Fact check: What are the eligibility requirements for social security cards for non-citizens?

1. Who qualifies: the central rule that determines SSN eligibility for noncitizens

The core eligibility standard from SSA materials is that noncitizens may receive an SSN if they are authorized to work in the United States or have a valid nonwork reason approved by the SSA, such as receiving federal benefits that require an SSN; applicants must supply documents that verify identity, immigration status, and work authorization ^{[1] [2]}. Lawful permanent residents typically qualify and may apply while adjusting status, and people applying for naturalization or work permits can request an SSN as part of those immigration filings; SSA guidance notes the SSN is required to work, collect Social Security benefits, and access certain services ^{[6] [1]}. The agency stresses that having an SSN does not confer citizenship but enables tax reporting and benefit eligibility tied to work history ^[7].

2. Administrative changes reshaping access: pause and program terminations that matter

Recent administrative developments have narrowed automated pathways that previously allowed some immigrants to receive SSNs without visiting a local office. In May 2025 the SSA paused a program that mailed SSNs automatically to noncitizens with work authorization and newly naturalized citizens, requiring in-person visits and increasing processing delays ^[3]. Earlier programs that enabled issuance “beyond entry” or via immigration filing have been curtailed or ended, meaning applicants who once received cards through USCIS processes must now interact directly with SSA field offices ^[4]. These shifts change the practical experience of eligibility even where statutory criteria remain stable.

3. Documentation and fraud checks: why eligibility can take time

Even when a noncitizen meets the eligibility criteria, SSA processing often involves extensive verification to prevent fraud and identity theft; applicants must provide original documents proving age, identity, immigration status, and work authorization. The SSA warns that checks can be protracted, which impacts timelines for noncitizens seeking SSNs for employment or benefits, and the agency’s application page highlights document requirements and procedural safeguards ^[2]. Because federal tax reporting requires a taxpayer identifier on information returns, employers and payers confront legal reporting obligations even when an employee’s SSN is pending, creating practical friction between hiring and SSA processing ^[5].

4. How immigration filings interact with SSN requests: what changed and what remains

Historically, applicants could request an SSN while filing for a work permit, lawful permanent residency, or naturalization, with USCIS transmitting information to SSA to issue a card without a separate SSA office visit; guidance continued to encourage making the SSN request on immigration forms ^[6]. However, program pauses and terminations now mean the SSA no longer consistently issues numbers automatically from immigration filings, requiring many applicants to visit local SSA offices in person to complete the process ^{[3] [4]}. The substance of eligibility—work authorization or valid nonwork justification—remains unchanged, but the administrative pathway for getting a card has narrowed for some groups ^{[6] [4]}.

5. Employment, taxes, and benefits: downstream consequences of SSN rules

An SSN is essential for lawful employment, tax withholding, and building a work history that qualifies someone for Social Security benefits after sufficient covered work; noncitizens without SSNs face barriers to wage reporting and benefit accrual ^{[1] [7]}. There is no federal law outright banning employers from hiring someone without an SSN, yet federal reporting rules require payees’ taxpayer identification on information returns, so employers and payers must navigate compliance if an employee lacks an SSN ^[5]. The combination of SSA verification time and administrative shifts therefore affects not only SSN issuance but also employers’ ability to meet tax-reporting responsibilities.

6. Divergent viewpoints and possible agendas behind policy shifts

Sources frame the administrative changes differently: agency notices emphasize fraud prevention and verification, while commentators highlight access impacts and operational slowdowns for immigrants ^{[2] [3]}. Some observers present program pauses as security and integrity measures, while others characterize them as barriers that increase burdens on lawfully authorized workers and newly naturalized citizens. The termination of programs like Enumeration Beyond Entry aligns with policy choices to centralize SSA control over issuance, but these choices carry trade-offs between anti-fraud objectives and timely access for eligible noncitizens ^{[4] [3]}.

7. What to watch next and practical advice from the evidence

Given the trajectory of May–June 2025 reports, stakeholders should monitor SSA announcements about reinstating or altering automated issuance pathways and updates to in-person processing guidelines that affect wait times ^{[3] [4]}. For now, the evidence indicates eligible noncitizens must prepare original immigration and identity documents, expect verification delays, and plan for an in-person SSA visit if automatic issuance is unavailable; employers should document hiring decisions while awaiting taxpayer identification for reporting purposes ^{[2] [5]}. Staying current with SSA guidance will determine how administrative procedures affect practical access to SSNs.