Can I File My Social Security Application Online?
Your Social Security card is something that you shouldn’t need to use that often, but it is also something that is extremely important. If you lose your card, or it is stolen, you need to get a replacement as quickly as possible. This is why you might be tempted to try applying online with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
After all, how hard could it possibly be, right? Well, here’s the rub —not everyone qualifies to apply online. You might be able to apply online if the department can confirm your pertinent details with other agencies.
However, before you head off to the website, make sure that you meet the following criteria:
You may have problems applying online if you have applied for a replacement card or a name change recently.
Which States are Participants of this Program?
Alaska
Alabama
Connecticut
Hawaii
Georgia
Kansas
Nevada
Minnesota
New Hampshire
North Carolina
New Jersey
Ohio
Oregon
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Utah
Tennessee
West Virginia
If I Cannot Apply Online with SSA, Do I Have to Go In?
You have two options if you cannot do things online. You can either visit the offices or mail in the forms. So, either way, you’ll have to deal with the SSA in some real-world capacity.
Surely There’s a Short Cut?
It does seem a little ridiculous in this day and age, considering how interconnected information is, but that’s just how it is. The government issues you with a passport that you can use as proof of citizenship and ID. The SSA is a different department and cannot access those records.
Fortunately, there is a way to make life easier for you. You can make use of an online application to simplify the process. The application that we are talking about here, though, is one to have the forms completed for you.
Some agencies make the process easier by asking you a range of questions. Using the answers to those questions, they complete the application for you and tell you what other documents you’ll need to submit with it.
Conclusion
The SSA is modernizing its systems,but this is going to take time. You might qualify to apply online if you fit the criteria and if your application is simple in nature. For the rest of us, using an agency offers a way to cut through the red tape and get everything right with little effort.
