How To Apply For Your Childs Social Security Card Yourself
What happens if your child was born outside of a hospital, or you didn’t use the hospital’s EAB service to apply for a Social Security number? In either case, you can get your newborn or older child a Social Security card by applying to the SSA directly.
The application is free. So anyone asking for a filing fee is almost certainly a scammer or identity thief.
Before you can file an application for a Social Security card for your child, you’ll need to gather the following documents:
Applying At The Time Of Your Babys Birth
This is without a doubt the most convenient way to get a social security number for your newborn. All you need to do is to inform the hospital management that you need to apply for your childs social security number and they will take care of everything. They will ask you to fill out a relevant form requesting the birth certificate of your newborn.
Youll have an option on the form to write yes or No to applying for your childs social security number. On proceeding with Yes, you will have to provide the social security number of both the parents preferably.
You will still be able to apply for a social security number for your newborn even if just one parent has a social security number.
Youll be required to fill in the following information:
- Your childs name
- The date and birthplace of your child
- Information regarding your childs ethnicity and race
- Your babys gender
- Your relationship to your baby
- The social security number of both you and your spouse. Just write unknown if you dont know.
- The date of submission and your signatures are put down in the end.
How To Get Your Newborns Social Security Number And Card
Welcoming a newborn is often an exciting and happy occasion. There are plenty of things to get ready, and parents might feel that there is not enough time. However, once the child is born, parents do need to take care of a few legal matters as soon as possible . On the one hand, its essential that parents obtain their childs birth certificate. Registering a birth and getting your babys birth certificate is a fairly easy process.
You will need your newborns birth certificate to apply for your childs Social Security number and card. Keep in mind that a persons security number must be protected as it is directly linked to their lifetime earnings, taxes, and more.
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Why Get A Social Security Number For Your Child
In light of recent data concerns, many people might wonder why you need a Social Security number for your child in the first place. Its not required legally, yet many parents apply for this number before leaving the hospital. As we mentioned above, this is an important legal number to have on hand.
The most common reason to apply for this number for your child is for tax purposes. If you want to claim your child on your federal income tax, youll need to provide their Social Security number. Theyre treated the same as any other dependent.
However, this isnt the only reason to secure this number. Other common reasons include:
- Health insurance for your child
- Bank or savings account for your child
- Savings bonds for your child
- Government benefits or services
- Beneficiary purposes if you start end-of-life planning
As you can see, there are a lot of reasons to start this process for your child. Applying for a Social Security number for a newborn or even an adopted child is easier than you think. With just a few short steps, theres no reason not to get a number for your child.
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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.
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Secure Your Childs Social Security Number
Having a Social Security number is an important part of legal life in the United States. While most government forms and paperwork are a challenge, the Social Security number process for newborns and young children is straightforward. In fact, most parents complete the paperwork before leaving the hospital.
If youre preparing for the birth of a child, review these steps above. Knowing what to expect helps you ensure you get your childs number quickly and easily. When in doubt, contact your local Social Security Administration office.
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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.
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How To Get Your Child A Social Security Number
The easiest way to get your child assigned a Social Security number is to apply shortly after the birth while youre still at the hospital. It doesnt cost anything and most medical providers have the necessary paperwork. During your stay, youll be asked to provide information for your babys birth certificate. At that point, youll also be asked whether you want to apply for a Social Security number for your baby. If you say yes, you need to provide each parents Social Security number.
Tips For Applying For The Ssn For The Newborn
- Applying for the SSN is voluntary for newborn babies.
- File for the SSN at the time of birth of the baby. The hospital will take care of everything related to filing for the birth certificate and SSN.
- At the hospital you will be required to fill a document requesting the newborn babys birth certificate.
- In the form, there will be an option for applying for a Social Security number for the baby.
- If you write yes, you must provide both parents Social Security numbers if you can.
- If you do not have these or one of the parents has the SSN and the other does not, you can still apply for a number for your child.
- You will get the Social Security Number for your newborn baby in mail.
