You have just become a US citizen, and, therefore, you can and should use all the advantages of obtaining US citizenship. For example, you can get various disability and retirement benefits as a true US citizen. But before you are actually able to get a new job or employ government services, the United States government requires you to get a Social Security card.

Getting your Social Security data updated is easy, but before you visit SSA, the Social Security Administration, you should wait for at least two weeks (10 days) after your Oath of Allegiance ceremony finished. A couple of weeks should be enough so that the US government updates your data.

To update a Social Security card and also the Social Security Number (SSN), you are required to provide at least two documents to SSA. One such document is the Certificate of Naturalization; and you should also get ready one of the following documents:

• US passport;
• Driver’s license;
• Employee identity card;
• A certified copy of your medical record;
• Health insurance card; or
• US military or government identification card.

SSA will not accept your birth certificate, however. Note that you need two documents if you are applying for a new Social Security card. If you already have such a card and just need to update it, one document will be enough for the Social Security Administration.

Keep in mind that you can only use originals of your documents. Copies of the necessary documents are also accepted provided that they are certified by the custodian. Any notarized copy will be rejected. Lastly, all your documents must be current.

Social Security Administration wants you to file an Application for a Social Security Card, also known as the Form SS-5. You can use this form for not only applying for a new Social Security card, but also for updating or correcting data on your Social Security record.

As a side note, once you received the Certificate of Naturalization, you may need or want to apply for a US passport for traveling abroad and register to vote besides updating the Social Security card.

Other than updating your Social Security Card or getting a US passport, there is no need to do any extra paperwork to get all services and benefits as a US citizen.