How To Apply For Social Security For Newborn

Social Security Disability Filing

With childhood autism, the Social Security Administration has a listing in the Impairment Listing Manual under Section 112.10. Under this listing, there are requirements for the child to meet to be eligible for benefits. Examples of things that Social Security will consider are if your child had difficulty making friends and understanding social cues from others these are considered delays in reciprocal social interactions. Children on the Spectrum may have difficulties with changes to their schedules and knowing how to appropriately express emotions, such as disappointment or anger. Information from doctors, teachers, daycare providers, and family members can be very useful in helping Social Security determine your childs disability and eligibility for benefits.

A diagnosis of autism does not automatically make a child eligible to receive benefits. Children with autism are often very high functioning. In order to determine disability Social Security will look at your childs development and ability to function in comparison to other children their age. If your childs development is significantly delayed compared to their peers, they may qualify for benefits. Social Security uses 6 domains to evaluate your childs disability. Having an experienced representative to help you understand what evidence you will need is very important. Disability Support Services representatives have many years of experience and can help you navigate this maze.

If Youre A Parent Social Security Is A Key Part Of Estate Planning

There is a laundry list of variables surrounding Social Security the age you take it, how much you receive if youre still earning income, etc. One thing, however, is universal to all parents: The need for planning.

Regardless of how old you are, if you are married or have children, have a plan in case one or both parents pass away or are disabled, Sexton said. Understanding your benefits in these events is critical to providing your family with the financial support they will need.

Sexton advises his clients who are parents to do the following:

• Formalize a will and trust to indicate who will get what, when and where.

• Create a plan to replace income in the event a parent dies. This can be accomplished easily through life insurance.

• Create a plan for where the money will come from in case one or both parents die.

More From GOBankingRates

Social Security Disability Insurance Program

The SSDI program will pay benefits to adults who have a disability that began before they turned 22 years-old. This is considered a childs benefit because its paid on a parents Social Security earnings record. To receive this benefit, the child must have a parent who is receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, or must have died and worked enough to qualify for Social Security. Children who receive SSDI as a minor will continue to receive benefits as a disabled adult child as long as they meed the disability rules for adults.

Dont Miss: Is Nonny From Bubble Guppies Autistic

You May Like: How To Keep A Newborn Awake During The Day

Visit The Social Security Office

While the easiest way to secure your childs Social Security number is through the hospital paperwork above, not all babies are born at the hospital. Many babies are born at home or in another type of facility. Alternatively, some parents dont receive a birth request form from the hospital for some reason or another.

If any of the above applies to you, your Social Security Administration office is where you go to apply for your childs number. At your local Social Security office, youll need the following:

• Form SS-5 – This is the Application for Social Security Number. You can fill this out in advance or at the office. Its available on the Social Security Administrations website.
• Medical documents – Youll need at least two documents proving the age of your baby, their identity, and citizenship status. This is typically your childs birth certificate and medical records.
• Parent identification – Finally, bring proof of your own identity. This is usually your drivers license or passport. You must provide at least two separate documents.

You can apply for your documents in person or by mail. Because youll need to provide official or certified copies of your documents, its usually easier to apply in person. There is no charge for a Social Security card.

A Child May Be Eligible For Benefits Based On A Parent’s Work Record

• What Is SSI?

Social Security is usually associated with monthly payments to retirees. But there is another important facet to Social Security benefitsproviding financial assistance to children. Children may qualify for benefits if a parent is retired, disabled, or diseased.

Children who are disabled may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income , a separate program that’s also run by the Social Security Administration . Here’s the lowdown on who qualifies for what.

Don’t Miss: Do Hospitals Offer Newborn Photography

Supplemental Security Income Program Entry At Age 18 And Entrants Subsequent Earnings

Latest information on benefits for a disabled child

In determining Supplemental Security Income eligibility and payment levels for child applicants and recipients, the Social Security Administration attributes part of parental income to the child using a process called deeming. Parental-income deeming ends at age 18, and many youths with severe disabilities who were income-ineligible for SSI as minors can become income-eligible as adults. This article provides evidence that substantial numbers of youths apply for SSI as soon as they turn 18. Additionally, the distribution by disability type of youths applying at or after age 18 differs from that of youths applying just before age 18. Further, applications filed at age 18 are more likely to be allowed than are those filed at age 17. Using denied applicants as a comparison group, I estimate a reduced likelihood of subsequent employment for allowed SSI applicants aged 1719 with an expected upper bound of about 25 percentage points.

Jeffrey Hemmeter is the deputy director of the Office of Program Development, Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment Support, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Social Security Administration.

Acknowledgments: The author is grateful to Molly Costanzo, Jim Twist, Clark Pickett, Chelsea Shudtz, Ken Brown, Linda Mitchell, and other members of SSAs Office of SSI and Program Integrity Policy staff for their comments on drafts of this article.

Keep Your Card Safe And Secure

No matter how or when you apply, theres never any cost for a Social Security number or a card. But when you get a card either for you or your child treat it like its one of the most important pieces of paper you own, because it is. The SSA cautions against carrying it around with you in your wallet. If you lose or damage your card or that of your child you can get a replacement, but thats not a failsafe you want to count on indefinitely.

The SSA will issue no more than three replacement cards in a year and no more than 10 replacements in a lifetime, not counting legal name changes and other exemptions.

