Proof That You Exist

What it is

The papers that show who you are — a birth certificate, a Social Security number, and a photo ID.

Why it helps you

Without these, it’s hard to get a job, a home, a bank account, or care. With them, doors open. If you were born at home or off the grid, there are still ways to get them.

This opens up

Bank Accounts, Jobs, Housing, Health Insurance.

Where to get help

Getting your papers can feel like a loop. Many offices ask for one paper before they give you the next. People get out of this loop every day. It takes time, and you do not have to do it alone.

Most people go in this order: a safe mailing address, then a birth certificate, then a Social Security number, then a state ID. A helper can tell you the order that works in your state.

First, a safe place to get mail

Offices mail your papers. They do not hand them to you. So you need an address where mail will reach you, and where no one who would hurt you can open it.

Many shelters, drop-in centers, legal aid offices, and some churches will hold mail for people they help. Ask a case manager, “Can I use your address to get my ID papers?” You can find these places by dialing 2-1-1 (see A Safe Place to Sleep Tonight).

General Delivery at the Post Office The Post Office can hold mail for you at one post office in your town. You pick it up in person.

Cost: Free
Who can use it: People without a permanent address
How to start: Use the USPS location finder and filter for “General Delivery.” Call that post office to confirm. Mail goes to: your name, then GENERAL DELIVERY, then the city, state, and ZIP code they give you.
Good to know: Mail is held for up to 30 days. The post office can turn you away if you can’t show ID. So this works better after you have an ID. For your very first papers, a shelter or helper’s address is usually safer.

Get a person to help you

VoteRiders Helpline A nonprofit that helps people get a state ID. They figure out which papers you need. They can order and pay for papers like a birth certificate, and give you a free ride to the ID office.

Cost: Free. They pay the fees.
Who can use it: They help people who need an ID to vote. That means US citizens who are (or soon will be) old enough to vote.
How to start: Call or text 866-432-8683. Or use the chat or form on their website. You can say, “I need a state ID and I don’t have a birth certificate.”
Good to know: No ID or money needed to ask for help.

I Am Here: Vital Document Legal Hotline A free hotline for young people. They explain the rules in your state for getting a birth certificate, ID, or Social Security card.

Cost: Free
Who can use it: Young people, especially those without a stable home. Call to ask if you qualify.
How to start: Call or text 1-888-870-3627 (1-888-870-DOCS).
Good to know: Open Wednesdays only, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern (6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific). They give information, not legal advice.

LawHelp.org A website that helps you find free legal aid near you. Legal aid lawyers help people with low income. Some help with birth certificates and ID problems, including going to court.

Cost: Free to use. Legal aid is free if you qualify.
Who can use it: Anyone can search. Legal aid offices usually help people with low income.
How to start: Pick your state on the map. Look for “legal aid” or “identity documents.”
Good to know: Legal aid offices may ask about your income.

Your birth certificate

Where to Write for Vital Records (CDC) A government list of the office in each state that keeps birth records. “Vital records” means papers like birth certificates.

Cost: The list is free. Each state charges its own fee for a copy. VoteRiders may pay it.
Who can use it: Anyone
How to start: Click the state where you were born (not where you live now). It shows how to order and what the state asks for.
Good to know: Most states ask for ID to order a copy. If you have none, ask what else they take. Some states let a helper, like a case manager or lawyer, order it for you.

If you were born at home and no one ever registered your birth

This happens more than people think. There is a way through it:

Ask the birth state’s vital records office for your birth certificate anyway.
If they have no record, ask them for a letter that says so. This is often called a “no record” letter. Keep it. It proves you looked.
Ask that office about a delayed birth registration. This means making a birth record now, years later. Each state has its own form and rules.
You will need papers that show when and where you were born. Old records help most, like early doctor, school, or church records. Some states only take papers that are at least 5 years old. Many states also take a signed statement from someone older who knew about your birth. In some states, that person must have been at least 5 years old when you were born.
Make copies of everything before you send it. Some states keep the papers you send and do not give them back.
If the state says no, a judge can order a birth record. Free legal aid can help with this (see LawHelp.org above).

This can take months. It is still worth starting. There is a fee, but some states waive it for people who are homeless. Most of those rules are for young people. Ask the office, or ask VoteRiders to help pay.

Social Security: Get a number for the first time The Social Security Administration (SSA) gives Social Security numbers. You need one for most jobs and benefits.

Cost: Free. Never pay anyone for a Social Security number or card.
Who can use it: All US citizens can ask for a number.
How to start: You can start online, then bring your papers to a Social Security office. Or call 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment.
Good to know: Adults getting a number for the first time must go in person for an interview. Bring your birth certificate. They take originals only, not photocopies. They will ask questions to make sure you never had a number before, like which schools you went to. You also need something that proves who you are. A state ID is best. If you don’t have one, a current school ID, work ID, health insurance card, or a certified medical record with your name and birth date may work. The card comes by mail in about 5 to 10 business days.

Your state ID

Each state’s DMV gives ID cards. “DMV” is the office that also gives driver’s licenses. Its name differs by state.

Ask for a standard state ID card. You do not need a driver’s license.
A REAL ID needs more papers. A standard ID is enough for most jobs, banks, and housing. It can’t be used alone to fly.
Many states have a free or low-cost ID for people who are homeless or have low income. Search your state DMV website for “free ID homeless” or “reduced fee ID.”
If you don’t have bills in your name, many states accept a letter from a shelter or service agency to prove where you live. Ask the DMV or your case manager which form your state uses.

If you only do one thing first

Call or text VoteRiders at 866-432-8683. Tell them what you have and what you don’t, even if the answer is “nothing.” They will help you plan the steps, and they can pay the fees. If you are staying at a shelter, also ask a case manager if you can get mail there.

Watch out for

Lookalike websites. Many websites look official but charge extra to “help” you order a birth certificate or Social Security card. Find your state’s office through the CDC list above. Social Security’s real site ends in ssa.gov.
Paying for a Social Security card. A Social Security number and card are always free from SSA.
Paying a company to “create” your identity. No private company can make you a birth certificate. Only your birth state or a court can. If you need a court order, ask free legal aid.
Giving away your only copies. Offices often want originals or certified copies, and some keep them. Make copies first, and ask for originals back when you can. Keep your papers somewhere safe, away from anyone who has taken them before.
Leaving when you hear “REAL ID.” If the DMV says you don’t have enough papers for a REAL ID, ask about a standard ID instead.