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Payroll and Tax Department

How to Apply for a Social Security Number

The Social Security Administration (Lafayette office) have agreed to work with Purdue in helping our international visitors who are in the United States for a short period of time obtain a social security number with the least amount of problems. The proposed process is as follows:

  1. The department should give Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card to the individual for completion. ATTENTION: Please notify your business office as soon as you receive your social security card.

  2. The department completes the bottom portion of the Letter of Approval form. This form gives the Social Security Administration the authority to fax the newly assigned social security number to the Disbursements Department.

  3. The individual should complete the Form SS-5, letter of work authorization/verification and Letter of Approval, review and sign the forms, then physically present the completed forms and supporting documents to the local Social Security Office. It may be necessary for someone at the department to accompany the individual to the Social Security office.

  4. The Social Security Office is located at 10 South Second Street, Lafayette, IN. The hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

  5. The Social Security Office will process the application and fax the social security number to Purdue University Disbursements at (765) 496-1392. Disbursements will update the records and forward the information to the department.

  6. When the actual Social Security card is issued, Disbursements will verify the number and forward the card to the home department of the employee.

  7. The home department records the number for departmental use, then forwards the card to the employee.