examples of the documents you must bring with you.
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Social Security Online maintains a database that provides information for locating a local office as well as setting up an appointment, contacting SSA by mail or calling a toll-free number for assistance, (800) 772-1213. Operators are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; recorded information is available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. For those who are hard of hearing or deaf, the toll-free TTY number is (800) 325-0778; operators are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. When contacting the SSA for assistance, please have your Social Security number available.
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Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) are assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not the Social Security Administration (SSA). They are assigned to certain nonresidents, their spouses, and dependents. The ITIN is only available to individuals who cannot get a Social Security Number (SSN). It is a 9-digit number, beginning with the number "9", formatted like an SSN (NNN-NN-NNNN). This number may only be used for Federaltax purposes. It is not an authorization for employment.
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The original purpose of this number was to track individuals' accounts within the Social Security program. It has since come to be used as a unique identifier for individuals within the United States, although rare errors occur where duplicates do exist. Employee records, patient records, student records, and credit records are sometimes indexed by Social Security number. The U.S. military has used the Social Security number as an identification number for the Army and Air Force since July 1, 1969, the Navy and Marine Corps since January 1, 1972, and the Coast Guard since October 1, 1974.[5]
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A Social Security card is required only if you work in the United States. If you are not employed, you should use an "Individual Taxpayer Identification Number" (ITIN) instead of a Social Security Number for tax purposes. For more information on the ITIN, click here.
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A Social Security number is intended to accurately record your earnings in this country. International students in F-1 status have permission to work on campus and are therefore eligible for Social Security numbers. (Note: there are limitations to this permission -- consult an international student advisor for details.) Students or scholars in J-1 status are eligible for Social Security numbers provided that they have the J-1 sponsor's permission to work.
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