What questions does social security ask to verify identity?

Whether you are applying for benefits or requesting your Social Security statement, you will be required to provide verification documents to verify your identity. Identity verification helps confirm that the applicant is the actual person who they say they are and not a fraudster.

If you want to verify your identity with Social Security, you will be required to provide a US driver's license, US passport, state-issued ID, and US military ID. For age verification, you may be required to provide your birth certificate, US passport, or a US hospital record of your date of birth. If Social Security asks for proof of US citizenship, you can provide your US passport or US birth certificate.

How Social Security verifies identity

When seeking a service from Social Security, you must verify your identity depending on the channel you have used. Here are the common forms of verification that Social Security may require:

In-person requests

If you make an in-person request, Social Security will require you to provide at least one form of verification document to prove your identity. Examples of identity documents you can provide include a passport, driver's license, state ID, military ID, union card, or alien identification ID.

In-person requests may involve visits to the Social Security field offices for a service such as applying for Social Security benefits, applying for a Social Security number, or even requesting a Social Security statement for a deceased parent.

Requests by telephone

If you call the Social Security hotline number, you will be required to provide specific identity particulars, depending on the type of service being sought. You may be required to input information from your identity documents such as your US passport or US driving license to verify your identity. If the information provided is not sufficient to verify your identity, Social Security will direct you to make the request in writing or visit the SSA field offices.

Electronic requests

If you make a request on your My Social Security account, you will be required to provide some form of identity verification depending on the sensitivity of the information being sought. You may be required to provide your US driving license, state-issued ID, or tax return to verify your legal name, SSN, date of birth, and your home address.

If you are required to provide photo verification, Social Security will send you a text message with a link, which once you click, allows you to take the front and back pictures of the specific identity verification document that Social Security requires. You may also be required to manually enter the information from your identity documents such as the last four digits of your SSN, driver's license number, passport, or state-issued ID card.

Requests on behalf of another person

If you make a request on behalf of another person such as a minor, spouse, aged parent, or deceased person, you must provide information to prove your relationship with the person. For a minor, you must provide a copy of the minor's birth certificate, a court order, or a letter of guardianship. If you have previously provided proof of relationship to the minor, you may not be required to resubmit the same document.

If you are applying for survivor benefits based on your deceased spouse’s record, you will be required to provide a marriage certificate, a divorce certificate (if divorced), or a death certificate. If you are not a spouse of the deceased person, you must provide other proof of relationship with the deceased.

What verification documents does Social Security require?

Social Security requires individuals to provide certain documents to prove their identity, age, US citizenship, and immigration status when seeking services. The documents provided must be original copies or copies certified by the agency that issued them. Photocopies or notarized copies may not be accepted.

Here are the documents you will need to provide, depending on the type of verification.

To prove identity

Social Security accepts various documents as proof of identity. These documents must be current, and they should indicate your name, date of birth, and other identifying information. Some of the documents you can provide as proof of identity include:

US driver’s license

US Passport

State-issued Identification card

If you are unable to provide these documents, and you cannot get a replacement in 10 days, there are several other documents that are acceptable. These documents must be current and they must indicate your name and date of birth. Here are some of the acceptable documents:

US military ID

Health Insurance card

Employee identification card

School identification card

To prove age

The basic document that you can provide as proof of age is a birth certificate. If you don’t have a birth certificate, Social Security may accept these documents:

US passport

US hospital record of your birth

A religious record before age 5 that shows your date of birth

Citizenship/Immigration status

When opening a My Social Security account, obtaining a new Social Security number, or applying for Social Security benefits, you may be required to provide proof of US citizenship. Some of the documents you can provide include:

US passport

US birth certificate

However, if you are a non-US citizen, you may be required to provide proof of lawful alien status or current US immigration documents. Here are some of the documents that Social Security may accept:

I-766 Employment Authorization Document

I-84 DHS Arrival/Departure record

I-551 Lawful Permanent Resident Card