Replacing lost documents
During disasters, important documents are often lost. This can cause identification issues which can lead to problems for disaster benefits, such as FEMA assistance, and pre-disaster benefits, such as social security income. The information below may assist your recovery process by helping you identify if you are experiencing any of these legal issues and allowing you to apply for legal help if needed.
How does a disaster survivor replace their Oklahoma driver’s license?
The person can go to any Department of Transportation office in Oklahoma. It costs $15 to replace a driver’s license. The person will need to provide other identification documents to the DOT to obtain a new driver’s license. Some acceptable forms of documentation include birth certificate, passport, permanent resident card, another document that shows your full name and Social Security number (Social Security card, paystub, W-2 etc.) and two documents showing your current address.
How does a disaster survivor replace a lost birth certificate?
The person can apply for a new copy of their birth certificate from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Applications can be done in person, over the telephone, or by mail. Accessing the information online can be found at: Birth and Death Certificates (oklahoma.gov). When retrieving the information by mail:
Vital Records Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
PO Box 248964
Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8964
How does a disaster survivor replace a lost Social Security or Medicare card?
A person can complete an Application with the Social Security Administration to request a new card. The application can be obtained from: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf. New cards can be requested in person at the local Social Security Administration Office or by mailing the application to the local office. All applications must be accompanied by a photo identification card (or a copy if mailing). There is no fee for requesting a new card. The Social Security Administration will replace the card up to 3 times a year, with a 10-card lifetime maximum. The local Social Security Administration office can be found at: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp.
Medicare cards can be ordered online. To do so, the person needs to use this link to sign into their “My Social Security” account: https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.do.
How does a disaster survivor replace lost immigration documents?
To replace their Permanent Resident Card or “Green Card,” the disaster survivor needs to complete an I-90 form. An I-90 form can be found at the following website: http://www.uscis.gov. The instructions for completing an I-90 form are complex and applicants may benefit from the assistance of an attorney in completing the document. Instructions to complete the form can be found at: https://www.uscis.gov/i-90. It costs $365 to file for a replacement plus an $85 biometric fee. Applicants can request a fee waiver upon a showing of financial hardship.
Why would disaster survivors need a lawyer?
Replacing lost documents is a big issue after many disasters. Tornadoes, floods, and wildfires, all commonly occurring in Oklahoma, can destroy or relocate documents. Quickly replacing lost identification documents is especially important, as survivors will need identification to access many recovery resources. One tip: Make copies or take pictures of identification and scan to a password protected, cloud-based storage service. That way they’re accessible following a disaster no matter what happens to the originals and having copies can help speed replacement.
