The social security card is a letter on which, in addition to your personal data, your social security number is written.

The social insurance number is used by your employer for all notifications to the social insurance (for example, registrations, deregistrations or annual notifications) to identify you. The social security number remains the same throughout your life. The pension insurance company keeps your insured person account under this number.

In the event of loss or damage, a new social security card can be obtained

• online,
• at an information and advice center of the German Pension Insurance, or
• from your health insurance fund.

If you start a new job, you must present your social security card to your employer. If you do not yet have a social security number, registration is also possible without a social security number. The registration by the employer then triggers the reassignment of a social security number. Your social security card will be sent to you automatically.

You will also need the social security card if you apply for a social benefit, for example unemployment benefit.

If your name changes, for example, when you get married, you will automatically receive a new Social Security card.

Note: On your social security card, your data will also be displayed as a machine-readable code (QR code).