When a number holder (NH) reaches his or her yearly or lifetime SSN card limits, an SSN replacement card may still be issued if failure to receive an SSN card will cause a hardship.
To receive an exception due to hardship, the NH must present a letter from a third-party provider, such as a State public assistance agency or an employer, indicating that the NH must present his or her SSN card to receive employment or a benefit.
So you're not completely fucked, it's just some extra leg work.
It is, but you don't need the physical card for very much. I've only ever needed the card for jobs. I've never had to apply for welfare, but I do belive you need a physical card to apply. But in most situations, you just need the number.
Not always.
The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004 (Public Law 108-458 ) limits the number of replacement SSN cards an individual may receive to 3 per year and 10 in a lifetime, beginning with cards issued on or after December 17, 2005.
For the vast majority of people who keep their cards safely stowed away in a drawer, this will likely never be an issue.
For someone who doesn't have a safe place to keep one (for instance, homeless), this can get to being an issue pretty quickly.
That said, there are hardship exceptions to this rule.
RM 10205.425 Exception to SSN Card Limits Due to Hardship
So you're not completely fucked, it's just some extra leg work.
In what way is not replacing an SSN a non-hardship?
It's required for so much shit.
It is, but you don't need the physical card for very much. I've only ever needed the card for jobs. I've never had to apply for welfare, but I do belive you need a physical card to apply. But in most situations, you just need the number.
So what happens when you get 10?
I read somewhere they send a denial letter. Not sure what implications that has.