How to Monitor Your Child’s Social Security Number: Freezes, PINs, Fraud

The best way to monitor your child’s Social Security number is to place a free credit freeze at all three major credit bureaus, check the Social Security Administration’s earnings record for wages your child never earned, and request an IRS Identity Protection PIN to block fraudulent tax returns. Children are prime targets for identity thieves because their Social Security numbers carry no financial history, and fraud can go undetected for years — often until the child applies for a first credit card, a student loan, or a job.

Warning Signs Something Is Wrong

Most parents never think to check until a problem surfaces. The Federal Trade Commission flags several signals worth watching for: collection calls or overdue bill notices for accounts you never opened, denial of government benefits like health coverage because someone else is already using your child’s number, and IRS letters about unpaid taxes on income your child never earned.¹ A teenager denied a student loan because of a damaged credit score is another telltale sign. If any of these appear, someone has likely been using your child’s identity, and you’ll want to move straight to the cleanup steps further down.

Documents You’ll Need Before You Start

Every step below requires the same core paperwork, so gather it once. You’ll need your child’s Social Security card, a certified birth certificate, and your own government-issued photo ID. The birth certificate does double duty: it proves the child’s identity and your authority to act for them.

If you’re a legal guardian or foster parent rather than a biological or adoptive parent, the requirements are broader. Federal law accepts a court order, a valid power of attorney, a government-issued document showing proof of parentage, or a written communication from a county welfare or probation department certifying the child is in foster care.² Keep copies of everything you send, and never mail originals.

Check Whether Your Child Has a Credit File

A child should not have a credit file. If one exists, that alone signals a problem. Finding out means submitting a written request to each of the three major bureaus asking them to search their records for your child’s Social Security number. For children under 14, this is done by mail rather than online.

Send your documentation to each bureau:

Use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Experian lets parents upload supporting documents electronically at experian.com/upload after filling out a form.⁴ TransUnion also offers an online Child Identity Theft Inquiry form that searches their database before requiring you to mail anything.⁶ Equifax requires mailed requests for minors.

If a bureau finds a file, they’ll send you a copy of the credit report showing the accounts and inquiries on it. That report becomes your roadmap for disputing fraudulent entries. If no file exists, you’ll receive a letter confirming the child is not in their system. Either way, the next step is placing a freeze.

Freeze Credit at All Three Bureaus

A credit freeze is the strongest preventive tool available. It blocks anyone from opening new accounts using your child’s Social Security number, because lenders can’t pull the credit report needed to approve an application. Federal law requires the bureaus to create a record for your child even when no credit file exists, specifically so that record can be frozen.²

There is no charge. Federal law makes credit freezes free for all consumers, and the protections for minors are codified separately under the “protected consumer” provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.² Submit a freeze request to each bureau at the addresses above, using the same documentation. After processing, each bureau sends a confirmation letter with a unique PIN. Store those PINs somewhere secure. You’ll need them to lift the freeze later.

Age Thresholds That Matter

The federal “protected consumer” freeze applies to children under 16, and a parent or legal guardian must make the request.² Once a child turns 16 or 17, they can request and remove a security freeze themselves.¹ At Experian, minors 14 and older can also access their own credit report online.⁴

Lifting the Freeze Later

The freeze stays in place with no expiration date until you or your child requests removal. When your child eventually needs credit — to apply for a student loan, rent an apartment, or open a first card — they’ll contact each bureau with the PIN to temporarily or permanently lift the freeze. Plan ahead, because lifting can take a few business days.

Check SSA Records for Unauthorized Wages

A credit freeze won’t catch someone using your child’s Social Security number to get a job. When an employer reports wages under your child’s number, those earnings post to Social Security Administration records and can eventually create tax problems. Checking the SSA earnings record is how you catch it.

Parents cannot create a “my Social Security” online account for a child. The SSA requires account holders to be at least 18, and no one can create or use an account on another person’s behalf.⁷ Instead, request a detailed earnings statement using Form SSA-7050 (Request for Social Security Earnings Information). A parent or legal guardian can submit this form on a minor child’s behalf by including proof of the relationship, such as a birth certificate or court order.⁸

A non-certified itemized earnings statement costs $61, and the certified version costs $96.⁹ Get the itemized version. It includes employer names and addresses, so if unfamiliar companies appear on the statement, you’ll know someone has been working under your child’s number. Report that to the SSA and the IRS right away to prevent your child from being held liable for taxes on income they never earned.

