Journey guide

Lost Wallet / Replace Important Documents

This guide helps you make a replacement plan without claiming that one document, fee waiver, or substitute will work everywhere.

Your plan

7 steps, in the order that works. Select any step for the full instructions.

Do this first. Lock cards and exposed accounts. More info.
Step 1 of 7. Inventory what is missing. More info.
Step 2 of 7. Replace cards needed for daily access. More info.
Step 3 of 7. Set a safe delivery and document plan. More info.
Step 4 of 7. Replace your Kentucky license or ID. More info.
Step 5 of 7. Replace a Social Security card if needed. More info.
Step 6 of 7. Replace insurance and remaining program cards. More info.
Step 7 of 7. Track orders, appointments, and receipt. More info.

Answer these to shorten your plan

[data-journey-question]{display:none}Choosing answers needs JavaScript. Follow the full plan above, choose another Journey guide, or call 211 for local help.

Optional. Answers stay in this browser tab; they are not placed in the address, sent to No One Left Outside or used to decide eligibility. Skipping every question gives you the full plan above.

Do you need the physical Social Security card itself?

Was a Kentucky driver's license or ID card lost too?

Is there a safe address where mail can reach you?

Progress stays in this browser tab and is never sent to No One Left Outside.

Start here

Your first action

Packet

Do this now

From a safe device, lock or report missing cards, benefits, phone access, keys, and financial accounts. Then make one list of everything missing.

Next: Lock cards and secure account access

Start with Step 1: secure exposed accounts

Ask: Use contact information from the issuer's official site, app, statement, or the back of another card. Ask it to block the missing item and explain the replacement route.

Situation: Wallet, ID, cards, and important papers were lost or stolen together.

What you need to startUse what you have. Missing items do not block the first call.

Have ready if available

A safe phone, computer, or helper's device
Access to the email or phone used for account recovery
A list of every card, ID, key, device, and document missing
Official issuer contacts from apps, statements, or verified websites
The last four digits or account identifiers you safely know
A safe mailing address or a pickup plan to ask about
Any ID, document, photo, or account record you still have
A notebook for confirmation numbers, dates, and next actions

Missing something? Ask what can be reviewed; do not wait to call.

If the first route fails

If immediate identification help or additional replacement guidance is needed: Open the ID journey for an ordered replacement plan, or dial 211 for local document-assistance programs.

Dial 211

Keep each issuer's replacement process open as a separate track.

Universal preparation guidance · checked 2026-09-12 · Jurisdiction-neutral

What remains uncertain: Each issuer sets its own current replacement process, fee, and timeline. No replacement is confirmed until the issuing organization responds.

Universal preparation guidance · checked 2026-09-12 · Jurisdiction-neutral

Programs under one organization can differ. Provider information · Methodology

Choose what needs attention

What items were in your lost wallet?

Select the cards, documents, and accounts you need to replace or secure.

Select a card to add it. Select it again to remove it.

Keep the plan moving

If the first route is closed or you cannot use it

A closed office, unanswered call, or unavailable device does not prove that you are denied or that a service is unavailable. This guide lists some options, not every possible route. If it is safe to do so, ask for another appropriate contact and keep the original task open.

The office or line is closed

Record what failed and when. Use a listed same-day alternative if one exists, and keep the original call or application as a separate follow-up.

See things that may help today

You cannot use the phone or website

Check for another published channel or ask a trusted helper to open the route with you. Share only the minimum information needed. If no workable channel is listed, that gap remains unknown.

Check the official routes

Related resources can offer another path, but a listing does not confirm current hours, capacity, eligibility, or acceptance. Review related resources.

What this guide cannot promise

Reviewed guidance only. Fees, timelines, eligibility, document substitutes, capacity, and provider practices are not published unless supported by a named source. Confirm current requirements directly.

How to read checked, listed, and unknown informationA listing can stay useful without being provider confirmed.

Checked fact or route: No One Left Outside matched the fact to the named source on the date shown. This is not proof of current availability or provider confirmation.
Directory lead: A listing that may still help remains visible with an honest status such as Possibly active or Needs verification.
PROVIDER CONFIRMED: Only named fields backed by linked first-party provider evidence, integrity checks, and attributed human approval may carry this state. No One Left Outside never infers it from a website, import, likely fit, or contact attempt.
UNKNOWN / Needs verification: No One Left Outside does not know the answer yet. Confirm it directly; this is not a claim that the resource or option does not exist.

Each step in full

The same steps as the plan above, with the instructions for each one.

