Yes. An adopted child can get a new Social Security number, and in most cases the Social Security Administration will issue one on request. If the child never had a number, adoptive parents apply for an original SSN, usually after the adoption is finalized. If the child already had one, the SSA will assign a completely different number tied to the child’s new legal identity.1Social Security Administration. RM 10205.160 Parent SSN on an Application for Original or New SSN for Children Under Age 18 Either path starts with Form SS-5 at a local Social Security office or by mail.
Which Situation Applies to You
There are two versions of this request, and the paperwork differs slightly.
If the child has never had an SSN, you apply for an original number. The SSA treats this like any first-time application for a child, except that your adoption decree or amended birth certificate is the document linking you to the child as parent.
If the child already has an SSN, you request a new, different number. The SSA recognizes adoption itself as a valid reason to issue a fresh number, separate from any the child used before.1Social Security Administration. RM 10205.160 Parent SSN on an Application for Original or New SSN for Children Under Age 18
You can apply before the adoption is final, but waiting until finalization is usually the better move. Once the adoption is complete, you can apply using the child’s new legal name with your name listed as parent, and the card will match the amended birth certificate from the start.2Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Children
One boundary worth knowing: state vital records agencies are not supposed to submit SSN applications through the Enumeration at Birth hospital program for infant adoptions.3Social Security Administration. RM 10205.505 Enumeration at Birth Process So even if the birth parent skipped the hospital request, you still need to apply on your own.
Why Parents Ask for a New Number
The most common reason is identity protection. Children who have been in foster care are especially exposed, because multiple caseworkers, medical providers, and other adults may have handled their personal information over the years. A fresh SSN cuts the link between the child’s past records and anyone who saw the old number. Without that break, someone holding the original number could open credit accounts, file fraudulent tax returns, or run up debts that may not surface until the child applies for student loans or a first apartment.
What Happens to the Old Number
The previous SSN does not vanish. When the SSA issues a new number, it places the old and new numbers on an internal cross-reference file so the child’s earnings and benefits history stays connected to the right person.4SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Cross-referred Social Security Numbers The cross-reference is invisible to employers, creditors, and the public. It exists so the SSA can credit the person’s lifetime earnings regardless of which number was used at the time.
This matters for older adopted children whose wages may already have been reported under the original number. Those earnings carry forward under the new SSN through the cross-reference. The old number itself should not be used going forward and will not appear on the new card.
Documents You Will Need
Every application uses Form SS-5, the Application for a Social Security Card, which you can download from the SSA website or pick up at any local office.5Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5 Item 18 asks your relationship to the child, and you would select “Adoptive Parent.”
The SSA requires original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.5Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5 You will need:
- Evidence of age. An amended birth certificate is ideal. A final adoption decree also works if it shows the child’s birth information was taken from the original birth certificate.5Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5
- Evidence of identity for the child. Since children rarely carry photo ID, the SSA accepts an adoption decree, a doctor or hospital record, a school or daycare record, a religious record, or a state-issued non-driver identification card. The document must show the child’s name along with identifying information such as date of birth or parents’ names.6Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
- Evidence of citizenship or immigration status. A U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport for citizens. For non-citizens, a current DHS document showing immigration status, such as a permanent resident card (Form I-551) or employment authorization document (Form I-766).
- Both adoptive parents’ SSNs when applying for a child under 18. If one parent’s SSN is unknown and you cannot obtain it, check the “unknown” box on the form.1Social Security Administration. RM 10205.160 Parent SSN on an Application for Original or New SSN for Children Under Age 18
International Adoptions
For a child adopted from another country, you will need the original foreign adoption papers plus evidence of the child’s immigration status. The SSA accepts any of the following:
- A Certificate of Citizenship from USCIS
- A Certificate of Naturalization from USCIS
- A valid U.S. passport issued to the child
- A permanent resident card (Form I-551) showing an IR-2, IR-3, IR-4, or IR-7 immigration classification code
These classification codes correspond to different types of adopted child visas, and at least one of these documents will have been issued during the international adoption process.7Social Security Administration. GN 00306.155 Evidence of Legal Adoption
How to Submit and How Long It Takes
You can submit Form SS-5 and your original documents in person at a local Social Security office or by mail.5Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5 In person has a real advantage: the SSA reviews your originals on the spot and hands them back the same visit. Mailed applications also have originals returned, but the SSA notes they may take two to four weeks to process.8Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card
After approval, the new card usually arrives within about two weeks. The SSA’s standard estimate is 5 to 10 business days from the date of approval for in-person applications.9Social Security Administration. Request a Social Security Number for the First Time That timeline can stretch if documents need additional verification or the processing center has a backlog. Mailing originals carries some risk of delay or loss, so an in-person visit is worth it when a local office is accessible.
Filing Taxes Before the SSN Arrives
Tax season does not always wait for the adoption to be finalized. If a child has been placed in your home for adoption and you need to claim them as a dependent before you can get an SSN, the IRS provides an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number, or ATIN. You apply on IRS Form W-7A, and the number lets you file your return and claim the child while the adoption is still in progress.2Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Children
To qualify, the child must be legally placed in your home by an authorized agency, and you must be unable to obtain the child’s existing SSN despite reasonable efforts to get it from the birth parents or the placement agency. The IRS automatically deactivates the ATIN two years after issuing it, so once the adoption is finalized and you have the SSN, notify the IRS of the new number.