Replacement Card for a U.S. Born Child 
You can replace your child's Social Security card for free if it is lost or stolen. You are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during a lifetime. Legal name changes and other exceptions do not count toward these limits. For example , changes in immigration status that require card updates may not count toward these limits. Also , you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship. Important You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current not expired. We cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document. 

What original documents do I need? 
Citizenship If you have not already established the child's U.S. citizenship with us , we need to see proof of U.S. citizenship. We can accept only certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport. Important This documentation is only required if your child hasNOT already established citizenship with us. Identity Your child : While you can use a birth certificate to prove age or citizenship , you cannot use it as proof of identity. Social Security needs evidence that shows the child continues to exist beyond the date of birth. We can accept only certain documents as proof of your child's identity. An acceptable document must show your child's name, identifying information i.e., age, date of birth, or parents' names and preferably a recent photograph. We generally can accept a non - photo identity document if it has enough information to identify the child such as the child's name and age, date of birth or parents' names. We prefer to see the child's U.S. passport. If that document is not available , we may accept the child's : State Issued non - drivers identification card ; Adoption decree ; Doctor, clinic or hospital record ; Reli

user: Good morning. I'm looking to get a replacement SSN card for a U.S born child. I'm being told that i need some documentation. Could you help me out with that, please?

assistant: Sure, no problem. The documents you are being requested, are meant to prove your child is a U.S citizen, so you can effectively get a replacement card.

assistant: That's mostly in cases where child's citizenship has not been established beforehand. Is that your case?

user: Yeah, i haven't established my child citizenship yet. What should i do, then?

assistant: Good. In that case, we need to see proof of child's U.S citizenship, through certain documents, such as U.S birth certificate or U.S passport.

user: Oh, right, right, it's logical. Um, but, what can i do if i don't have one or both of those documents? can i still keep going?

assistant: Sure, don't worry. If happens that you don't have one or any of those documents at hand and you are not able to get a replacement shortly, then we can allow you to present other documents to us. Of course, such documents must be valid and showing date of birth or age, as well as a recent photograph.

user: Oh, of course i'll keep that in mind. Look, what happens if i'm not a U.S citizen?

assistant: You don't need to worry. If you're under that condition, the Social Security will ask you to see a current DHS document, such as Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, for example.

user: Oh that's good there is many options. Look, going back on child's documents, once more, what can i do if i don't have a document, at hand?.

assistant: No problem. In that case, we can always accept some other document. For example, we can accept a state issued non driver identification card or in case being adopted, child's adoption decree.

user: Thanks, that's really helpful. Say, do i need to show something to you?

assistant: Indeed, you do. You need to show us a proof of your identity. As for the child, that document must be a valid one and have name, age and a recent photograph.

user: Then all this is what i have to go through to get that replacement, right?

assistant: That's correct. This is the process for you, in case your child's SSN card is lost or stolen.