Do firstLock cards and exposed accounts
Private plan · nothing is sent
Do this
Stop the missing items from being used before waiting on document replacement.
- Use a safe device. Lock or report each missing bank, credit, prepaid, benefit, transit, and building-access card through a contact you independently verify.
- If a phone or authentication device is missing, contact the carrier and secure the email and financial accounts that use it for sign-in.
- If keys were lost with an address or identifying information, tell the person responsible for the home, vehicle, workplace, or facility access.
Move on when: each exposed account or access item has a recorded status and next contact, even if a replacement is still pending.
Ways to get help for this step
- Kentucky EBT card line — 24 hours, statewide
  A missing Kentucky EBT card, 24 hours. Banks and other issuers are reached through a contact you verify independently.
  Call 1-888-979-9949
Back to your plan
Step 1Inventory what is missing of 7
Private plan · nothing is sent
Do this
A single list prevents one missing item from disappearing behind the first replacement call.
- List every missing card, ID, document, key, device, and account-access item you remember.
- Next to each item, record the issuer, the official contact route, and whether it is locked, reported, ordered, or still unknown.
- Write down which identity records, photos, statements, or account details you still have; do not send sensitive copies until an official issuer asks through a route you trust.
Move on when: every missing item has its own row and no item is being treated as replaced merely because it was reported.
Back to your plan
Step 2Replace cards needed for daily access of 7
Private plan · nothing is sent
Do this
Restore access to money, food, transportation, medication, and buildings while identity documents move on a separate track.
- Ask each issuer how to request the replacement, whether a temporary digital or in-person option exists, and how it will be delivered.
- For a missing Kentucky SNAP EBT card, call the state-published EBT customer-service number at 1-888-979-9949.
- Record the report or order number and any promised delivery or pickup instructions without treating an estimate as certain.
Move on when: each urgent card has a replacement request or a recorded blocker and fallback contact.
Ways to get help for this step
- Kentucky EBT card line — 24 hours, statewide
  Report and replace a missing Kentucky EBT card, 24 hours.
  Call 1-888-979-9949
Limits and what to confirm
- Delivery, temporary access, and recovery of lost funds depend on the issuer and are UNKNOWN here.
What was checked, and what is still unknown (1)
Official sources checked (1)
- Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family ServicesSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  Establishes: A lost, stolen, or damaged Kentucky EBT card is reported on 1-888-979-9949, which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  Checked on 2026-09-30
Still unknown
- Delivery, temporary access, and recovery of lost funds depend on the issuer and are UNKNOWN here.
Back to your plan
Step 3Set a safe delivery and document plan of 7
Private plan · nothing is sent
Do this
Confirm where replacements can safely arrive before placing orders that depend on mail or pickup.
- Choose the safest available mailing address and ask each issuer whether pickup or another delivery method is allowed when mail is not reliable.
- Gather the records you still have and compare names, birth dates, and addresses for mismatches.
- Ask the issuer what it will review before paying a fee, traveling, or sending documents.
Move on when: you know where the next replacement can go and which mismatches or missing documents must be discussed first.
Back to your plan
Step 4Replace your Kentucky license or ID of 7
Private plan · nothing is sent
Do this
Use the state credential route after urgent cards are secure and the delivery plan is clear.
- Open Kentucky's current replacement page and check whether your credential can be replaced through myDrive, by mail, or at a Driver Licensing Regional Office.
- If you are unhoused, ask the Regional Office about the conditional no-cost Homeless ID route. The public page describes a provider letter, while 601 KAR 12:080 names TC94-199 for covered adult transactions and TC94-198 for qualifying youth. Confirm the current letter or form, accepted verifier and other documents; a shelter coordinator signature is not a universal waiver.
- If the online or mail route is unavailable, find a Regional Office and schedule or plan the visit the current page directs you to make.
- Confirm the current fee and required documents before leaving; changes to name, address, or credential type can require additional records.
Move on when: the credential is ordered, or an office visit and its required documents are recorded as the next action.
Limits and what to confirm
- No-cost Homeless ID requires in-person application at a Regional Office and standard identity/SSN proof.
- Your replacement route, document requirements, and delivery date must be confirmed with KYTC.
What was checked, and what is still unknown (1)
Official sources checked (1)
- Kentucky Transportation CabinetIdentification Cards
  Establishes: Kentucky publishes $15 replacement, eligible verified-myDrive online/mail or Regional Office routes, no-document ordinary renewal/replacement when information is current, distinct first-ID/change requirements and conditional no-cost Homeless ID.
  Practical limit: No-cost Homeless ID requires in-person application at a Regional Office and standard identity/SSN proof.
  Checked on 2026-09-30
Still unknown
- Your replacement route, document requirements, and delivery date must be confirmed with KYTC.
Back to your plan
Step 5Replace a Social Security card if needed of 7
Private plan · nothing is sent
Do this
Knowing the number is often enough; a physical card is a later issuer-specific task rather than the first lost-wallet call.
- Start at SSA's replacement-card page. SSA says the replacement is free and the online questions determine whether the request can finish online.
- If SSA directs you to an office, schedule the appointment and bring the original or certified documents SSA names for your situation.
- Do not expect a local office to print the card the same day; record the mailing address and request status.
Move on when: SSA has processed the online request or an appointment and document list are recorded.
Limits and what to confirm
- Cards are printed at a central facility and delivered by postal mail; local field offices cannot print cards same-day.
- SSA will not accept photocopies or notarized copies; only original documents or certified copies directly from the custodian.
- Accepted identity evidence, appointment availability, and arrival of this card are UNKNOWN.
What was checked, and what is still unknown (2)
Official sources checked (2)
- Social Security AdministrationReplace Social Security card
  Establishes: SSA replacement cards are free, can often be requested online, and are mailed rather than printed by local offices; task support is 800-772-1213, weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in most U.S. time zones.
  Practical limit: Cards are printed at a central facility and delivered by postal mail; local field offices cannot print cards same-day.
  Checked on 2026-09-30
- Social Security AdministrationLearn what documents you will need to get a Social Security Card
  Establishes: SSA requires original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency; a birth certificate can establish age or citizenship but is not accepted as proof of identity.
  Practical limit: SSA will not accept photocopies or notarized copies; only original documents or certified copies directly from the custodian.
  Checked on 2026-09-07
Still unknown
- Accepted identity evidence, appointment availability, and arrival of this card are UNKNOWN.
Back to your plan
Step 6Replace insurance and remaining program cards of 7
Private plan · nothing is sent
Do this
Work through the rest of the inventory without letting one slow issuer stop the others.
- Use the insurer, agency, employer, school, transit system, library, or other issuer's official contact route.
- Ask whether service can continue while the physical card is missing and what temporary proof, if any, that issuer accepts.
- Keep unverified substitutes as questions; one issuer's answer does not establish another issuer's rule.
Move on when: every remaining item has an issuer response, an active request, or a dated next follow-up.
Ways to get help for this step
- DCBS Family Support — statewide
  The state Medicaid card; a health plan replaces its own card.
  Call 1-855-306-8959
- Kentucky Medicaid card and plan information — statewide
  Kentucky's explanation of the state Medicaid card versus the plan card.
  Open official route →
Back to your plan
Step 7Track orders, appointments, and receipt of 7
Private plan · nothing is sent
Do this
A submitted request is an open task until the replacement is safely received and usable.
- Record the issuer, report date, order date, appointment, confirmation number, delivery or pickup plan, and next check date.
- When an item arrives, confirm that the name and other details match before closing that row.
- Store the new item safely and update any dependent account or appointment that was waiting for it.
- Choose a safe contact method, name who owns the next action, and write down when to check again.
- Keep a safe copy or reference number for each notice, submission, referral, and instruction so the work can resume without starting over.
Move on when: each row is received and checked, or has a named owner, next date, and fallback.
Back to your plan

