Replacing a SS card with an expired ID
October 18, 2024 10:57 AM Subscribe
A dear friend has her birth certificate, and an expired state ID. She does not have health insurance, a primary doctor, or any other current form of identification. The SS officw told her that she had to get an affidavit from a doctor but everyone I’ve called has never heard of this.
Does anyone here have advice or experience with providing this type of proof of ID? I checked with a local medical advocacy group as well as the local Urgent Care and both places told me they had never heard of this and can’t help me. She cannot pay out of pocket for a doctor’s appointment and this process seems unnecessarily burdensome for someone in her financial position. She has not been to a doctor in years and the state they live in does not offer state subsidised healthcare.
Does anyone here have advice or experience with providing this type of proof of ID? I checked with a local medical advocacy group as well as the local Urgent Care and both places told me they had never heard of this and can’t help me. She cannot pay out of pocket for a doctor’s appointment and this process seems unnecessarily burdensome for someone in her financial position. She has not been to a doctor in years and the state they live in does not offer state subsidised healthcare.
According to the SSA website, a US citizen seeking a replacement SS card needs one of:
U.S. driver's license or non-driver's state-issued ID
U.S. passport or passport card
Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. Citizenship
Health insurance or Medicaid card that shows the applicant's name, and: Photograph, or Age, or Date of birth
Or failing all those, a medical record from a clinic, doctor, or hospital. "We do not accept hospital bills, payment receipts, or admission letters". The document must show:
Applicant's name, and
Age or date of birth, and
A treatment date within the last 2 years, and
A signature or stamp from the medical provider.
U.S. military ID card
If your friend does not have any medical records from the past two years, and cannot see a medical provider to get one, renewing their state ID is probably the path of least resistance.
posted by caek at 11:11 AM on October 18 [1 favorite]
U.S. driver's license or non-driver's state-issued ID
U.S. passport or passport card
Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. Citizenship
Health insurance or Medicaid card that shows the applicant's name, and: Photograph, or Age, or Date of birth
Or failing all those, a medical record from a clinic, doctor, or hospital. "We do not accept hospital bills, payment receipts, or admission letters". The document must show:
Applicant's name, and
Age or date of birth, and
A treatment date within the last 2 years, and
A signature or stamp from the medical provider.
U.S. military ID card
If your friend does not have any medical records from the past two years, and cannot see a medical provider to get one, renewing their state ID is probably the path of least resistance.
posted by caek at 11:11 AM on October 18 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: My friend cannot renew their state ID without a social security card. She moved and needs the state ID in the new state. So they need the card first. That’s the point of getting the physical card, to apply for an ID in her new state.
I read the same information from the SS website that you posted above. The only medical visit they have had within the last 2 years is my local Urgent Care. I called them and they had no idea what I was talking about and said they don’t do that.
I then visited the local medical advocacy group and they said they’ve never heard of that and they deal with cases just like hers. They said that I was probably mistaken.
posted by bright and shiny at 11:20 AM on October 18
I read the same information from the SS website that you posted above. The only medical visit they have had within the last 2 years is my local Urgent Care. I called them and they had no idea what I was talking about and said they don’t do that.
I then visited the local medical advocacy group and they said they’ve never heard of that and they deal with cases just like hers. They said that I was probably mistaken.
posted by bright and shiny at 11:20 AM on October 18
Best answer: More detailed information is in the SSA manual here.
Medical records can serve as "secondary evidence." Specifically, "Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital), immunization record, or letter providing extract data from the medical record showing, the applicant’s name and the applicant’s DOB or age"
And this page says that "Secondary U.S. Document With Issue Date and No Expiration Date Must be less than 2 years old for an adult"
"A certified photocopy is a photocopy of the original document in the custodian's possession to which the custodian affixes a signature, stamp, or seal with a statement attesting to the accuracy of the photocopy."
You could see if the Urgent Care your friend went to can provide a certified copy of the medical records. They might just have been confused if you used the term "affidavit."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:29 AM on October 18 [1 favorite]
Medical records can serve as "secondary evidence." Specifically, "Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital), immunization record, or letter providing extract data from the medical record showing, the applicant’s name and the applicant’s DOB or age"
And this page says that "Secondary U.S. Document With Issue Date and No Expiration Date Must be less than 2 years old for an adult"
"A certified photocopy is a photocopy of the original document in the custodian's possession to which the custodian affixes a signature, stamp, or seal with a statement attesting to the accuracy of the photocopy."
