Replace documents, get an ID and update your address
Find the correct issuing office, ask about missing proof and keep track of replacement requests.
Practical options and next steps
Choose the document you need for the next task. Replacing everything at once can be overwhelming; the receiving agency may accept an alternative while you request a replacement.
Start with this
Write the exact missing document and why you need it. Find its issuing office below.
Who this helps
People missing an ID, card, vital record or reliable mailing address, and someone helping them organize an application.
Where this guidance applies
Federal and state directories provide routes for all 50 states and DC. Fees, accepted proof and application methods depend on the document and issuing office. This page collects no documents.
What to prepare
- The agency notice naming the document, if available; keep its response date visible.
- A private list of documents you still have and any name differences between them.
- A safe mailing address and the office’s current fee and proof checklist; ask what to do if either is missing.
Steps to take
- Choose the issuing office A birth record follows the place of birth; a Social Security card follows SSA; a state ID follows the state licensing or ID agency.
- Check proof before paying Ask which originals or certified copies are required and how they are returned. Confirm alternatives and any fee-reduction route directly.
- Submit and record the next action Use the confirmed official channel. Keep the receipt, mailing details and follow-up instructions privately.
How do I get a state ID and check the fee?
Use USA.gov’s motor vehicle directory to reach your state’s ID or driver-licensing service.
What to prepare
- List the identity, name-change and residence records you have; ask about options if you lack a fixed address.
Steps to take
- Choose the card type for your purpose, then read that state’s current checklist and fee schedule.
- Confirm the office issues IDs, whether you need an appointment and whether a fee reduction is available to you.
What to check before relying on this: Vehicle-registration offices and ID-issuing offices may differ. REAL ID, a standard ID and a driving privilege are not interchangeable.
If that route does not work: If a document is missing, ask the issuing office about accepted alternatives before paying a third party to replace it.
Official and service sources: USA.gov: state motor vehicle agencies · USA.gov: replace lost identity documents
Continue with a related guide: Follow the state-ID checklist
How do I replace a Social Security card or birth record?
Separate the two requests: SSA replaces its card; the vital-records office where the birth occurred supplies the birth record.
What to prepare
- Have your name as recorded, birth location and available identity documents ready for the official office.
Steps to take
- For the card, use SSA’s replacement questions to learn whether you can apply online or need an office appointment.
- For a U.S. birth certificate, select the birth jurisdiction in the CDC directory and confirm its certified-copy requirements.
What to check before relying on this: SSA replacement cards are free, and a physical card is often unnecessary. Birth-record fees and authorized requesters depend on the issuing jurisdiction.
If that route does not work: If identity proof is missing, ask SSA or the records office about alternatives; a commercial search result cannot waive official requirements.
Official and service sources: SSA: replace a Social Security card · CDC: find the office holding a vital record · USA.gov: replace lost identity documents
Who needs my new address?
Make a private checklist of the organizations that send you important mail before changing your address.
What to prepare
- Prepare the old and new addresses, move date and the names of benefits or accounts to update.
Steps to take
- Use the official USPS move service or local post office to request mail forwarding and confirm any official charge.
- Update relevant agencies separately, such as IRS, SSA, benefits offices and licensing services; immigration matters may need separate updates with each authority.
What to check before relying on this: Mail forwarding does not update every government record. Each agency has its own reporting instructions and deadlines.
If that route does not work: If you have no stable or safe address, ask each agency which mailing or contact arrangement it accepts; do not invent an address.
Official and service sources: USA.gov: change your address with the right agencies
Continue with a related guide: Follow the address-change steps
Where do I start after losing several documents?
Use USA.gov’s replacement table to identify the issuer for each missing card or record.
What to prepare
- Write a list of losses, remaining proof and any application that is waiting for a particular document.
Steps to take
- Ask the receiving agency which item is needed first and whether another record can support the task meanwhile.
- Request replacements from the issuers and keep each receipt and expected follow-up instruction together.
What to check before relying on this: Disaster loss does not automatically waive every fee or identity requirement. SSA cannot print a replacement card at the counter.
If that route does not work: Explain the loss directly and ask about currently available disaster arrangements or alternative proof before buying expedited services.
Official and service sources: USA.gov: replace lost identity documents · SSA: replace a Social Security card
What if an application asks for a document I do not have?
Read the request to identify the fact being checked: identity, current income, residence or something else.
What to prepare
- Keep all pages of the request and the records you do have, with dates and the periods they cover.
Steps to take
- Ask the agency which alternatives fit that exact question and whether you must submit more than one item.
- Send accepted proof through the required channel and save confirmation; ask how to check whether the issue is resolved.
What to check before relying on this: An alternative accepted by HealthCare.gov is not automatically accepted by SNAP, SSA or a state ID office. Asking a question does not extend a deadline.
If that route does not work: If the document cannot arrive in time, ask about the agency’s procedure for additional time or another verification method.
Official and service sources: HealthCare.gov: resolve a document mismatch
Continue with a related guide: Prepare a complete missing-document response
How do I avoid paying the wrong website?
Start from the issuing agency link in an official government directory, then navigate to its forms or replacement service.
What to prepare
- Keep the exact document name, the official fee explanation and any receipt for payments already made.
Steps to take
- Check who will receive your information and whether you are buying optional assistance or paying a required agency fee.
- Use SSA directly for its free replacement card or USPS directly for forwarding; ask the agency if a claimed fee is unclear.
What to check before relying on this: Some records legitimately cost money, and agencies may use linked contractors. A government-looking design alone proves neither authorization nor price.
If that route does not work: If unsure, stop before submitting personal data and contact the issuing office through its independently confirmed number.
Official and service sources: USA.gov: replace lost identity documents · SSA: replace a Social Security card · USA.gov: change your address with the right agencies
Words you can use when asking for help
I need [document] for [task], but I do not have [missing proof]. Which alternatives can you accept? What would it cost, and how will I know my request was received?
Prepare my next task
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Follow up
- Check receipt and ask what remains missing; an order receipt is not the issued document.
- After delivery, check spelling and dates before using the new record in another application.
Common questions
Is every replacement free?
No. SSA replacement cards are free; other records may carry official fees. Ask the issuer about current charges and any waiver you can request.
Should I mail my only original document?
First read the issuer’s instructions and ask whether another accepted document or an in-person route is available. Confirm how required originals will be returned.
Official and service sources
These sections explain access using the sources below. They do not confirm that a provider has openings, that you qualify, or that a professional has reviewed your case. Professional language and reader review of this edition remain pending.