Everything this journey covers is below: the documents involved, what commonly blocks people, and the official routes. Pick whichever situations above match yours to narrow this to an ordered plan for each one, with what to bring, what to ask, and what to do if it does not work. You can pick more than one, and you can change your mind.

Documents and what replaces them (2)Every document this journey covers, what each one proves, and the accepted substitutes.

Documents and recovery questions

Anything marked “confirmed” below has a named source and a check date. Everything else is a question worth asking, not a rule — ask before relying on it.

Any secondary photo ID, expired credential, or shelter residency letter

State licensing offices and banks require secondary evidence when primary photo identification is lost.

If it is missing

Request Form TC 94-199 from your shelter or outreach caseworker, or use a recently expired ID (within 12 months).

Confirmed accepted instead

Form TC 94-199 from a homeless shelter, healthcare facility, or social service agencyAccepted by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver Licensing
- — Applies to Kentucky personal ID renewal or replacement and driver's license renewal or replacement.
- — Completed and signed by authorized agency staff; not for initial driver license or REAL ID.
601 KAR 12:080 — Drivers license or personal ID renewal or replacement for persons without fixed nighttime residence — checked 2026-09-12 — https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/601/012/080/
Expired Kentucky driver's license or personal ID card expired within the preceding 12 monthsAccepted by Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Driver Licensing Regional Offices
- — Accepted for standard credential replacement if physical appearance and identity record match state database.
Kentucky DRIVE — Identification Cards — checked 2026-09-12 — https://drive.ky.gov/Drivers/Pages/ID-Cards.aspx

Last checked 2026-09-12 · Kentucky · official source: 601 KAR 12:080 / Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

Account statements, direct deposit slips, or police incident report

Financial institutions and benefits agencies use account details and police report numbers to verify ownership and waive replacement fees.

If it is missing

Download statements from online banking, request a transaction summary at a local bank branch, or file an online police report.

Confirmed accepted instead

Bank statement, direct deposit slip, or electronic transaction record from online/mobile bankingAccepted by Financial Institutions & Social Service Agencies
- — Must show account holder name, last four digits of account, and recent transaction history.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Managing Your Money — checked 2026-09-12 — https://www.consumerfinance.gov
Police incident report or lost property report numberAccepted by Card Issuers, Driver Licensing Offices, & Benefits Agencies
- — Contains formal agency incident number, reporting date, and officer details where applicable.
Louisville Metro Police Department — Online Crime Reporting — checked 2026-09-12 — https://www.louisville-police.org

Last checked 2026-09-12 · Jurisdiction-neutral · official source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau / LMPD

If something is blocking you (4)What commonly stops people here, and what has worked around it.

If something is blocking you

Every replacement process appears to require another missing item.

Things to try

List the loop in writing and ask one issuer which first-step evidence it can review.
Ask a case manager to help sequence calls without representing any substitute as accepted.

Mail or account verification is not safe or accessible.

Things to try

Ask the issuer about pickup, contact-update, or recovery options before submitting an order.

Names, dates, or other identity details do not match across records.

Things to try

Write down the mismatch and ask the responsible issuer which record must be corrected first and what linking evidence it can review.

The normal route stalls, gives conflicting instructions, or cannot confirm the next step.

Things to try

Record who said what, when, and through which channel.
Ask what escalation or alternate channel exists, then keep a separate fallback route open.

Where to go — official routes (6)Named offices and services, each with its own source, check date, and published limits.

Verified official route

Kentucky ID card

Kentucky says a lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed ID card may be replaced online or by mail for eligible customers, or in person at a Driver Licensing Regional Office. The published replacement fee is $15. Name, address, and REAL ID changes can require additional documents.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-09-30 · Kentucky · official source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — Identification Cards

Verified official route

Kentucky birth certificate

Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics accepts Kentucky birth-certificate orders through its published mail, in-person, and authorized online or phone routes. The current birth-record search and certified-copy fee is $10 and is non-refundable when no record is found.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-09-30 · Kentucky · official source: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics — Certificate Purchase Options

Verified official route

SNAP EBT card

If your EBT card is lost, stolen, or damaged, call 1-888-979-9949. The line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-08-01 · Kentucky · official source: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services — SNAP

Verified official route

Kentucky Medicaid ID card

Kentucky Medicaid directs a member who lost the state Medicaid ID card to contact the Department for Community Based Services using the replacement number on the official Medicaid card page. A managed-care plan card is separate and uses that plan's contact route.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-08-01 · Kentucky · official source: Kentucky Medicaid — Medicaid identification card

Verified official route

Direct Express card

The U.S. Treasury says Direct Express customer service replaces a lost or stolen card. Its official page publishes the current customer-service routes and distinguishes them by the number printed on the card.