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What Is The Purpose Of The Social Security Number
The Social Security number is a nine-digit number which the U.S. government issues to all U.S. citizens . Eligible U.S. residents are able to apply for one as well. This number allows the government to keep track of your lifetime earnings as well as the number of years worked.
U.S. citizens need a SSN to be able to work. An employer will always ask for the social security number, and they will report your income to the Internal Revenue Service, IRS.
Instances when a person is asked to provide their Social Security card or number also include:
- Opening an account with any U.S. financial institution
- Applying for a federal loan
- Applying for certain types of public assistance
- Enrolling in Medicare
- Filing your tax return
- Getting a drivers license
Without a Social Security number, financial institutions will not be able to run a credit check, and therefore, making it more difficult to get a credit card or a loan.
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How Do I Get My Child Social Security Number
At a Social Security office: If you wait to apply for your child number, you must: ?Complete an application for a Social Security card and ?Show us original documents proving your child: ?U.S. citizenship ?Age and ?Identity. ?Show us documents proving your identity and your relationship to the child.
Were There When They Get Their First Job
Once your child starts working and throughout their career, employers will verify their Social Security number to help reduce fraud and improve the accuracy of their earnings records.
Employers collect FICA, or Federal Insurance Contributions Act withholdings, and report earnings electronically. This is how we verify earnings and is how your child earns Social Security retirement, disability, and survivors coverage.
Once they turn 18, they can open a mySocial Security account and watch their personal earnings and future benefits grow over time.
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Were There With Support If Youre Raising A Grandchild
More and more grandparents are finding themselves raising their grandchildren. Social Security will pay benefits to grandchildren when the grandparent retires, becomes disabled, or dies, if certain conditions are met. Generally, the biological parents of the child must be deceased or disabled, or the grandparent must legally adopt the grandchild.
To receive this benefit, your grandchild must have begun living with you before age 18 and received at least one half of his or her support from you for the year before the month you became entitled to retirement or disability insurance benefits, or died. Also, the natural parent of the child must not be making regular contributions to his or her support.
If your grandchild was born during the one-year period, you must have lived with and provided at least one-half of the child’s support for substantially the entire period from the date of birth to the month you became entitled to benefits.
Your grandchild may qualify for benefits under these circumstances, even if he or she is a step-grandchild. However, if you and your spouse are already receiving benefits, you would need to adopt the child for them to qualify for benefits.
What Is Enumeration At Birth And How Does It Work
The Enumeration at Birth program offers new parents at a hospital, birthing center, or using a licensed midwife the option to request a Social Security number during the birth registration process. The evidence required to process an SSN application for a newborn is the same evidence gathered by birthing facility employees and verified with the respective bureaus of vital statistics during the birth registration process. Through EAB, the bureaus of vital statistics electronically send birth registration information to Social Security, and we assign a number and issue a card.
EAB eliminates the need for the parent to gather the necessary proofs, complete an SS-5 application, and visit or mail original documents to a Social Security field office for processing. The EAB process allows us to assign the child an SSN, issue a card, and automatically update our records with proof of birth.
Currently, the national average processing time for EAB cases is two weeks. Parents may expect to wait up to an additional two weeks for mail time to receive the SSN card.
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How Long Does It Take To Get A Social Security Number For Your Child
Generally, it takes between four to five weeks to receive the Social Security number and card if you had submitted the application at the hospital. However, this might vary depending on the state where you live. If your childs Social Security card has not arrived within six weeks you can head to your nearest Social Security office. You will need to take proof of your childs citizenship, age and identity as well as documents to identify yourself.
A childs Social Security number cannot be give out over the phone, therefore it is necessary for you to go in person, in the case that it has not arrived.
Social Security Numbers For Children
When you have a baby, the city you were born in, There is no law requiring you to give Social Security Numbers to your children.When you apply for a Social Security number , For additional information regarding Social Security cards, citizen, That is not something that you can do online, not even for several weeks or months after the baby is born
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At The Social Security Office
If you did not apply for a Social Security number at the same time you filled out the information for the childs birth certificate, you can do so later at a Social Security office. In this case, you must:
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Complete an application for a Social Security card
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Show original documents proving your childs:
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U.S. Citizenship
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