Request an IRS Identity Protection PIN

Identity thieves sometimes use a child’s Social Security number to file fraudulent tax returns and claim refunds. An IRS Identity Protection PIN stops this by adding a six-digit code that must be included on any tax return filed with that Social Security number. Without the correct PIN, the IRS rejects the return.

Any person with a Social Security number is eligible for an IP PIN, including children. Since minors under 18 typically can’t verify their identity through the IRS online system, a parent or legal guardian can apply using Form 15227 (Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number). Mail it to the IRS in Fresno, CA 93888-0025, or fax it toll-free to 855-807-5720 with a confidential cover sheet.¹⁰ You can also visit a local Taxpayer Assistance Center in person with two forms of identification for your child, such as a birth certificate and Social Security card.¹¹

If someone has already filed a return using your child’s number, report it with Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit). Check Box 3 in Section A to indicate you’re filing for a dependent, and complete Section F with your information as the parent or guardian.¹² The IRS accepts this form online, by fax, or by mail.

If You Find Fraud, Here’s How to Clean It Up

Finding fraudulent accounts or unauthorized earnings is alarming, but there’s a clear process. Move quickly. The longer fraudulent accounts stay open, the harder they are to unwind.

Start by contacting the fraud department at every company where an account was opened in your child’s name. Tell them the account holder is a minor and the account was opened without authorization. Ask each company to close the account and send written confirmation that your child is not responsible for any balance.¹ Keep every letter. You may need them later when disputing entries with the bureaus.

Next, contact each credit bureau to dispute the fraudulent accounts and have them removed from your child’s credit report. Then place a freeze if you haven’t already. Finally, file an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC’s dedicated reporting portal.¹ The FTC report produces a recovery plan and generates documentation that creditors and bureaus recognize when you dispute accounts.

Filing a police report is not always required, but it strengthens your case. Bring your FTC Identity Theft Report, a photo ID, proof of address, and any evidence of fraud, such as collection letters, account statements, or IRS notices.¹³ Ask for a copy of the police report before you leave.

Limit Your Child’s Exposure Going Forward

Schools routinely collect personal information and may share “directory information” — a category that can include a child’s name, address, and date of birth — with third parties unless you opt out in writing. Under federal privacy regulations, schools must notify parents of what they classify as directory information and give a window to decline sharing.¹⁴ Send that opt-out letter at the start of every school year. It won’t protect the Social Security number directly, since schools shouldn’t be sharing that anyway, but it limits the personal details available for someone to combine with a stolen number.

Beyond schools, be careful about who gets your child’s Social Security number in the first place. Doctor’s offices, sports leagues, and summer camps often ask for it on intake forms. Most of the time they don’t actually need it. Ask why it’s required and what happens if you leave it blank. The fewer places the number exists, the fewer places it can leak from.

1
Consumer Advice. How To Protect Your Child From Identity Theft
2
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1681c-1 – Identity Theft Prevention; Fraud Alerts and Active Duty Alerts
3
Equifax. Freezing Your Child’s Credit Report FAQ
4
Experian. Child Identity Theft Protection – Requesting a Minor’s Credit Report, Fraud Alert or Security Freeze
5
Annual Credit Report.com. Requesting Reports in Special Situations
6
TransUnion. Child Identity Theft
7
Social Security Administration. Create an Account
8
Social Security Administration. Form SSA-7050-F4 – Request for Social Security Earnings Information
9
Social Security Administration. Form SSA-7050 – Request for Social Security Earnings Information
10
Internal Revenue Service. Form 15227 – Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number
11
Internal Revenue Service. Frequently Asked Questions About the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN)
12
Internal Revenue Service. Identity Theft Affidavit Form 14039
13
Federal Trade Commission. Identity Theft Steps
14
U.S. Department of Education. Directory Information