Open the verified official source

Last checked 2026-08-01 · Jurisdiction-neutral · official source: U.S. Treasury Bureau of the Fiscal Service — Direct Express

Build a handoff packet for a case managerFor a worker, advocate, or outreach team preparing a referral on someone's behalf.

Case manager packet

Build a Lost Wallet / Replace Important Documents handoff

[aria-labelledby='packet-builder-heading'] fieldset,[aria-labelledby='packet-builder-heading'] button,[aria-labelledby='packet-builder-heading'] label,[aria-labelledby='packet-builder-heading'] [aria-live]{display:none}Choosing packet sections needs JavaScript. You can open the full printable packet and use your browser's Print menu.

Choose the sections you can review together in under five minutes. The handoff starts with the first action and ends with a fallback. No One Left Outside does not ask for or store a client name, answers, case notes, or checklist progress.

Include in the packet

What to bring or gatherDocument prompts and recovery optionsOfficial sources and formsOwning agencies, source links, and check datesQuestions to confirmUNKNOWN details to ask an agency or providerIf the first route failsBlockers, alternatives, and recovery actions

First action plus 4 selected sections

Document prompts are preparation—not a verified agency checklist. UNKNOWN means “confirm this,” not “no.” A source link does not confirm eligibility or current availability.

Before the appointment ends

1. Name the next official contact.
2. Choose one UNKNOWN to confirm.
3. Agree on a fallback if the first route fails.

Routes whose sources publish 24/7 access

These sources describe the route as available around the clock. A route may be a staffed phone, text, or chat line, a self-service form, or a local process. This is not a live check that someone will answer or that a service has capacity. Read each availability note and confirm the current route when you can.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Mental-health distress, emotional distress, suicide, or substance-use crisis — for you or for someone you are worried about.
Call or text 988 988lifeline.org
Chat at chat.988lifeline.org. Text and chat are published in Spanish, and there is a Deaf and hard-of-hearing route.
988 publishes that it is available 24/7/365, free, and confidential.
Source: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — checked 2026-08-05.
Kentucky 211
Housing, food, utilities, transportation, and community services — when you need to know what exists near you tonight.
Dial 211
Or text your ZIP code to 898211.
Kentucky 211 answers 24 hours a day.
Source: No One Left Outside emergency contact policy (SOURCE_OF_TRUTH §11) — checked 2026-08-05.
VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
Any veteran who is homeless or at risk of it. Family, friends, and case managers may call on a veteran's behalf.
Call 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)va.gov/homeless
VA publishes a free, confidential online chat with a trained counselor, any time of day or night.
VA publishes that this line is available 24/7.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — National Call Center for Homeless Veterans — checked 2026-10-18.

4 more routes whose sources publish 24/7 access

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Confidential support if someone is hurting you or you are helping someone who is being hurt.
Call 1-800-799-7233 thehotline.org/get-help
Text START to 88788, or use the live chat. There are Spanish, StrongHearts, and video-phone routes.
The Hotline publishes phone, text, and chat routes to an advocate. It also warns that internet use can be monitored and is impossible to erase completely — if this device may be watched, use a different one.
Source: National Domestic Violence Hotline — Get Help — checked 2026-10-18.
Seven Counties Services crisis lines
Local crisis support for the Louisville area, staffed at any hour. Separate lines for adults, children, addiction recovery, and developmental-disability crisis.
Adult crisis (502) 589-4313 sevencounties.org
Child crisis (502) 589-8070. Addiction recovery (502) 583-3951. Developmental-disability crisis (502) 459-5292.
Seven Counties Services publishes all four lines as available 24/7, 365.
Source: Seven Counties Services — Crisis Number Directory — checked 2026-10-19.
Kentucky protective order
Filing a petition for an emergency protective order, if someone is hurting you or threatening you.
How protective orders work (Kentucky Court of Justice)
Petitions are filed with an Office of Circuit Court Clerk; the court publishes contact details for all 120 counties.
Kentucky courts are required to provide a 24-hour access process for orders of protection in every county. The after-hours location or procedure can vary by county. Contact the local circuit court clerk, law enforcement, or a domestic-violence program to confirm the local process. The Kentucky Court of Justice also states that there are no fees or costs for filing a petition. Whether to seek an order is your decision, and an advocate can help you think it through.
Source: Kentucky Court of Justice — How to Obtain a Protective Order — checked 2026-08-05.
Legal Aid Society online application
Eviction, housing conditions, benefits, and other civil legal problems in Jefferson County and fourteen surrounding counties.
yourlegalaid.org/application
Legal Aid Society publishes an online intake application available twenty-four hours a day. Its phone intake is Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed on Fridays — so at night the form is the way in.
Source: Legal Aid Society — Frequently Asked Questions — checked 2026-08-05.

If someone is in immediate danger or having a medical emergency, call 911.

Things that may help today

If a wallet was taken by force, or you are in immediate danger, use the Emergency help panel first — No One Left Outside does not monitor or dispatch help.
Secure exposed financial or online accounts before waiting on physical replacements.
Ask whether the immediate service can continue while formal replacement is pending.

Forms, portals, and instructions by step (9)Official routes with preparation and assistance steps, source dates, and material restrictions.

Documents inside the process

Forms, portals, and instructions by step

Open the route that matches your stage and situation. No One Left Outside preparation guidance explains the connected barriers; the official instructions control submission. This section does not collect answers or submit an application.

