Can I change my SSN?

You can't change your Social Security number simply because your card has been lost or stolen, or to avoid bankruptcy or legitimate debts. The only other reasons Social Security will consider assigning a new number are: Sequential numbers assigned to members of your family are causing confusion.
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Does it cost to change your Social Security number?

There is no charge for a Social Security card. This service is free. Please read our Coronavirus (COVID-19) information page to learn about changes to Social Security number card requests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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What happens when you change Social Security number?

Your original SSN won't disappear.

Obtaining a new SSN doesn't erase the past. The SSA states, “When we assign a different Social Security number, we do not destroy the original number. We cross-refer the new number with the original number to make sure the person receives credit for all earnings under both numbers.”
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How do I change my Social Security number and identity?

People who want to ask for a new Social Security number must:
  1. Apply in person at a Social Security office;
  2. Complete an application;
  3. Provide a statement explaining the reasons for needing a new number;
  4. Provide current, credible, third-party evidence documenting the reasons for needing a new number; and.
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How many times can you change your Social Security number?

You may receive no more than three replacement social security number cards in a year and ten replacement social security number cards per lifetime. We may allow for reasonable exceptions to these limits on a case-by-case basis in compelling circumstances.
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Can I Change My Social Security Number To Rebuild My Credit?



What if my SSN is on the dark web?

Place a Freeze on Your Credit Report

If your Social Security number is on the dark web, this means that unscrupulous people can use it to open new credit cards and other financial accounts in your name. One way to prevent this from happening is to put a freeze on your credit report.
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How hard is it to get a new Social Security number?

Yes, but it is not easy. If you can show that you are in danger due to domestic violence or other abuse, or you are experiencing significant, ongoing financial harm due to identity theft, Social Security can assign you a different number.
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Can I sell my Social Security number back to the government?

Believe it or not, it's legal for private firms to sell, or reveal, Social Security numbers. When Congress passed the Privacy Act of 1974, it restricted the government's use of SSNs but left the private sector free to use them at will.
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Is it possible to get a new identity?

Changing your identity and starting over is a common motif in books and movies. But is it possible to do so in real life? The quick answer is that no, you can't completely erase your identity in this day and age -- unless the government does it for you.
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Can two people have the same Social Security number?

"Social Security numbers can be associated with multiple individuals, and that individuals can have multiple SSNs associated with them.
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How do I change my identity and disappear?

How To Disappear Completely, Never Be Found (& It's 100% Legal)
  1. Step #1. Pick a Day & Plan Ahead. ...
  2. Step #2. End All Contracts. ...
  3. Step #3. Get a PAYG Burner Phone. ...
  4. Step #4. Travel Light. ...
  5. Step #5. Use Cash Not Credit Cards. ...
  6. Step #6. Quit Social Media. ...
  7. Step #6. Change Your Name By Law. ...
  8. Step #7. Cut All Ties To Friends & Family.
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Does changing your SSN affect your credit?

Since your Social Security number is so closely tied to your credit history, you may be wondering if changing the number would affect your credit score. In short — it shouldn't. That's because the old and new numbers are cross-referenced to ensure your earnings history and other financial information is not lost.
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How do I clear my Social Security number?

You may not have removed the number from the system in fact, but you will have removed any use the number may have served the government. The only way to have the government destroy the number and all records connected to it would be to file suit in court.
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What can a scammer do with my Social Security number?

5 things someone can do with a stolen Social Security number
  • Open new accounts. If someone has your SSN, they can open new accounts in your name. ...
  • File fraudulent tax returns. Your Social Security number is also used to file your taxes in most cases. ...
  • Obtain medical care. ...
  • Steal your benefits. ...
  • Commit crimes.
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Can you freeze your Social Security number?

If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, you can request to Block Electronic Access. This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778).
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Can you get a new Social Security number if yours is stolen?

You can't get a new Social Security number: If your Social Security card is lost or stolen, but there's no evidence that someone is using your number. To avoid the consequences of filing for bankruptcy.
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Can someone use your Social Security number with a different name?

“The important thing for people to understand is that once someone has your Social Security number, particularly in combination with your name and address, they can do pretty much anything that requires your SSN,” said Brian Focht, an attorney and head of the Law Offices of Brian C.
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What is it called when you change your identity?

Identity change describes the intentional changes to an identity document or digital identity.
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Can you buy a SSN?

Which helps explain the revelation that any individual SSN can retail for as little as $4 on the darknet. And for that low cost, buyers often receive more than just somebody's Social Security Number.
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How much is a Social Security number worth?

A 2016 report found that Dark Web shoppers are only willing to pay $1 for a Social Security number, which is the same amount they'll shell out for username and password information to Brazzers.
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How much is a Social Security number worth on the dark web?

According to Privacy Affair's Dark Web Price Index, right now, the cost of an SSN on the dark web is $2. It is still very important people protect their SSNs. A stolen SSN can put people at risk of many different forms of identity theft. With that said, it's not necessarily what the criminals are after.
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How would I know if someone is using my Social Security number?

Telltale signs that your social security number has been hacked
  1. #1: Unexplainable changes in your credit score. ...
  2. #2: Inaccurate banking information. ...
  3. #3: Changes in your email/snail mail. ...
  4. #4: False employment records. ...
  5. #5: Correspondence from the IRS. ...
  6. #6: Messages from credit agencies. ...
  7. #7: A fraudulent tax return.
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What do you do if someone has the same Social Security number?

File a police report

File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.
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What if you have two Social Security numbers?

A person can request a new Social Security number, but only under certain conditions: Where sequential numbers assigned to members of the same family are causing problems. In the event of duplicates having been issued.
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Can I use my SSN to pay debt?

A recent hoax circulating on the internet asserts that the Federal Reserve maintains accounts for individuals that are tied to the individual's Social Security number, and that individuals can access these accounts to pay bills and obtain money. These claims are false.
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