If your Medicare card was lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can ask for a replacement card from Social Security in three ways:
- Online by using your personal my Social Security account (note: you can do this even if you don't yet receive Social Security benefits). If you don’t already have a personal Social Security account, you can create one.
Once you’re logged in, select the "Replace your Medicare card” link under the Medicare Enrollment Detail section. Then select “Mail my replacement Medicare Card.”
Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail in about 30 days at the address on file with Social Security. When you request your replacement card, be sure to check your mailing address that’s in your personal Social Security account and make any necessary updates. - By phone:
- Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- In person:
- Visit your local Social Security office.
You can also print an official copy of your card from your secure Medicare account or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Applying for Benefits
Find out if you are eligible for Social Security benefits, apply online for the program, and view additional program resources.
Applying for Benefits
Handbook
View the Social Security Administration's guide that explains different parts of the program, including benefits, regulations, and more.
Handbook
A Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique identification number used for federal tax purposes and employment. International students must have an SSN for your employer (Trinity) to pay you.
The address for the Social Security office is 960 Main St 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06103. It is located in downtown Hartford. Use your Trinity Bantam Bus Pass to take the 37-39 downtown from the south end of campus to the office for free in about 25 minutes.
Social Security Office Hours
Monday9:00 AM – 4:00 PMTuesday9:00 AM – 4:00 PMWednesday9:00 AM – 12:00 PMThursday9:00 AM – 4:00 PMFriday9:00 AM – 4:oo PMSaturdayCLOSEDSundayCLOSEDItems to bring to the social security office- Printed Social Security application form; the last page of this document. For “Citizenship” mark “legal alien allowed to work.” You can leave race and ethnicity blank if you wish. If your parents do not have a social security number, leave that space blank. The mailing address should be your Trinity address.
- I-94 Record. When you entered the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security generated an I-94 record for you. You need to print it and take it with you.
- Your most recent I-20 or DS-2019.
- A letter from OISS and a letter from your job supervisor.
- Your passport and Trinity ID.
You can find out more information about SSN for international students here.
As long as you do not lose it, you will never have to do any of this ever again—even if you leave the country and return many years later. There is no interview during the visit to the office, but depending on when you go the visit could take anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours. Therefore, it’s best to go on an afternoon when you do not have class and expect to be there for up to two hours.
April is National Social Security Month! Your Social Security Number (SSN) may be your most important piece of identification – yet it's likely that you never carry your Social Security card with you. You probably committed your number to memory long ago because it's required in so many places.
Generally, you won't need to produce your Social Security card, and it's not recommended that you carry such an important document with you at all times – but could you produce your Social Security card if you had to? There are a few occasions where you may need to present your actual Social Security card, such as proof of identification for a new employer.
If you can't find your Social Security card, don't worry – you can order a replacement card from the Social Security Administration (SSA). You will need to provide a suitable form of identification such as a U.S. driver's license, a U.S. passport, or a suitable state non-driver identification card. If Social Security has no record of your citizenship status and you are using identification other than a valid U.S. passport, you will need to provide a birth certificate.
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If you are missing one of the documents listed above and can't acquire a suitable replacement within ten working days, the SSA may accept alternate identification such as a U.S. Military ID card, employee ID card, school ID card, or health insurance card. Contact your local SSA office if you are unsure about suitable identification.
All identification documents must be non-expired originals or certified copies from the original issuing agency. Photocopies or notarized documents are not allowed.
After you've collected the necessary documents, download the Social Security card application form from the SSA website. Fill out the application and either take the application and supporting documents to your local Social Security office or mail them to the correct Social Security Center that handles your area. Use the Social Security Office Locator for more details.
Once your application is fully approved, your replacement Social Security card should show up in the mail within ten business days.
Note that the Social Security Administration replaces your card free of charge. There's no reason to pay third parties a fee to acquire your replacement Social Security card for you.
In 42 states and the District of Columbia, you can apply for a replacement card online by setting up an account at the my Social Security website as long as you are a U.S. citizen, you are at least 18 years old, you have a valid U.S. mailing address, and your replacement card does not incorporate a name change or any other change. In Delaware and Wisconsin, you also need to have a driver's license to use this service.
You are limited to ten replacement cards over your lifetime, and are limited to three in any one year. However, replacement cards due to a name change don't count toward the limit, and other exceptions such as immigration status changes may not count toward your limit either.
Most people will get nowhere near these limits – and if you simply keep it with all your other important papers in a protected place such as a lockbox or safe, you'll never have to worry about ordering a replacement card at all. Instead, focus on the more important task of keeping your Social Security number out of the hands of identity thieves.
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