The United States Social Security Administration (SSA) [2] is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, special needs and survivor benefits. To receive the majority of these benefits, many employees pay Social Security taxes on their profits; the claimant's benefits are based upon the wage earner's contributions. Otherwise benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are offered based upon need.

How can I get assist from Social Security in PENNSYLVANIA?

We are here to assist by continuing to supply the vital services you need. We want to help you as quickly and safely as possible.

Please visit our webpage How to Get Help from Social Security to learn:
The best ways to get help from Social Security.
What you should know before you visit a Social Security office, so we can help you safely.
Innovative options that could help you have your hearing sooner if you are appealing a decision.
 

What should I do if I get a call claiming there's an issue with my Social Security number or account?

If there is a problem, we will mail you a letter. Generally, we will just contact you if you have actually asked for a call or have continuous company with us. The latest rip-off trick of utilizing robocalls or live callers has increased. Scammers pretend to be government employees and claim there is identity theft or another issue with ones Social Security number (SSN), account, or benefits.

Scammers may threaten arrest or other legal action, or may offer to increase benefits, protect assets, or resolve identity theft. They often demand payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or mailing cash.

Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.

We may call you in some scenarios, however will never:

• Threaten you.
• Suspend your SSN.
• Demand immediate payment from you.
• Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, internet currency, or wire transfer.
• Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash.
• Ask for personal details or banking information to give you a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
• Don’t be fooled! You should look out for:

A caller saying there is a problem with your SSN or account.
Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.
Scammers pretending they’re from us or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not.
How to protect yourself and your family!

If you receive a questionable call, hang up, and report the call to our Office of the Inspector General.
Don’t return unknown calls.
Ask someone you trust for advice before making any large purchase or financial decision.
Don’t be embarrassed to report if you shared personal financial information or suffered a financial loss.
Learn more at oig.ssa.gov/scam.
Share this information with friends and family.
Learn more about fraud prevention and reporting at https://www.ssa.gov/fraud/.

How do I change or correct my name on my Social Security number card?

If you legally change your name because of marriage, divorce, court order or any other reason, you must tell Social Security so you can get a corrected card. You cannot apply for a corrected card online. The same applies once you receive the I-766 card, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). See Defining the legal Name for an SSN.

To get a corrected Social Security card, you will need to:

• Program the needed files. You will require evidence of your identity. In some cases you also may need to prove your existing U.S. citizenship or legal noncitizen status. See Learn What Documents You Need for additional information. Under the heading, Type of Card, choose Corrected for a list of the files you need.
• Note: If you are a U.S. Citizen, obtaining a replacement SSN card, and pick to mail your application to your local office, you might use initial or certified copies of secondary evidence of identity such as:
• A marriage document revealing your name and either date of birth or age (only when submitted to support the application for a name modification).
• A U.S. government employee identification card.
• A non-government worker identity card/badge card revealing your name and either a photograph or your date of birth.
• A health insurance card or U.S. Medicaid card revealing your name and one of the following:.
• Date of birth.
• A photograph.
• A school identity card.
• A school record or transcript (for the existing school year) showing your name and among the following:.
• Date of birth.
• A photograph.
• A life insurance coverage policy revealing your name and age or date of birth.
• Note: U.S. Citizens obtaining a replacement SSN card are not required to send initial main evidence (e.g. driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport), for mailed applications.
• Complete and print an Application for a Social Security Card.
• Contact your local Social Security office or your local Social Security Card Center to find out your submission alternatives.
• For complete directions, please go to our Social Security Number and Card page.
• To learn more, read our handout, Your Social Security Number and Card.

How do I apply for a replacement Social Security number card online?

You can use your personal my Social Security account to request a replacement Social Security number (SSN) card online if you:
 

• Are a U.S. citizen age 18 years or older with a U.S. mailing address.
• Are not requesting a name change or any other modification to your card.
• Have a motorists license or a state-issued identification card from among the taking part states or the District of Columbia.

You should then:

Log in to your personal my Social Security account.
Select "Replace your Social Security Card".
Answer the screening questions to confirm eligibility.
Enter personal information such as name, SSN, date of birth, address, and state driver’s license or ID information.
If you are a U.S. citizen, but have not gotten a replacement SSN card or name change recently, you may not be eligible to use the online replacement card application in my Social Security. Non-citizens are not eligible to use the online replacement card application.

How can I get a Social Security Statement?
You can get your Social Security Statement online by utilizing your personal my Social Security account. If you don't yet have an account, you can quickly produce one. Your online Statement offers you safe and secure and practical access to quotes for retirement, disability, and survivors benefits you and your family may be qualified for. It also reveals your earnings history.

