Remember when COVID-19 vaccination cards were a thing and some folks laminated the proof of vaccination to keep it safe?
As it turned out, that was a bad idea, preventing health care providers from adding boosters to a card.
The same is true for your Social Security card, although for a different reason.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a succinct warning:
“Do not laminate your card. Lamination prevents detection of many security features. However, you may cover the card with plastic or other removable material if it does not damage the card.”
Take that admonition as more than just friendly advice. The SSA says the agency “cannot guarantee the validity of a card” once it has been laminated.
If you already have laminated a card, you can request a replacement. However, you will first need to return the laminated card before the SSA can process your request. You can call your local Social Security Administration office for more tips on how to return and replace your laminated card.
But before you make such a request, note that the SSA says that some people might not need a card and that simply knowing their Social Security number is good enough for most transactions for which their number is needed.
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