Document-recovery instructions
Replace a Kentucky birth certificate if it is required
Choose this route only when its stage and purpose match your situation. Follow its maintained official instructions and any notice sent to you.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. No ID and missing birth/Social Security evidence
  Identify which originals/certified documents already exist and the actual credential type. If Kentucky-born and qualifying homeless, locate an authorized VS-41 attester and prepare mailed VS-37/requester-ID packet. Ask SSA about allowable identity alternatives if standard photo ID cannot be replaced promptly; birth certificate alone is not identity for SS-5. Arrange KYTC qualifying residency/service attestation and remaining identity evidence before office visit.
  Official help for this step
2. OVS ordering instructions
  Birth occurred in Kentucky; OVS holds births since 1911. Confirm order, payment, visiting and pickup requirements.
  Official help for this step
3. Fee-exempt homeless birth record — VS-41
  Birth occurred in Kentucky; OVS holds births since 1911. A qualified authorized provider must complete the attestation packet.
  Official help for this step
- Official formInstructionsOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Kentucky certified birth certificate application (VS-37)
  Signed request for a certified Kentucky birth record; the separate VS-41 pathway can request a homeless-status fee exemption.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky. Revision / edition: Dec 20, 2023.
  Who completes it
  Requestor who can provide the birth-event and return-address information; any authorization is subject to OVS requirements.
  Gather before opening
  Birth name, date, Kentucky county and parent details; requester contact/return address. Check or money order for mailed paid order. For fee exemption, signed VS-41 and requester identification packet.
  Access or submission
  Mail signed application/payment to OVS, 275 E Main Street 1E-A, Frankfort KY 40621; OVS in person or visitor drop box; Authorized VitalChek online/phone ordering with additional fees
  Signature
  Requestor signature on VS-37.
  Application mode
  Print and mail; In person; Drop box; Authorized partner online/phone
  Stage
  Obtain a certified birth record
  Fees and waiver route
  $10 per certified copy or nonrefundable search; VitalChek processing/shipping extra and UNKNOWN. Qualifying VS-41 packet requests a fee-exempt record.
  Account or appointment
  No online account stated for mail/in-person; partner account requirements UNKNOWN. UNKNOWN — check current OVS visiting instructions.
  Before starting
  - Birth occurred in Kentucky; OVS holds births since 1911.
  - Provide a usable mailing address and event details.
  Application help
  - OVS ordering instructions
    Confirm order, payment, visiting and pickup requirements.
  - Fee-exempt homeless birth record — VS-41
    A qualified authorized provider must complete the attestation packet.
  Material restrictions
  - Search fee is nonrefundable even if no record is found.
  - Fee exemption does not remove other birth-record requirements.
  - A birth certificate alone does not prove identity for a Social Security replacement card.
  After submitting
  - Retain a copy and payment/order information.
  - Request OVS help if details or delivery are uncertain.
  What this does not prove: Official instructions and the person's notice control; an application is not an eligibility or approval decision.
  Official owner: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. External source conformance was not evaluated; request agency assistance for an inaccessible process. English form read; Spanish birth application linked in official directory.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Address-continuity — confirm limits before relying on it
If no permanent address is available for replacement mail
Choose this route only when its stage and purpose match your situation. Follow its maintained official instructions and any notice sent to you.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. No stable mailing address
  Ask destination Post Office about authorized General Delivery facility, ZIP and acceptable identification before directing mail there. Check pickup/hold restrictions and document-delivery acceptability with the issuing agency. For TC94-199, obtain organization-approved mail arrangements rather than assuming USPS address proves Kentucky residency.
  Official help for this step
2. USPS General Delivery rules
  Confirm authorized facility, correct ZIP, identification and pickup rules before addressing mail. Use official rules when asking destination Post Office about service.
  Official help for this step
- Official instructionsOptionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  USPS General Delivery instructions
  Temporary mail-receiving route for people without a permanent address, subject to the destination Post Office's instructions.
  Jurisdiction: United States; Post Office availability must be confirmed. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  Mail recipient arranging service with the destination Post Office.
  Gather before opening
  Suitable identification may be required; exact local accepted documents UNKNOWN.
  Access or submission
  Ask destination Post Office which General Delivery facility and ZIP to use before sending mail
  Signature
  UNKNOWN — local identification and collection procedures control.
  Application mode
  Local Post Office arrangement
  Stage
  Arrange temporary mail receipt
  Fees and waiver route
  UNKNOWN — checked DMM section does not establish charges for every arrangement.
  Account or appointment
  No online account requirement stated in checked section. UNKNOWN — local office pickup arrangements control.
  Before starting
  - Confirm authorized facility, correct ZIP, identification and pickup rules before addressing mail.
  Application help
  - USPS General Delivery rules
    Use official rules when asking destination Post Office about service.
  Material restrictions
  - Postmaster may refuse service where identity is insufficient or volume cannot reasonably be handled.
  - General Delivery is not durable housing or universal residency proof.
  After submitting
  - Collect mail within the local hold period; DMM ordinarily limits hold to30 days unless sender directs less.
  What this does not prove: Official instructions and the person's notice control; an application is not an eligibility or approval decision.
  Official owner: United States Postal Service. External source conformance was not evaluated; request agency assistance for an inaccessible process. English source read; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Select first issuance, replacement, renewal or REAL ID upgrade
First ID issuance, current account options, document requirements and fee-specific assistance routes.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. KYTC ID instructions
  Check credential type and required supporting evidence before visiting. Confirm credential/documents and nearest office.
  Official help for this step
2. No fixed nighttime residence —TC 94-199
  Check credential type and required supporting evidence before visiting. Agency attester route; conditional fee treatment.
  Official help for this step
- Official instructionsConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Kentucky identification card application instructions
  First ID issuance, current account options, document requirements and fee-specific assistance routes.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky. Revision / edition: Unknown.
  Who completes it
  Applicant; guardian presence/consent applies to minors under agency rules.
  Gather before opening
  Birth/identity, Social Security and residency evidence as instructed. Special homeless ID route requires qualifying service/residency attestation and remaining identity evidence.
  Access or submission
  First issuance in person at Driver Licensing Regional Office; Eligible renewal/replacement methods depend on current myDrive verification rules
  Signature
  UNKNOWN — regional-office application and any special affidavit requirements control.
  Application mode
  In person; Optional pre-application; Eligible renewal/replacement online/mail
  Stage
  Select first issuance, replacement, renewal or REAL ID upgrade
  Fees and waiver route
  Ordinary ID: $11.50/4 years or $23/8 years; REAL ID:$14/4 years or $28/8 years. Special homeless/voter and child rules differ; confirm payment surcharge.
  Account or appointment
  myDrive online verification may require a recent KYTC Letter ID. First issuance still needs office visit; exact applicant online eligibility UNKNOWN. UNKNOWN — use current office scheduling guidance.
  Before starting
  - Check credential type and required supporting evidence before visiting.
  Application help
  - KYTC ID instructions
