How to acquire a Sozialversicherungsausweis

Anybody shed light on getting a Sozialversicherungsausweis - Ive heard so many stories about how you come about one, who and who doesnt issue them, cant employers just make do with a Lohnstaukarte instead?

Its sent to you automatically aprox. 4-6 months after you 1st register in Germany.
No, a Lohnstaukarte deals with tax.. A Sozialversicherungsausweis deals with health insurance/pensions (Apples/Oranges)
If after 4-6 months you still don't have it, contact your Health Insurance Company.

from what I remember we had to call for one, or was it send a letter(?)..

I can ask my husband later, but I know we actually had to do something (call, letter) to get it..

Your health insurance company arranges for one to be issued by The Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund once your social security number has been issued. As DK suggests, if you are new here it can take a while, but there's no harm in contacting your health insurance to check on progress

HEath insurance companies do not issue any more..

That's not what I said...

Sorry Yorkie - what I meant to say was Health insurance companies dont arrange to get this for you anymore - this is
what ive been told..

Actually, they still do (arrange, that is), atleast the public ones. Know this because I just got mine a couple of months ago (have things changed since then?), and my insurance company goofed up on a couple of details and hence I got a 'wrong' Sozialversicherungsausweis. Contacted the insurance company and they cleared it up. Got my new, latest and greatest Sozialversicherungsausweis last Thursday.

Everything all sorted, thanks for the responses guys...

So for the benefit of future passers-by, why not share your experiences?

I shall bear that in mind, Yorkshire man.

Sorry, let me re-phrase that.

So for the benefit of future passers-by, why not share your experiences here?