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How To Find Your Social Security Number

August 30, 2024
  •  
< 1 min read

How to find out your SSN – this question often bothers people. Your Social Security Number (SSN) is a key chunk of your identity in the United States. You can find it by checking your Social Security card. You can also ask your guardian if they know it, talk with a former employer, check your documentation, or even request a new social security card. 

To get expert insights regarding this question, we suggest you keep on reading. In this blog, we have covered all the necessary information about where to find SSN, starting with.

What Is My Social Security Number?

Your Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique identifier that is given by the Social Security Administration. So, if you were questioning “What is SSN on debit card,” then now you know. Basically, an SSN is used to determine a person’s eligibility for thier Social Security benefits along with certain government services. You require this unique identifier to work. Your SSN is given on a smaller card that reminds you of the number itself. If you are wondering, “How to find my SSN?” then here are some ways to find your nine-digit number.

How To Find Your Social Security Number?

Look At Your Card

If you are worried about “where can I find my social security number,” then checking your Social Security Card is often the fastest way to find it. All social security cards come with an individual’s SSN and name printed on the front. This is true even for the people who are not allowed to work in the United States. If you have an SSN, you will also get a card right with it. However, if you do not have a physical card, it does not mean that you were not assigned your Social Security Number.

Talk To Someone Who Might Know How To Find Social Security Number

If you think that someone out there might know how to know your SSN, give them a call. It is mostly a legal guardian or a parent who requests the issuance of a child’s Social Security Number. Moreover, it is common for an adult to give the child’s SSN on forms as the child grows up. Due to this reason, a guardian or parent might have their child’s SSN memorized and be able to offer it if required. If you do not have it memorized, then you can also access your child’s SSN online. Now, we know that you are thinking, “How can I find my child’s social security number online,“ right? You can get it via the United States Social Security Administration website. 

Check Tax And Financial Documents

I forgot my social security number!”A lot of people report this issue. For such people, the good news is that the SSN usually appears on financial statements and tax documents. Review tax forms such as your older ones or tax returns to see if your SSN is in on them. If you cannot access your tax forms, look at other financial documents you have available. Some bank summaries or statements from investment accounts might include your Social Security Number at the top.

Contact A Former Employer

The Social Security Administration (SSA) asks all employers to verify the SSNs of their employees. This ensures that an employee’s wages are reported accurately for tax purposes and that any Social Security payroll tax contributions go to the record of the right person. If you have forgotten your SSN and are worried about “how to find my social security number?” then maybe try contacting a former employer to check whether they still have it. The employer will probably not provide you with such sensitive information over a call. So, you need to be ready to visit them in person for identity or verification.

Request A New Social Security Card

If you have exhausted all of your resources and still cannot figure out how to find SS Number, you can request a replacement card. This replacement Social Security card is free, and if you require it without updating any information, you can probably request a new card online. You will have to give a state-issued ID, and you might be required to take additional documentation to a local Social Security Administration to verify your identity.

Now that you know the answers to “How to know my SSN,” let us move ahead and see how you can get your lost or stolen Social Security Number back.

How To Figure Out SSN That Has Been Lost?

If your Social Security card has been stolen or lost, or if you think your SSN has been compromised, we suggest you take some action. Otherwise, you might not be able to improve your credit score. There are some steps that you can take to help prevent the chances of someone else from using your information to open accounts in your name. The steps are:

Add A Security Alert

Contact any reputed credit score services, such as Gifted Financial Services, and request an initial fraud alert, also known as a security alert, to be added to your credit report. These services will notify the major credit bureaus so that they can also add these alerts. You have to monitor your credit score ranges and scores carefully. Take time to review reports from all three credit bureaus to check for any signs of fraud or identity theft. If you come across any information you think might be fraud-related, you can start the dispute online.

Notify The Social Security Administration

Contact the Social Security Administration to notify them if you think your SSN was stolen or lost or if someone might be trying to use it fraudulently.

Monitor Your Credit Going Forward

You can hire reputed credit score monitoring services, such as Gifted Financial Services, to ensure that you are alert to any changes to your credit report immediately.

File A Police Report

If you think that your information is being used by someone without your permission or if your SSN is stolen, do not think twice before filing a police report.

Who Can Request A Social Security Number

All the United States citizens can request their SSN. Surprisingly, many non-citizens might also be able to request a number if they attend school or work. Moreover, if the non-citizens have a more valid reason, they can request a social security number. People who might require a new SSN are:

  1. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applicants
  2. Noncitizens
  3. Domestic violence survivors
  4. Foreign workers
  5. International students
  6. Citizen children

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where Can I Find My SSN?

If you have a Social Security Number, you can easily find it on your Social Security card. Moreover, you can also find it in various other places, including:

  1. Tax returns
  2. W-2s 
  3. Bank statements

How can I get an SSN in the USA?

In the United States, you can apply for an SSN online. However, after that, you have to go to a local Social Security office to submit the required documents. As your application gets approved, you will get a Social Security card with your SSN on it within 14 days via mail. 

How much does SSN cost in the USA?

The good news is that you do not have to pay anything to get your SSN, as there is no charge for your Social Security Number, nor do you have to pay anything for the card.

Summing It All Up!

An SSN or Social Security Number is a unique identifying number that is related to U.S. citizens as well as other residents within the country. It goes back to 1936, about the time when the Social Security Administration was established to offer Americans with disability and retirement benefits.

Today, the requirement for an SSN goes around calculating what you are allowed to get as a result of the contributions you have made throughout your working life to Medicare and Social Security. It is necessary to apply for loans, open financial accounts, apply for unemployment assistance, and get yourself a driver’s license. Your SSN is your key to important future perks. If you are still confused about how to find SSN number, then we suggest you hire experts to find it for you. Once you retrieve your SSN, make sure to protect it along with the card that it is on.