New social security card after status change

June 15, 2022 6:25 PM

I became a naturalized US citizen in 2020. Due to covid closures, I was only able to change my citizenship status with SSA this month. I received a new social security card in the mail, which looks identical to my old one. Same number, just with a new issue date. Is there a reason for reissuing it?
posted by cozenedindigo to Law & Government (3 answers total)

My best guess is that someone didn't follow the instructions that "If the legend remains the same and the applicant does not need a replacement card, use the suppress card issuance button on the Additional Info screen in SSNAP per the SSNAP User Guide."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 7:18 PM on June 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

Hide this card with your birth certificate, and other important papers, your passport. Then use the other one of them for everything, keep it near your desk, after you get it memorized, for ID'ing yourself for phone banking transactions etc. Then you have that great extra, for if you lose the outside of the crypt copy. It takes relatively a long time to get a replacement. They made a mistake, but it is lucky for you.
posted by Oyéah at 7:36 PM on June 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

My (noncitizen) social security card says, valid for work only with DHS authorization. Maybe they’re not sure if yours says it or not so they gave you a new one just in case.
posted by goingonit at 5:53 AM on June 16, 2022 [1 favorite]