ST. PAUL, MN – On Tuesday, the Senate Transportation Committee heard Senator Julia Coleman’s bipartisan bill to allow Minnesotans to get replacement Social Security Cards online. Senator Coleman (R-Chanhassen) released the following statement:

“I am glad to carry this common-sense piece of legislation forward,” said Coleman. “I am committed to helping make government operate more efficiently and effectively for Minnesotans. Getting a replacement Social Security Card can be a major hassle. The Social Security Administration has created a safe and secure way for getting replacement Social Security Cards online which has been proven effective in forty-five other states. It is time to get bureaucracy out of the way and make Minnesotans’ lives easier.”

Minnesota is currently only one of only five states where you cannot get a replacement Social Security Card Online. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been working nationwide to allow the public to apply online for replacement Social Security Cards rather than having to do it in-person or via mail. In-person locations have been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic which has made getting replacement Social Security Cards even more difficult with replacements being done through the mail.

Right now, Minnesotans are forced to mail in their information and driver’s license to the federal government to get their replacement Social Security Card. This causes Minnesotans to illegally drive without their driver’s license on hand.

Specifically, this legislation allows the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to distribute driver’s license information to the federal government to perform identity verification for replacement Social Security Cards. Minnesota currently allows the same data to be sent to maintain compliance for commercial driver’s licenses.