To set up or use your account to get your Statement, go to Sign In Or Create An Account.
We also mail paper Statements to workers age 60 and older 3 months before their birthday. This is if they don’t receive Social Security benefits and don’t yet have a personal my Social Security account. Workers who don’t want to wait for their scheduled mailing can request their Statement by following these instructions. The Statement will arrive by mail in four to six weeks.

 

What should I do if I get a call claiming there's a problem with my Social Security number or account?

If there is an issue, we will mail you a letter. Usually, we will just call you if you have asked for a call or have ongoing business with us. The latest rip-off trick of utilizing robocalls or live callers has actually increased. Fraudsters pretend to be civil servant and claim there is identity theft or another problem with ones Social Security number (SSN), account, or benefits.

Fraudsters might threaten arrest or other legal action, or might offer to increase benefits, secure assets, or solve identity theft. They often require payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or mailing cash.

Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
We may call you in some situations, but will never:
 

• Threaten you.
• Suspend your SSN.
• Demand immediate payment from you.
• Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, internet currency, or wire transfer.
• Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash.
• Ask for personal details or banking information to give you a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).

Don’t be fooled! You should look out for:

A caller saying there is a problem with your SSN or account.
Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.
Scammers pretending they’re from us or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not.
How to protect yourself and your family!

If you receive a questionable call, hang up, and report the call to our Office of the Inspector General.
Don’t return unknown calls.
Ask someone you trust for advice before making any large purchase or financial decision.
Don’t be embarrassed to report if you shared personal financial information or suffered a financial loss.
Learn more at oig.ssa.gov/scam.
Share this information with friends and family.
Learn more about fraud prevention and reporting at https://www.ssa.gov/fraud/.

How do I replace a Social Security number (SSN) card for a child living in PENNSYLVANIA BURNHAM or throughout the state of PENNSYLVANIA?

To replace an SSN card for a child:
Step 1: Provide evidence to prove the child’s:

Identity.
U.S. citizenship if you have not established the child's U.S. citizenship with us.
Immigration status if the child is not a U.S. citizen.
See Learn What Documents You Need for more information and read our Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page to learn about changes to SSN card requests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Step 2: If you are filing the application on behalf of a child, you must also provide evidence to prove your:

Identity.
Custody/relationship to the child.
Authority to sign the application on behalf of the child.
If you are mailing in the application, and the child is a U.S. citizen applying for a replacement SSN card, you are not required to submit original primary evidence of identity for yourself (e.g., driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport).

See Learn What Documents You Need for more information and read our Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page to learn about changes to SSN card requests during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Step 3: Complete an Application for a Social Security card.

Step 4: Contact your local Social Security office or your local Social Security Card Center for submission options.

We can only accept original documents or documents certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. We’ll return any documents you mail to us along with a receipt.

Important Information
We will mail the child’s card as soon as we have verified all required documents. You should receive the card within two weeks from the date on the receipt. The replacement card will have the same SSN as the previous card.

You may not need to get a replacement card for the child. Knowing the SSN is what is important. The child may need an SSN card to get a job, collect Social Security benefits, and receive some government services. Otherwise, you do not often need to show the child's SSN card.

What is the eligibility for Social Security spouses benefits and my own retirement benefits in PENNSYLVANIA?

• If you have not worked or do not have sufficient Social Security credits to get approved for your own Social Security benefits, you may be able to get spouses benefits.
• To get approved for partners benefits, you must be among these:
• A minimum of 62 years of age.
• Any age and taking care of a kid entitled to get benefits on your partners record and who is more youthful than age 16 or handicapped.
• Your complete spouses benefit could be as much as one-half the quantity your spouse is entitled to receive at their complete retirement age. If you choose to begin getting spouses benefits prior to you reach complete retirement age, your benefit amount will be completely lowered.

You will receive your full spouse’s benefit amount if you wait until you reach full retirement age to begin receiving benefits. You will also receive the full amount if you are caring for a child entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record who is younger than age 16 or disabled.

If you do have enough credits to qualify for your own Social Security benefits and you apply for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit.

Here is an example:
Mary Ann qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 in PENNSYLVANIA and a spouse’s benefit of $400 in PENNSYLVANIA. At her full retirement age, she will receive her own $250 retirement benefit, and we will add $150 from her spouse’s benefit, for a total of $400.

Keep in mind that you may have options to increase your benefit amounts. For more information, see Filing Rules for Retirement and Spouses Benefits.
If you are at least 62 years of age and you wish to apply for retirement or spouse’s benefits, you can use our online retirement application to apply for one or both benefits.

If you are divorced
If you are divorced and your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you may be able to get benefits on your former spouse’s record.