Extra, Extra!: Social Security COLA Increases Add This Much Cash To Your Pockets Each Month

Also Check: How Much Do Newborns Sleep A Day

Tips For Applying For An Ssn For A Newborn

Are you having a baby soon and youre thinking about getting a social security card? Here are some tips you should keep in mind:

• You will have to fill a document that requests the birth certificate of the newborn baby at the hospital. In this form, you will have the option to apply for an SSN for the baby too. If you write Yes, it is necessary to offer the SSNs of both parents. You can also still apply for the childs SSN if one parent has the SSN while the other doesnt. When its ready, the babys SSN will be sent by mail.
• It is voluntary to apply for an SSN for a newborn baby.
• It is better to apply for the SSN when the baby is born because the hospital will handle everything.
• Go to to find out the closest Social Security office.
• Complete Form SS-5 if you only file for the SSN later. Also, provide proof of your identity, proof of the babys identity, age and citizenship, and a copy of the birth record.
• Applying for the SSN is completely free.

Your Newborn And Their Social Security Number

• Save

Buchheit

Getting your newborn a Social Security number is important for their future. If your child is born in a hospital, the easiest way to apply for a Social Security number is right at the hospital.

When you give information for your childs birth certificate at the hospital, youll be asked whether you want to apply for a Social Security number for your child. If you say yes, you will be asked to provide both parents Social Security numbers, if you can. Even if you dont know both parents Social Security numbers, you can still apply for a number for your child.

There are many reasons why your child should have a Social Security number. You need a Social Security number to claim your child as a dependent on your income tax return. Your child may also need a number if you plan to do the following for your child:

• Open a bank account.

• Apply for government services.

You can find more information by reading Social Security Numbers for Children at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10023.pdf.

Please share this information with people who are expecting a child. Applying for a Social Security number at the hospital will save them time and let them focus on the new member of their family.

You May Like: How Often Should I Give My Newborn A Bath

Applications Filed Around Age 18

Given the substantial change in the treatment of parental earnings once an applicant reaches age 18, it is useful to understand how many youths apply before and after that threshold, how quickly they tend to apply afterward, and whether their characteristics differ according to age at application. As expected, the age distribution of SSI applicants clearly spikes in the month of turning 18 . In each of the years studied, SSI applications were filed in roughly equal numbersgenerally about 1,350by applicants in most of the 12 months preceding their 18th birthday. That number crept upward for applicants in the final months before their 18th birthday, likely reflecting individuals exiting foster care or other special circumstances. The number spiked to about 13,500 applications filed for individuals within a month of turning 18. Applications numbered roughly 3,000 for individuals in each of their remaining months at age 18. The number blipped slightly upward to about 3,300 for youths applying in the month they turned 19 and then declined until leveling off at around 2,800 for those applying as they approached age 20. Some of the increase in applications after age 18 may result from return to the program after the age-18 redetermination.

Recommended Reading: Is Dr Shaun Murphy Really Autistic

How Do I Get An Ssn For My Newborn

The easiest way to apply for an SSN for a new baby is to request one on the birth registration form. The hospital should provide you with the birth registration form before you go home, since this is the form you will fill out to apply for your babys birth certificate. All you have to do is check the box stating that you want to get an SSN for the child. It will also ask for the Social Security numbers of the parent. In this case, it usually takes 4-5 weeks for the Social Security number and card to arrive in the mail.

If you did not complete the form after your baby was born, or you just didnt request an SSN at that time, you can go to your local Social Security Administration office and apply for an SSN for your baby in person. However, it is a little more complicated, since youll need to:

• Fill out the Form SS-5
• Provide the parent Social Security numbers
• Show at least two documents proving your childs age, identity, and citizenship status, for example, a birth certificate and a medical record or hospital birth record.
• Present proof of your identity

When the SSA has processed your application, your childs Social Security card will be delivered by mail in 6-12 weeks. However, if your child is over one year old, the processing time will be longer, since the SSA must contact the Vital Records Office to verify that the birth certificate is valid.

You May Like: How To Avoid Gas In Newborns

When Competitive Employment Is Not An Option

As early-diagnosed and early-treated children with Asperger profiles come of age, we hope that tomorrows adults with Asperger profiles will be better prepared to enter the workforcebut the data is not yet in.

Some fail repeatedly despite having advanced degrees or superior skills or knowledge. A weak work ethic or poor work habits are not the source of the problem. Adults with Asperger profiles are out there, giving it their allbut still not getting the job, or getting fired repeatedly.

• Some individuals may experience anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, tics, or seizures. By themselves these symptoms or conditions might not be disabling, but they may make work impossible in combination with Asperger profile challenges.
• Some are overwhelmed or even injured by the stress of coping with an uncongenial work environment, and/or by their repeated work failures. When someone has had several work failures and/or has had a significant worsening of their physical or psychological health because of work-related stress, they may require relief from work expectations in order to have some balance or quality of life. For them, it may be necessary to consider alternative support, such as disability pension benefits.
• It may also be clear that certain young adults with minimal or no previous work attempts will probably not succeed at any kind of conventional employment, and are better off not attempting the impossible.

Store Your Childs Card Safely

Finally, once youve received your childs Social Security number, keep their card somewhere secure. Identity fraud is a real threat, so make sure you have somewhere safe to keep the card secure. Youll need this number for tax forms, benefits, and other government documents.

Its smart to keep this with your other important documents. Preferably, store it in an easy to secure safe or another storage system. Learn more about how long to keep documents for more information on how to secure legal and government documents.

Tip: Celebrate a life well-lived virtually with GatheringUs.

» MORE: Create one for free with Cake.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Crib For Newborn