Can I get paid a settlement without a Social Security number?
- Texas Attorney
- Yale B.A. · University of Houston Law Center J.D.
- Habla español
- Updated October 5, 2026
Yes. You don't need a Social Security number to make an injury claim or to receive your settlement. The insurance company pays your lawyer's trust account, and we pay you from it. Under federal tax law, money received for physical injuries is generally not taxable income.
Tell me what happened
Jimmy reads every request himself and will be in touch with you shortly.
How a settlement is paid
When a claim settles, the insurance company sends the money to your lawyer's trust account, a special account that holds client money separately from the firm's own. From that account we pay any medical bills or liens that have to be paid from the settlement, the agreed attorney's fee and case expenses, and then the rest to you. You see every number in writing before anything is paid, and you approve it.
You do not need a Social Security number for any of that.
Getting your money without a bank account
We can pay you by check, and many banks and credit unions open accounts with an ITIN and a passport or a consular ID. If you have family or obligations in another country, we can talk about the safest way to get money where it needs to go. Don't carry large amounts of cash.
Is a settlement taxable?
Under federal tax law, money received for personal physical injuries, including the part for lost wages, is generally not taxable income. Punitive damages and interest are different and can be taxable. Every case is different, so we point you to a tax preparer when it matters. If you ever need to file taxes, the IRS issues an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to people who don't qualify for a Social Security number.
Medical bills and liens
Hospitals in Texas can claim part of a settlement for unpaid emergency care, and doctors who treated you under a letter of protection are paid from it. We review every bill and push to reduce them, because every dollar saved there goes to you.
How long until I'm paid?
After you approve a settlement and sign the release, insurance companies usually send payment within a few weeks. Medical liens can add time, because they must be resolved before the money is distributed. We give you a realistic timeline for your case, and we tell you when the money arrives.
Protect yourself from scams
People who are undocumented are targeted by scammers, including notarios and others who promise faster or bigger settlements for a fee. No one from our office will ever ask you to pay money to receive your settlement, and we never charge anything up front. If anyone does, call us before you pay.
If you leave the United States
Your claim does not disappear if you move or are forced to leave. We can keep working the case with you by phone and video, and we can pay you abroad. Jimmy Suerken is a Mexican-American attorney who speaks Spanish, and you can talk with him directly about how you want to be paid.
More answers for people injured without papers
Other ways people ask this
Will the insurance company ask for my Social Security number before paying?
The insurer pays our trust account. You do not need a Social Security number to receive your settlement from us.
Can my settlement be sent to my family in Mexico or Central America?
Your settlement is paid to you, and we can work with you on the safest way to send money to family abroad.
Do I need an ITIN to get paid?
No. An ITIN can help with opening a bank account or filing taxes, but you don't need one to receive your settlement.
Will I owe taxes on my settlement?
Generally not for money received for physical injuries, under federal law. Punitive damages and interest can be taxable. Ask a tax preparer about your situation.
Authority: 26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(2) · IRS: ITIN (Form W-7)
Your next steps, and ours
Keep every bill
Medical bills, receipts and letters from hospitals. We review each one and push to reduce them.
Bring your ITIN or consular ID
Not required, but it can make banking easier. Tell us if you might move or leave the U.S.
Call Jimmy
713-600-6233Free and confidential. You can talk with Jimmy directly about how you want to be paid.
We pay you, in writing
You see every number before anything is paid, and you approve how the money reaches you.
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