ID & Documents
Lost everything? Start with these three.
A state ID, a Social Security card, and a birth certificate unlock almost everything else — work, housing, banking, benefits. Here's how to get them back, even if you have nothing right now.
The chicken-and-egg problem
You usually need ID to get ID. The trick is starting with the document that requires the least proof and using it to get the next one. The order that works for most people:
Today
Birth certificate (request from the state where you were born — the easiest to get without other ID).
This week
Social Security card. Then state ID with the birth certificate and SSN. Bank account follows.
1. Birth certificate
Order from the vital records office of the state where you were born. Costs $15–$30 typically. Most states accept a notarized request and a copy of any old ID, an affidavit from a relative, or other secondary documentation. The federal hub for finding your state's vital records office is at cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.
If you don't have any ID at all
Many states have a process for "delayed birth certificate" or affidavit-based requests. Homeless shelters, social workers, and re-entry programs often have direct relationships with vital records offices and can help. Some non-profits cover the fee.
2. Social Security card
Free. Apply at any Social Security office or, in many states, online at ssa.gov. You need proof of identity (state ID, passport, school record) and proof of citizenship (birth certificate, passport). If you only have a birth certificate, that combined with a school or medical record will usually work.
3. State ID or driver's license
Each state DMV has its own requirements. The standard packet is:
- Proof of identity (birth certificate)
- Proof of Social Security number (SS card or W-2)
- Two proofs of state residence (lease, utility bill, government mail, shelter address letter)
- Fee (varies $10–$60; some states waive for re-entry, homeless individuals, or domestic violence survivors)
If you're homeless, most states accept a shelter address or a letter from a service provider as proof of residence.
4. Bank account
Once you have ID and a SS card, you can open a basic bank account. If you've been listed in ChexSystems for past account issues, look for "second-chance" checking accounts at credit unions and some banks. A few we've seen people use: Bank of America SafeBalance, Capital One 360 Checking, GoBank.
Special situations
Returning citizens
Most states have re-entry ID programs with reduced or waived fees. Some have programs that issue a state ID before release. See our Returning Citizens page.
Domestic violence survivors
Many states allow you to use a confidential address (often through a state Address Confidentiality Program) so an abuser can't find you through public records. The National Network to End Domestic Violence keeps a state-by-state list at nnedv.org.
Disaster survivors
FEMA covers replacement-document fees after a federally declared disaster. Apply through DisasterAssistance.gov.