Some prison inmates need an SSN card to participate in work or educational programs
while incarcerated, or to gain employment upon release from prison, but prisoners
generally do not have access to the types of identity documents required for enumeration
purposes. SSA can enter into a formal MOU with the correctional facility enabling
SSA to consider a certification of prisoner identity statement from a prison official
as evidence of identity, and, thereby, make it possible for inmates to get SSN replacement
cards.
Under the terms of a signed MOU, field offices (FOs) process properly completed SS-5
applications from certain prison inmates when accompanied by a certification statement
from an authorized prison official as evidence of the inmate’s identity. The MOU outlines
specific procedures for the correctional facility and SSA to follow to ensure the
integrity of the SSN replacement card issuance process for inmates. The MOU also addresses
issues of security to protect SSNs and SSN cards from misuse in order to protect the
privacy of the inmates.