I don’t know that this is the case everywhere in the US, but when I had to get mine replaced about a decade ago, that’s what I was told. Fortunately, the SSA office is inside twenty minutes’ drive and they had scaled the staff according to their regular demand so I was in and out quickly.
https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm
Make sure you have the originals of all the documents they list there when you go to get one, and set an appointment (online, if available) first. They also can do it by mail, but you must have set up an online account with them previously and you’re going to have to jump through the same hoops you would at the office anyway.
Thank you. In my case, I have never actually needed the card and will just let it go.
Not worth the fuss with bureaucrats and traffic
Smiles
Hilarious how the govt doesn’t trust the USPS