Social Security Card is a must, not just for the welfare reasons, but to establish a reputable business as well. In order to run a profitable business and to grow it to the next level, you do require some sort of a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), also to as a federal tax identification number or a business tax identification number. And, to apply for an EIN, you need to submit an SSN.
If your Social Security card has been lost or stolen, you may dread going through the process of applying for a new one. While the process is reasonably simple – you complete the application and provide the correct supporting documents, getting the application approved can be more difficult.
You need to ensure that you have every step of the application filing process exactly right. Otherwise, your application could end up on the “Decline” pile. This article discusses complete details about the filing application form. In this post, we will go through the steps to take to ensure that your application is accepted the first time around.
Online Applications
Applying online is the quickest and simplest way to get a new card. Not everyone is able to go this route, though. If any of the following apply, you will not be allowed to apply online by signing up here: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Make sure you fulfill the following criteria:
- You are under the age of 18
- You are not a legal citizen of the United States
- Your name has changed since the last card was issued. Say, for example, that you have since gotten married
- You have no government ID card or driver’s license
I Can’t Apply Online, Now What?
The process is a little more involved, but it is still doable. The important thing to remember is that you need all the relevant documentation to support that:
- You are who you say you are,
- You are a citizen, and
- You are of age
You’ll need to get the following documents together and present the originals with your application:
- Proof that you are a legal citizen: This can either be in the form of an original birth certificate or a valid United States passport
- Proof of your age: Again, your birth certificate would do well here. Failing that, you would need to get the hospital records from your birth or religious records from when you were a small child.
- Proof of your identity: You will need an official document containing your full names and your date of birth. It is better if this is a photo ID. You can use your driver’s license or passport here
Getting the Application Right
Start by getting all the relevant documents together. If you have documents not listed above and want to see whether or not they’ll be accepted, it is a good idea to consult the SSA website. They’ll give you full details of what may or may not be acceptable in terms of documentation.
If you are not able to complete the application online, you’ll either need to go to your local SSA office or mail your application through. Mailing the application means sending in the originals as well, so visiting the offices is probably the safest course.
The next thing to do is to download the application form and print it out. This must be completed in full – if there are fields that are not relevant, cross them out clearly. Do ensure that the form is as neatly completed as possible and that all the information is accurate.
Conclusion
The key to getting your application approved the first time around is simple – provide accurate information and back it up with the proof requested.
