Maybe I have lost my ID, birth certificate or Social Security card?
Replacing lost records: ID, birth certificate and Social Security card
Each of these documents comes from a different office, and some offices ask for one of the others as proof. Knowing who issues what saves trips.
Birth certificate: the state where you were born
Certified copies come from the vital records office of the state or territory where you were born, not the state where you live now. The CDC keeps a "Where to Write for Vital Records" page listing each office. Fees and accepted ID vary by state.
Social Security card: the Social Security Administration
Replacing a Social Security card is free from the Social Security Administration. Many people can request a replacement online through a my Social Security account at ssa.gov; others need to apply by mail or in person. Be wary of any service that charges to do this for you.
State ID or driver's license: your state's motor vehicle agency
Your state's DMV (or its equivalent) issues state IDs. Most ask for proof of identity, proof of Social Security number and proof of address. Check your state agency's own document list before you go.
An order that often works
- Start with the birth certificate, since other offices often ask for it.
- Next, the Social Security card.
- Then the state ID, bringing both of the above plus proof of address.
Keep copies
Once you have them back, store photocopies or secure scans separately from the originals.
Maybe I Have does not issue documents and is not affiliated with any government agency.