You could see if the Urgent Care your friend went to can provide a certified copy of the medical records. They might just have been confused if you used the term "affidavit."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:29 AM on October 18 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The person who told you they want an "affidavit" is wrong, which is why the medical providers are confused at the unusual request you are relaying.
The request is for a copy of recent medical records "with a signature or stamp". Call the Urgent Care and ask for that.
If that doesn't work, given your ultimate goal is a new state ID, I would look carefully and creatively at the document requirements for the state ID. They may be easier to fulfill than those at the SSA.
Finally, one option that will definitely work, but will take a few weeks and cost $130, is to get a US Passport. A birth certificate is sufficient for that.
posted by caek at 12:09 PM on October 18 [10 favorites]
The request is for a copy of recent medical records "with a signature or stamp". Call the Urgent Care and ask for that.
If that doesn't work, given your ultimate goal is a new state ID, I would look carefully and creatively at the document requirements for the state ID. They may be easier to fulfill than those at the SSA.
Finally, one option that will definitely work, but will take a few weeks and cost $130, is to get a US Passport. A birth certificate is sufficient for that.
posted by caek at 12:09 PM on October 18 [10 favorites]
How expired is her old state ID and how far away is she now? If there's any way she can get a new ID from that state, that's probably going to be the easiest path. The problem is they will probably want to mail it to her old address but it might be worth looking into that option anyway.
Where I am there are houseless advocacy groups who help people get state IDs. You might want to reach out to your local community advocacy group or social services office and see if they know of anyone who is doing this.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:47 PM on October 18
Where I am there are houseless advocacy groups who help people get state IDs. You might want to reach out to your local community advocacy group or social services office and see if they know of anyone who is doing this.
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:47 PM on October 18
Best answer: If they end up going the passport route the Passport Card is cheaper than the regular passport book.
posted by oneear at 1:14 PM on October 18 [2 favorites]
posted by oneear at 1:14 PM on October 18 [2 favorites]
Best answer: This is going to depend on the state as well. Here (IL)there is a social service document that a social worker can have notarized that will fit the requirement, as well public school records. Sometimes you have to speak to a supervisor to help get different paperwork approved but it is possible. In general the order here is school records, birth certificate, social security card then ID.
As said above social services who work with homeless adults have to do this all the time. They can help if you get stuck or sometimes just know the employee with the least resistance to approving it.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:17 PM on October 18 [1 favorite]
As said above social services who work with homeless adults have to do this all the time. They can help if you get stuck or sometimes just know the employee with the least resistance to approving it.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:17 PM on October 18 [1 favorite]
Any chance the state in question still offers a non real ID compliant drivers license option or state ID that does not have the social security card requirement?
posted by oceano at 1:41 PM on October 18
posted by oceano at 1:41 PM on October 18
Best answer: You need more than just a birth certificate to apply for a passport, you need a photo ID. The expired state ID may be acceptable for this purpose.
posted by beagle at 1:51 PM on October 18 [2 favorites]
posted by beagle at 1:51 PM on October 18 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Is her ID less than 6 months expired? If so the passport route is the easiest route around this. The passport site is fairly clear about your options but if you can't afford a doctor's appointment there's a lot of little fees: passport itself is going to need passport photo (~$16) and and application fee plus acceptance fee ($65), that's the cheaper passport card only. I'm sure there's a fee I missed. So if she can't afford to pay a medical office to just stamp a document showing she's lived here I doubt passport will be any cheaper.
Push comes to shove they also accept "secondary documentation" which is like baptism certificate or a person signing an affidavit. In any case without any money, its hard. My city provides state IDs with no cost or little cost and helps those without one to figure out the documentation mess. The rest of the state does not provide that, so if you're without funds and just 50 miles outside the city you might know a bus ride could help solve that. If you can provide more information I'm sure we can help.
posted by geoff. at 2:34 PM on October 18 [1 favorite]
Push comes to shove they also accept "secondary documentation" which is like baptism certificate or a person signing an affidavit. In any case without any money, its hard. My city provides state IDs with no cost or little cost and helps those without one to figure out the documentation mess. The rest of the state does not provide that, so if you're without funds and just 50 miles outside the city you might know a bus ride could help solve that. If you can provide more information I'm sure we can help.
posted by geoff. at 2:34 PM on October 18 [1 favorite]
For the purposes of the state ID, any chance this person can find/request a copy of a W-2 form with their full SSN from a current/previous employer? I think all states are required to accept one in lieu of a Social Security card for Real ID purposes. The caveat is that not all W-2 forms have full SSN’s on them anymore.
