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 when you are also completing the forms to register the birth certificate with the Demographic Registry agency.
When you give information for your child’s birth certificate, you will be asked whether you want to also 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 do not 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 him/her:
· Open a bank account.
· Buy savings bonds.
· Get medical coverage.
· 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.
If you did not file for the social security number for your child with the Demographic Registry agency, please contact us for the required documentation to assign a number to your newborn.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we could not receive visitors at our field office except for previously arranged appointments on special limited critical situations. However, we continue providing our services by phone and internet. If you have questions on Social Security benefits and services, please access www.socialsecurity.gov. You could also access our automated services at 1-800-772-1213 or call your local Social Security office Monday to Friday from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. To locate the telephone number of your local field office, please input your residential zip code at www.ssa.gov/locator/ .