    Confirm credential/documents and nearest office.
  - No fixed nighttime residence —TC 94-199
    Agency attester route; conditional fee treatment.
  Material restrictions
  - No REAL ID application by using TC 94-199.
  - Homeless ID fee exemption does not waive birth/SS evidence.
  - Online sign-in does not replace an initial required office visit.
  After submitting
  - Keep office receipt and follow credential-delivery instructions.
  What this does not prove: Official instructions and the person's notice control; an application is not an eligibility or approval decision.
  Official owner: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. External source conformance was not evaluated; request agency assistance for an inaccessible process. English source read; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Resolve residency evidence for eligible standard credential task
Agency attestation and approved mailing-address support for specified standard ID/license tasks.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Cannot pay document fees
  Check Kentucky birth-record fee exemption independently from Kentucky credential fee exemption. Ask eligible attester to prepare VS-41 packet where applicable. Use TC94-199 fee rules for the actual credential/residency status; no general waiver for REAL ID or license tasks.
  Official help for this step
2. KYTC ID instructions
  Find an organization official with authority to attest services/residency. Check other documents and credential eligibility.
  Official help for this step
- Official formConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Kentucky adult applicant without an established nighttime residence (TC94-199)
  Agency attestation and approved mailing-address support for specified standard ID/license tasks.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky. Revision / edition: Jul 2026.
  Who completes it
  Applicant and attesting shelter/treatment/service organization official.
  Gather before opening
  Birth/identity and Social Security evidence still required. Agency service/residency attestation and organization-approved mailing address.
  Access or submission
  Present required packet at KYTC regional office
  Signature
  Attester signature and date; other applicant application signatures are office-specific.
  Application mode
  Agency-attested paper; In-person credential visit
  Stage
  Resolve residency evidence for eligible standard credential task
  Fees and waiver route
  Qualifying homeless state ID:$0. Nonhomeless temporary-shelter ID:$11.50; license renewal:$21.50; duplicate:$15. Form states 1.5% debit fee on paid items; confirm office payment rules.
  Account or appointment
  No account requirement stated on this form. UNKNOWN — arrange provider/office assistance.
  Before starting
  - Find an organization official with authority to attest services/residency.
  - Arrange approved mail receipt and remaining identity documents.
  Application help
  - KYTC ID instructions
    Check other documents and credential eligibility.
  Material restrictions
  - Not valid for initial operator license, initial instruction permit or REAL ID.
  - A listed organization is not proven willing or authorized to attest for a particular person.
  After submitting
  - Keep attestation and office receipt; collect credential at approved address.
  What this does not prove: Official instructions and the person's notice control; an application is not an eligibility or approval decision.
  Official owner: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. External source conformance was not evaluated; request agency assistance for an inaccessible process. English source read; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Original, replacement or record correction
Free original, replacement or correction application with original/certified evidence and specific signing rules.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Social Security — 800-772-1213; TTY 800-325-0778
  Choose correct card task and acceptable evidence. Get help with the actual claim, report, appeal, payee or card task. Ask SSA which office provides that service and whether an appointment is needed before traveling.
  Official help for this step
- Official formConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Application for a Social Security Card (SS-5)
  Free original, replacement or correction application with original/certified evidence and specific signing rules.
  Jurisdiction: United States. Revision / edition: Dec 2024.
  Who completes it
  Capable adult signs their own application; permitted parent/guardian/relative rules depend on age/ability and authority evidence.
  Gather before opening
  Originals or custodian-certified proof of identity and applicable age/citizenship/status or change; ordinary copies/notarized copies are not accepted. If standard identity document cannot be replaced promptly, ask SSA whether an allowed alternative fits.
  Access or submission
  Take or mail signed packet to local SSA office as applicable; Eligible online replacement process; office appointment may still be needed
  Signature
  Signed in black/blue ink; X mark needs two witnesses; signature authority proof when filing for someone else.
  Application mode
  Print and mail; In person; Eligible online replacement
  Stage
  Original, replacement or record correction
  Fees and waiver route
  Free Social Security card application.
  Account or appointment
  Online route requirements depend on circumstances; paper instructions do not require online account. Age12+ never previously assigned a number must apply in person; other office arrangements require SSA confirmation.
  Before starting
  - Choose correct card task and acceptable evidence.
  - Arrange an address where the card can be received.
  Application help
  - Social Security — 800-772-1213; TTY 800-325-0778
    Get help with the actual claim, report, appeal, payee or card task. Ask SSA which office provides that service and whether an appointment is needed before traveling.
  Material restrictions
  - Birth certificate proves age/citizenship in relevant cases but does not prove identity for this process.
  - SSA decides if alternative medical/school/employer evidence is acceptable.
  - No ordinary photocopy or generic notarized-copy substitution.
  After submitting
  - Keep submission receipt; mailed supporting originals are returned under form instructions.
  What this does not prove: Official instructions and the person's notice control; an application is not an eligibility or approval decision.
  Official owner: Social Security Administration. External source conformance was not evaluated; request agency assistance for an inaccessible process. English source read; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Request birth-record fee exemption
Provider-assisted affidavit and mailed packet requesting one fee-exempt certified birth record for a qualified Kentucky-born person.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. Authorized attester requirements
  Registrant born in Kentucky and qualifies under form's homeless definitions. Use reverse-side list to identify an eligible provider/education official; willingness is UNKNOWN.
  Official help for this step
2. OVS birth instructions
  Registrant born in Kentucky and qualifies under form's homeless definitions. Confirm remaining birth-event request requirements.
  Official help for this step
- Supporting documentConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Kentucky homeless-status affidavit for a fee-exempt birth record (VS-41)
  Provider-assisted affidavit and mailed packet requesting one fee-exempt certified birth record for a qualified Kentucky-born person.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky. Revision / edition: Dec 2025.
  Who completes it
  Authorized homeless-services provider or designated education/college financial-aid official with knowledge of status; requester must be lawfully entitled.
  Gather before opening
  Printed VS-37 birth application. Requester agency photo ID or state driver license plus business card/organization name-tag evidence as prescribed.
  Access or submission
  Mail affidavit, printed VS-37 and requester ID to OVS,275 E Main Street1E-A,Frankfort KY40621-0001
  Signature
  Qualified provider's agent signs and dates sworn/affirmed verification; no independent notary requirement is stated.
  Application mode
  Provider-completed affidavit; Print and mail packet
  Stage
  Request birth-record fee exemption
  Fees and waiver route
  One qualifying fee-exempt birth record per application; other order requirements remain.
  Account or appointment
  No online account requirement stated. UNKNOWN — provider's availability/authority must be established.
  Before starting
  - Registrant born in Kentucky and qualifies under form's homeless definitions.
  - Find a lawful authorized requester/attester with personal knowledge.
  Application help