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:36 PM on October 18 [1 favorite]
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:36 PM on October 18 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I found this page in the SSA manual which explains what the SSA worker processing your friend’s application for a new card is to do in cases similar to that of your friend: she cannot offer valid “primary” evidence (the expired license) but does have “secondary” evidence (the medical records).
Specifically, Section 4, Example 2:
EXAMPLE 2: A U.S. citizen applicant age 67 applies for a replacement card. The applicant presents a medical record from their most recent annual checkup (secondary evidence) from their neighborhood clinic that contains their name and date of birth to compare to the Numident and the information given in the Enumeration System. When asked about the availability of a State-issued driver's license, ID card, or U.S. Passport/Passport card (primary evidence), the applicant says they do not have any of these documents. The applicant no longer has a car and does not drive anymore but uses public transportation. The applicant says they have never needed or had a State ID card or U.S. Passport/Passport card. The applicant adds that even if they wanted to drive or travel, they live on a limited income and cannot afford this luxury. Since the applicant
• is on limited income,
• has not recently had a State-issued driver’s license, State ID card or a U.S. Passport that needs replacing, and
• has no other need for a State-issued driver’s license, State ID card or a U.S. Passport
the interviewer should accept the medical record and process the application. In this case primary evidence would not be considered “easily” renewable or replaceable.
When a document is listed as acceptable on the National Identity Document Database, supervisory approval is not needed. However, the interviewer must read the evidence description of the third level identity document to ensure that there are no limitations listed for the acceptance of the document and have the supervisor or equivalent provide the second sign-off.
Also, here is the SSA manual section that instructs SSA staff on how to deal with expired US state driver’s licenses/IDs; I note that it did not appear to me (I may have missed it) that the state of the license or ID must match the current residence of the applicant or the state in which one is applying.
Good luck!
posted by mdonley at 2:49 PM on October 18 [2 favorites]
Specifically, Section 4, Example 2:
EXAMPLE 2: A U.S. citizen applicant age 67 applies for a replacement card. The applicant presents a medical record from their most recent annual checkup (secondary evidence) from their neighborhood clinic that contains their name and date of birth to compare to the Numident and the information given in the Enumeration System. When asked about the availability of a State-issued driver's license, ID card, or U.S. Passport/Passport card (primary evidence), the applicant says they do not have any of these documents. The applicant no longer has a car and does not drive anymore but uses public transportation. The applicant says they have never needed or had a State ID card or U.S. Passport/Passport card. The applicant adds that even if they wanted to drive or travel, they live on a limited income and cannot afford this luxury. Since the applicant
• is on limited income,
• has not recently had a State-issued driver’s license, State ID card or a U.S. Passport that needs replacing, and
• has no other need for a State-issued driver’s license, State ID card or a U.S. Passport
the interviewer should accept the medical record and process the application. In this case primary evidence would not be considered “easily” renewable or replaceable.
When a document is listed as acceptable on the National Identity Document Database, supervisory approval is not needed. However, the interviewer must read the evidence description of the third level identity document to ensure that there are no limitations listed for the acceptance of the document and have the supervisor or equivalent provide the second sign-off.
Also, here is the SSA manual section that instructs SSA staff on how to deal with expired US state driver’s licenses/IDs; I note that it did not appear to me (I may have missed it) that the state of the license or ID must match the current residence of the applicant or the state in which one is applying.
Good luck!
posted by mdonley at 2:49 PM on October 18 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: This is great. You guys are magic, as always. I think we can get this done with a passport! Or with a clearly worded request to Urgent Care for the appropriate documentation.
Lots of other great ideas here too. I hope that this thread helps someone else in the same quandary
Many thanks
posted by bright and shiny at 2:51 PM on October 18 [3 favorites]
Lots of other great ideas here too. I hope that this thread helps someone else in the same quandary
Many thanks
posted by bright and shiny at 2:51 PM on October 18 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Wow, thank you so much, again
posted by bright and shiny at 2:54 PM on October 18
posted by bright and shiny at 2:54 PM on October 18
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