Having a baby is a joyful occasion. But it can also be an exhausting whirlwind of activity. The last thing most parents want right after their baby is born is to have to do a bunch of paperwork. But some of that paperwork (like registering for a birth certificate) is necessary.
And getting your newborn a Social Security card as soon as possible can make things much easier later on for you and your baby. A Social Security number (SSN) is required for more than just getting a job. Here’s what you need to know to get a Social Security card for a newborn or an older child.
Why Does a Newborn Need a Social Security Card?
You'll need a Social Security card for your child before you can claim your new baby as a dependent on your income taxes (and take advantage of the child-related tax breaks available to you). You’ll generally also need your baby’s SSN to:
- add your new baby to your health insurance plan (but don't wait to take this step)
- buy savings bonds for your child
- set up a college savings plan or open a bank account for your child, or
- apply for government benefits for your child (like SSI and federal college grants and loans).
In addition, if you retire, become disabled or die, your child(ren) might be eligible for Social Security benefits based on your work record. But a child must have their own Social Security number to claim those benefits.
To ensure that your newborn is able to take advantage of these benefits, you should apply for a Social Security card as soon as possible after your child's birth.
How to Get Your Child's Social Security Number Right Away
The easiest and fastest way to apply for your child's Social Security number (SSN) is through the hospital when your child is born. The hospital, the agency that issues birth certificates in your state, and the Social Security Administration work together in a process called "Enumeration at Birth," or EAB.
EAB is the easiest way to apply for a Social Security number for a newborn baby because the hospital does all the work. You complete the SSN application and order a Social Security card for your child as part of the hospital birth registration process. You don't have to submit any supporting documentation.
When your child is born, the hospital usually fills out a birth registration form for you and has you sign it. Both you and your baby’s other parent should be ready to supply your Social Security numbers as part of the application process. (But a child can get a Social Security number even if one or both parents don't have SSNs of their own.)
EAB can only be used when your child is born in a hospital. It’s not available for home births or for infant adoptions.
How to Apply for Your Child’s 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. (Learn more about protecting your child from identity theft.)
Before you can file an application for a Social Security card for your child, you'll need to gather the following documents:
- a completed Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card
- proof of your identity as the child’s parent (like a valid driver's license or passport), and
- two documents proving your child's U.S. citizenship, age, and identity (like a birth certificate and hospital record of the birth).
If a birth certificate isn't available, and your child was born in the United States, the Social Security Administration (SSA) might accept a religious record made before the child turned five that includes your child’s date of birth.
If your child was born outside the United States, Social Security will need to see your child’s foreign birth certificate. If you can’t get it (within 10 days), the SSA might accept your child’s:
- your child's passport
- a Certificate of Naturalization
- a Certificate of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350) if your child was born before 2011, or
- a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) if your child was born in 2011 or later.
If your child is younger than 12, you can submit the application and other documents in person or by mail to your local Social Security office. But keep in mind that Social Security will need to see original documents—the reason many parents prefer to apply in person.
If your child is 12 years old or older and has never applied for a Social Security number before, the application must be filed in person.
How Do You Get Your Child’s Social Security Card?
Your child's Social Security card should typically arrive by mail within 60 days of your application date. Depending on where you live, your state agency will take between one and six weeks to forward a newborn’s application to the SSA. Once Social Security receives your application, it can take up to two weeks for you to receive your child’s SSN card.
After your child’s Social Security card arrives, store it in a safe location. The SSA will only reissue a Social Security card 10 times, so you shouldn’t let your child keep the card in their wallet or other places where it could be lost.
Social Security recommends that children not sign their card until they get their first job or turn 18 years old, whichever comes first. The card is still valid without a signature.
What if My Child’s Social Security Card Never Arrives?
If it’s been more than two months since you applied for a Social Security card for your newborn or older child, you should check on the application. Whether you used EAB or applied for your child’s Social Security number on your own, you can check the status of your application in one of two ways:
- call the SSA at 800-772-1213 to speak with a representative (Monday through Friday during business hours), or
- visit your local Social Security office.
If there’s a problem with your child’s Social Security number application or if the SSA never received it, you might be asked to file a new application, but you can’t apply by phone. The SSA recommends that you visit your local Social Security office if you need to reapply.
(Learn about Social Security benefits and other resources that might be available for a child with special needs.)