Every year, millions of Americans seek new Social Security cards, with places like Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta more broadly being near the forefront of requests in the nation.
In 2023 alone, nearly 34,000 people in Gwinnett County requested a new card, according to the Social Security Administration.
The administration wants to make sure people understand when they actually need their physical Social Security card and how to keep their personal information safe.
Abigail Zapote, senior advisor to the Office of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, joined “All Things Considered” to make it clear when people need a Social Security card and how to go about replacing or getting a new one.
With scams on the rise, she also emphasized that a Social Security card isn’t an ID document and often isn’t necessary to present or carry on one’s person. In many cases, just knowing your Social Security number is enough.
