The official verification of your Social Security number is the card issued by the Social Security Administration. Third parties who request your Social Security card as verification of your number will want to see the card the Social Security Administration issued. Although Social Security has no authority to prevent use of metal or plastic replicas of Social Security cards, Social Security does not consider them official verification of your Social Security number and discourage their use.

Social Security strongly recommends as a security precaution, that you carry your Social Security card only when you expect to need it, for example, to show to an employer or other third party.  If your wallet or purse is stolen, this will prevent a thief from being able to use your Social Security number and card.