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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    2

    Default Obtaining Duplicate Social Security Card with No Picture ID or Birth Certificate

    I'm attempting to help my brother, a 64 y/o who had his wallet stolen containing both his driver's license and social security card. He knows his social security number but his only other ID is an old driver's license he found from 11 years ago. He of course knew that he'd need a copy of his birth certificate and wrote to the county which my 84 y/o mother told him he was born. There the problems started. To obtain a copy of his birth certificate, the form needed to be notarized....to be notarized, he needed a valid picture ID. He then appealed to the local Social Security office and even took our mother with him to vouch for his identity! I know, very naïve. They of course said no. But, they did set him up to receive his Social Security benefits! He is now receiving a monthly check--with no ID. The Big issue is, he is caring for our mother and she needs to be driven to a hospital once a week that is 40 miles away. I'm in another state. He really needs to get his license renewed but without a social security card, he cannot.

    Here's the twist.... My father passed recently and while going through boxes to help my mother find all the insurance papers, we found a copy of his birth certificate. But---it has a different last name and father! My 84 y/o mother claims that at age 2, he was adopted by her second husband, the man who raised us. This would have been in around 1952. My brother has used the same last name all the way through school, draft registration, all his jobs and has an arrest record from over 35 years ago now. All under the name he is currently receiving Social Security benefits under. He never used his birth father's name and didn't know he had another.

    Now, unless he wants to start over at 64 with a new last name--and then what happens to his Social Security benefits--he is stuck. Everyone we have talked to has told him the same thing...get a copy of his adoption paperwork....but, we doubt now that there was any. Back then, things were far more lax and until 1971 a picture ID wasn't necessary to get a Social Security card.

    I've spent hours waiting on hold and days trying back trying to get through to the Social Security administration and have sent them Emails but have not gotten an answer.

    If anyone has any idea what can be done or who might be able to help, please let me know. We're not rich and I've already spent $100 for an attorney's advice who was obviously clueless. His information did not take into account that prior to 1971 schools and the social security administration may not have asked for proof of identity.

    Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Obtaining Duplicate Social Security Card with No Picture Id or Birth Certificate

    I don't know if this will work or not but here's a suggestion.

    Have your brother petition the court for a legal name change from the name on the birth certificate to the name he has been using all his life.

    Name change packets are probably available on your local court's website.

    There's a fee, of course, but it's probably not too much.

    He can explain the reason for the change just the way you've explained it here and I'm sure he can come up with some documentation of the name he's been using and you and your mother can go to court with him if necessary.

    Once he's got the court order, he can probably get his driver license renewed with it.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Obtaining Duplicate Social Security Card with No Picture Id or Birth Certificate

    We looked into the name change thing. Everyone wants a picture ID. And, he does have an old one. A License from 2003 but no one will accept it. Crazy that they'd give him social security benefits but not a new card! The fee they quoted us was near $1000 to change his name but it may mess up his social security benefits and it would for sure take them forever to figure it out. If they could just fingerprint him, they'd know immediately who he was. Thanks for the suggestion though.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    38,867

    Default Re: Obtaining Duplicate Social Security Card with No Picture Id or Birth Certificate

    I've spent hours waiting on hold and days trying back trying to get through to the Social Security administration and have sent them Emails but have not gotten an answer.
    find the closest physical office and take your brother there and speak to a representative.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    7,056

    Default Re: Obtaining Duplicate Social Security Card with No Picture Id or Birth Certificate

    Please tell us what state this is in?

    I don't suppose he has a passport, does he?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
    Posts
    17,019

    Default Re: Obtaining Duplicate Social Security Card with No Picture ID or Birth Certificate

    If he is well known at his bank, they can opt to notarize the document for him based on their knowing his identity.

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