  - Authorized attester requirements
    Use reverse-side list to identify an eligible provider/education official; willingness is UNKNOWN.
  - OVS birth instructions
    Confirm remaining birth-event request requirements.
  Material restrictions
  - No exemption for out-of-state birth through Kentucky OVS.
  - Does not waive other VS-37 requirements.
  - A directory entry does not prove a particular provider will attest.
  After submitting
  - Keep packet copy and follow OVS questions/order instructions.
  What this does not prove: Official instructions and the person's notice control; an application is not an eligibility or approval decision.
  Official owner: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. External source conformance was not evaluated; request agency assistance for an inaccessible process. English source read; other versions UNKNOWN.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Obtain certified Kentucky death record
Request a certified record of a Kentucky death since1911 for identity, estate or benefit documentation needs.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. OVS ordering instructions
  Provide full death name/date/place and requester relationship/contact details. Confirm event, payment and order requirements.
  Official help for this step
- Official formConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Kentucky certified death certificate application (VS-31)
  Request a certified record of a Kentucky death since1911 for identity, estate or benefit documentation needs.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky. Revision / edition: Dec 20, 2023.
  Who completes it
  Requestor with required event and return-address information.
  Gather before opening
  Event details and requester contact/address; payment when required.
  Access or submission
  Mail application/check or money order to OVS; OVS in person or drop box; Authorized VitalChek ordering with extra fees
  Signature
  Requestor signs the application.
  Application mode
  Print and mail; In person; Drop box; Authorized partner
  Stage
  Obtain certified Kentucky death record
  Fees and waiver route
  $6 nonrefundable per copy/search; partner processing/shipping extra UNKNOWN.
  Account or appointment
  No account stated for mail/in-person; partner account UNKNOWN. UNKNOWN — confirm visiting instructions.
  Before starting
  - Provide full death name/date/place and requester relationship/contact details.
  Application help
  - OVS ordering instructions
    Confirm event, payment and order requirements.
  Material restrictions
  - Kentucky OVS covers Kentucky events since1911.
  - A record search may not find a certificate and fee is nonrefundable.
  After submitting
  - Keep order/payment evidence; contact OVS if record details or delivery uncertain.
  What this does not prove: Official instructions and the person's notice control; an application is not an eligibility or approval decision.
  Official owner: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. External source conformance was not evaluated; request agency assistance for an inaccessible process. English application read; Spanish versions linked in official form directory.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Obtain certified marriage/divorce event record
Request a certified Kentucky marriage/divorce event record sinceJune1958; distinguish this certificate from a license or decree.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. OVS ordering instructions
  Provide parties' names, date and county; confirm whether a certificate or actual decree/license is required. Confirm current office/order information.
  Official help for this step
- Official formConditionalConfirm current edition or status; source checked Sep 30, 2026
  Kentucky certified marriage or divorce certificate application (VS-230)
  Request a certified Kentucky marriage/divorce event record sinceJune1958; distinguish this certificate from a license or decree.
  Jurisdiction: Kentucky. Revision / edition: Dec 20, 2023.
  Who completes it
  Requestor with required event and return-address information.
  Gather before opening
  Event details and requester contact/address; payment when required.
  Access or submission
  Mail application/check or money order to OVS; OVS in person or drop box; Authorized VitalChek ordering with extra fees
  Signature
  Requestor signs the application.
  Application mode
  Print and mail; In person; Drop box; Authorized partner
  Stage
  Obtain certified marriage/divorce event record
  Fees and waiver route
  $6 nonrefundable per copy/search; partner processing/shipping extra UNKNOWN.
  Account or appointment
  No account stated for mail/in-person; partner account UNKNOWN. UNKNOWN — current visiting instructions control.
  Before starting
  - Provide parties' names, date and county; confirm whether a certificate or actual decree/license is required.
  Application help
  - OVS ordering instructions
    Confirm current office/order information.
  Material restrictions
  - BeforeJune1958, seek marriage records from county clerk or divorce records from circuit clerk.
  - Certificate may not substitute for court decree or marriage license.
  - PDF hours conflict with maintained ordering instructions.
  After submitting
  - Keep order/payment evidence; resolve document type with requesting agency.
  What this does not prove: Official instructions and the person's notice control; an application is not an eligibility or approval decision.
  Official owner: Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics. External source conformance was not evaluated; request agency assistance for an inaccessible process. English application read; Spanish versions linked in official form directory.
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet
Conditional route — use the purpose and restrictions below
Recover military service records before a benefits request
Request missing DD214 or other military service records using NARA online or the currently linked SF180 mail/fax route.
Read the connected journey step
No One Left Outside preparation guidance
1. NARA military records help and request status
  Confirm requester authority and whether records are federal/nonarchival or archival. Request status, requester authority, online help and NPRC customer service.
  Official help for this step
- Official formConditionalOfficial destination checked Sep 30, 2026
  Request Pertaining to Military Records (SF 180)
  Request missing DD214 or other military service records using NARA online or the currently linked SF180 mail/fax route.
  Jurisdiction: United States (federal program). Revision / edition: Jun 2026.
  Who completes it
  The applicant or an authorized requester, as the official process allows.
  Gather before opening
  Service identity, branch, dates and requested record type as the official form asks. Eligible next-of-kin requester may need a copy of proof of death; preserve originals.
  Access or submission
  Online eVetRecs via the maintained NARA link; ID.me identity verification applies; Mail or fax to the record custodian selected using current SF180 destination table
  Signature
  For nonarchival records, authorized requester signs/dates as the current form instructs. Archival records have different authorization rules.
  Application mode
  Online; Paper by mail/fax
  Stage
  Recover military service records before a benefits request
  Fees and waiver route
  Most basic nonarchival requests by veterans/eligible next-of-kin are free; archival copies and certain services can have fees. Confirm with NARA.
  Account or appointment
  NARA states new online requests and electronic responses use ID.me; mail/fax alternative exists. No appointment established for these request channels.
  Before starting
  - Confirm requester authority and whether records are federal/nonarchival or archival.
  - Select the record custodian using the current form instructions; no single address covers all records.
  Application help
  - NARA military records help and request status
    Request status, requester authority, online help and NPRC customer service.
  Material restrictions
  - Old Archives PDF still appears in searches; this record uses the maintained GSA June 2026 edition.
  - Month precision: June 2026 revision.
  - Do not send originals; records and identity information go directly to the official custodian.
  After submitting
  - Retain your request reference and use NARA status instructions. Processing time depends on record availability and request complexity.
  What this does not prove: The agency determines acceptance, eligibility and processing; opening the route establishes none of those outcomes.
  Official owner: National Archives / GSA. External accessibility conformance has not been tested by No One Left Outside. English
  Open official destination Full record
  Adds to a private plan in this browser tab. Nothing is sent to the provider, and nothing is applied for.
  Include in packet

