How Can I Get My Newborn’s Social Security Number?

The simplest way to get a Social Security number for a newborn is to check the box for it on the birth registration paperwork at the hospital; the card then arrives in the mail a few weeks later at no cost. If you missed that step, had a home birth, or delivered at a facility that doesn’t participate, you can apply directly with the Social Security Administration using Form SS-5 and original documents proving your baby’s citizenship, age, and identity.¹

Ask at the Hospital: Enumeration at Birth

Most parents never fill out a separate application. A hospital staff member collecting information for the birth certificate will ask whether you also want to apply for a Social Security number. Say yes, and the hospital sends the data to your state vital records office, which forwards it to the SSA under the Enumeration at Birth program.² No trip to an SSA office, no forms of your own.

The hospital form asks for both parents’ Social Security numbers. If one parent’s number is unknown or was never assigned, mark that on the form and the application still goes through.³

If You Missed the Hospital Step

You have two ways to apply on your own. You can start online at ssa.gov/number-card, enter your child’s information, and then visit a local Social Security office to show your original documents in person.⁴ Or you can print Form SS-5 from ssa.gov, fill it out, and either bring it to your local office or mail it in with your original documents.¹

Expect this route to take longer than the hospital path. The SSA has to independently verify your child’s birth certificate before issuing the number, and for a very recent birth the record may not yet be in the state’s system.⁵

Filling Out Form SS-5

The form is one page. Enter your child’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth exactly as they appear on the birth certificate; small spelling mismatches are a common cause of delays. It also asks for both parents’ Social Security numbers, which you’re required to provide if the child is under 18. If a parent’s number was never assigned or truly can’t be obtained, check “unknown” and the application is still processed.³

Documents You’ll Need

You must prove three things about your child (citizenship, age, and identity) and two things about yourself (your identity and your relationship to the child). The SSA accepts only originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies won’t work. Everything is returned after processing.³

For the baby, a U.S. birth certificate covers both citizenship and age. For identity, the SSA prefers a U.S. passport if the child has one; otherwise a medical record from a doctor or hospital, a religious record, or a state-issued ID card will do. You need at least two documents in total, though one document can serve two purposes.¹

For yourself, bring a U.S. driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or U.S. passport. The child’s birth certificate normally proves your relationship because it lists the parents’ names. If you don’t have one of the primary IDs, the SSA will accept alternatives such as an employee ID, school ID, health insurance card (not Medicare), or U.S. military ID, as long as the document is current and shows your name plus identifying details like your date of birth.⁶

There’s No Fee

The SSA never charges for issuing a Social Security number or card. Any website or service asking you to pay is a scam. Report attempts to the SSA Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or oig.ssa.gov.¹

How Long Until the Card Arrives

Timing depends on how you applied. For a hospital request, states take anywhere from one to six weeks to send the data on to the SSA, averaging about two weeks, and the card then takes roughly two more weeks to arrive. Most hospital-initiated cards show up within about four to eight weeks.⁵

If you applied in person, the card typically arrives within five to ten business days after approval, though verifying the birth certificate can add time on the front end.⁴

If nothing arrives within the expected window, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, or visit your local office.⁷

Why You Want This Before Tax Time

A Social Security number is technically voluntary for a newborn, but you can’t claim the child tax credit without one, and an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is not a substitute. The SSN must be issued by the due date of that year’s return, including extensions.⁸ The number also opens the door to a bank account or 529 plan in the child’s name, health insurance enrollment, and government benefits later on.¹

If the Card Arrives With a Mistake

Misspelled name or wrong date of birth? You’ll need to go to an SSA office in person with documents that prove the correct information. To fix a date of birth, bring the birth certificate, hospital birth record, or U.S. passport. To fix a name, bring documentation of the correct legal name. Corrections can’t be handled online.⁶ Once you have the number, memorize it or store it securely; the number is what matters for tax filings and benefits, not the physical card.

Adopted Children and Births Abroad

Adopting a child born in the United States? The process is largely the same as for any newborn. The adoption decree can serve as proof of the child’s identity, and court custody documentation can prove your relationship. If the child already has an SSN, you can apply to update the name on the card using the final adoption decree.⁶

For a child born abroad to U.S. citizen parents, you’ll need a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or a U.S. passport as proof of citizenship, or alternatively a Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization. The foreign birth certificate proves age if you have it or can obtain it within ten days; otherwise the SSA may accept a passport or a Department of Homeland Security document.⁶

For an internationally adopted child, citizenship can be established with a Machine Readable Immigrant Visa carrying category code IR3 or IH3, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a Certificate of Naturalization. Any child age 12 or older applying for a Social Security number for the first time must appear in person for an interview.⁶

Protect the Number Once You Have It

A child’s Social Security number is a target for identity theft because no one checks it for years. Thieves can open credit accounts that go undetected until the child is old enough to apply for credit on their own. The strongest preventive step is a free credit freeze on your child’s file with all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.⁹

If your child is under 16, you as the parent request the freeze, and it stays in place until you ask for it to be lifted. The process for minors differs from an adult freeze, so check each bureau’s specific instructions. Store the physical card somewhere secure rather than carrying it; you’ll rarely need to show it.

1
Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Children
2
Social Security Administration. State Processing Guidelines for Enumeration at Birth
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Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5
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Social Security Administration. Request Social Security Number for the First Time
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Social Security Administration. How Long Does It Take to Get My Childs Social Security Number
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Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
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Social Security Administration. Contact Social Security By Phone
8
Internal Revenue Service. Child Tax Credit
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Federal Trade Commission. How To Protect Your Child From Identity Theft