Can You Get a Credit Card Without a Social Security Number?

If you're a U.S. citizen, chances are you were issued a Social Security number (SSN) shortly after birth, as your parents likely applied for one for you at the same time as your birth was registered and you received a birth certificate. The Social Security Administration (SSA) created the Social Security number in 1936, and it was originally devised as a way for the federal government to track your income and issue retirement benefits. Only citizens and permanent residents are eligible for Social Security numbers, but there is an alternative number issued to those living and working in the United States who aren't citizens.