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I am lawfully admitted to the United States, but not allowed to work. I still need a Social Security number. How do I obtain one?

In general, only noncitizens who have permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security can get a Social Security number.

If you are lawfully in the United States but do not have permission to work, you are eligible for a non-work Social Security number only if the law requires you to provide a non-work Social Security number to get a federal benefit or state general assistance benefit that you are otherwise qualified for. For more information about applying for a number, see Documents You Need for a Social Security Card.

Lawfully admitted noncitizens can get many benefits and services without a Social Security number. You do not need a number to get a driver's license, register for school, obtain private health insurance, or to apply for school lunch programs or subsidized housing. Although many companies such as banks and credit companies may ask for your Social Security number, you are not required to provide one. Ask if they can identify you in some other way. If a service provider insists that you provide a Social Security number, it may help to prove that you cannot get one by showing the service provider a copy of  Social Security Numbers For Noncitizens (Publication No. 05-10096).

 If you need a number for tax purposes and you are not authorized to work in the U.S., you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Visit IRS in person or call the IRS toll-free number, 1-800-TAXFORM (1-800-829-3676), and request Form W-7, Application For An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.