[ButlerianJihad]

The circumstances in which you actually need to physically present your Social Security card are quite rare indeed. In fact, that is the first thing I was told by the ssa dot gov site, when I applied to receive a new card.

It is very unlikely that you will be asked, even by a prospective employer, for your actual card, because let's face it: it doesn't even have a photo, or anything but that unique number on it. Anyone trying to authenticate your number should be satisfied if you can give them the correct number.

And just for review: SSNs are not a "national ID" and you're typically not required to divulge it to private parties, and they can make up some other unique ID for you in their database. It's usually just a shortcut for them to do a background or credit check on you. And that's not something for which they would need your physical card.

That being said, I've replaced my card about 3 times now, and it was comparatively difficult this time around. The first time, I did it all through the mail (the process of building up from no ID to get birth certificate from out-of-state, to the SSA card, to the in-state driver license.) and the second time it arrived by mail, no hassle.

But this time around, even though I applied online, I was directed to make an appointment at the field office and physically walk in there, to prove my humanity. I had never been to an SSA Field Office in my life! The experience was very chill, and there were a dozen windows serving people, while about 4 of us waited in the lobby, and I was in-and-out half an hour early. The civil servant was a lady in good spirits who was a military veteran. Big props to them!

[ilamont]

> The circumstances in which you actually need to physically present your Social Security card are quite rare indeed.

In my state, it's one of the allowed document types for proof of social security number, required to get a real ID drivers license.

https://www.mass.gov/doc/ma-real-id-documents-checklist/down...

[Dylan16807]

To get one, but not to renew it, so that's still pretty rare.

[ghaff]

In MA, there are a number of documents you can use. I don't have a Social Security card and haven't had in decades and got my REALID.

[reaperducer]

But this time around, even though I applied online, I was directed to make an appointment at the field office and physically walk in there, to prove my humanity.

I'm curious when this happened. The phrase "but this time around" makes it sound fairly recent. However, my wife had this very procedure required back in the 1990's.

She also had the same experience as you: Very friendly civil servants eager to help, and things were cleared up quickly once she understood the process.

[leoc]

Here's a pretty good video about a somewhat similar challenge, that of proving your citizenship in ancient Rome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTt0qwncDXI .

[tomthe]

I thought you were referring to this slightly humorous video about the same topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dO9Lm_CXz0

[ghaff]

I no longer have an SS card--which was in a wallet stolen years ago--or, perhaps, a birth certificate which I looked for recently but couldn't find. I do have a passport.

[irjustin]

> SSNs are not a "national ID"

That's not what they are, but that's what they've defacto become. I hate it.

[reaperducer]

Is that still true?

Except for certain industries where the government has a direct interest (banking, healthcare, real estate), I don't think anyone has asked for my SSN in at least a decade. It's not like the old days when you'd fork over your SSN to rent videos at Blockbuster.

[tracerbulletx]

oh ok so just for money body and property related issues. phew.

[irjustin]

> Except for certain industries where the government has a direct interest (banking, healthcare, real estate)

That's still a massive dependance on "ID" for SS...? Blockbuster tho.. phew it's been a while.