Related resources

These are directory leads, not endorsements or proof of eligibility. Confidential addresses are never shown in this strip.

Birth Certificates
Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics
Needs verification
Private plan in this tab. Nothing is sent.
Homeless ID Card
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - Driver Licensing
Needs verification
Private plan in this tab. Nothing is sent.
Bardstown Regional Office
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - Driver Licensing
Needs verification
Private plan in this tab. Nothing is sent.
Bellevue Regional Office
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - Driver Licensing
Needs verification
Private plan in this tab. Nothing is sent.

Adds: Birth Certificates, Homeless ID Card, Bardstown Regional Office. Private to this tab; nothing is sent.

View all resources for this journey

If something goes wrong

What to do when a step does not work

A closed office, a failed website or a “no” does not end the plan. Guidance written for this guide comes first. Where this guide has none, No One Left Outside’s general guidance is shown and labelled.

Show the seven situations, deadlines, county differences and what No One Left Outside does not know

If a document is missing

From this guide

Every replacement process appears to require another missing item.
- List the loop in writing and ask one issuer which first-step evidence it can review.
- Ask a case manager to help sequence calls without representing any substitute as accepted.
Names, dates, or other identity details do not match across records.
- Write down the mismatch and ask the responsible issuer which record must be corrected first and what linking evidence it can review.
Missing: Any secondary photo ID, expired credential, or shelter residency letter
- Request Form TC 94-199 from your shelter or outreach caseworker, or use a recently expired ID (within 12 months).
- Officially accepted instead: Form TC 94-199 from a homeless shelter, healthcare facility, or social service agency; Expired Kentucky driver's license or personal ID card expired within the preceding 12 months.
Missing: Account statements, direct deposit slips, or police incident report
- Download statements from online banking, request a transaction summary at a local bank branch, or file an online police report.
- Officially accepted instead: Bank statement, direct deposit slip, or electronic transaction record from online/mobile banking; Police incident report or lost property report number.