Where Do I Get My Newborn’s Social Security Number?

The simplest way to get a Social Security number for a newborn is to apply at the hospital when you fill out the birth certificate paperwork. Check the box on the birth registration form, provide both parents’ Social Security numbers, and the state vital records office forwards everything to the Social Security Administration. The card arrives in the mail a few weeks later. If you had a home birth or didn’t check the box, you can apply separately at a local Social Security office with original documents. The application is free either way.

Apply at the Hospital

The SSA calls this the Enumeration at Birth program. When a hospital, birthing center, or licensed midwife handles your birth registration, staff will ask whether you also want to apply for a Social Security number for your baby.¹ Say yes, and the SSN application piggybacks on the birth certificate. The state sends the data electronically to the SSA, which assigns the number and mails the card. You never have to visit an office or gather documents.²

You’ll list both parents’ Social Security numbers on the form. If you don’t know one parent’s number, you can still apply.² The application itself is free. If anyone tries to charge you a fee for the SSN application, that’s a scam. The SSA does not charge for applications or processing.³

Apply Outside the Hospital

If your baby was born at home, at a birthing center that doesn’t offer the service, or you didn’t check the box, you’ll need to apply separately. Start the process online at ssa.gov and then visit a local Social Security office to present your documents in person.⁴ You can also print Form SS-5, fill it out, and bring it in with your paperwork.²

You must bring originals. The SSA does not accept photocopies or notarized copies. Staff review the originals on the spot and return them to you.⁵

Documents for Your Baby

You need at least two original documents that together prove your child’s U.S. citizenship, age, and identity. A U.S. birth certificate covers citizenship and age in one document. If you don’t have the birth certificate yet, the SSA may accept a U.S. hospital record of birth, a religious record made before age five that shows the date of birth, or an unexpired U.S. passport.²

For identity, the SSA prefers an unexpired U.S. passport. Since most newborns won’t have one, other options include an adoption decree, a certified medical record from a doctor or hospital, or an unexpired state-issued ID card.² In practice, a birth certificate plus a hospital medical record satisfies most newborn applications.

Documents for You

You also need to prove who you are. The SSA accepts a U.S. driver’s license, a state-issued non-driver ID card, or a U.S. passport.⁵ If none of those are available, a U.S. military ID, an employee photo ID, or a health insurance card showing your name with either a photo or date of birth can work.²

How Long the Card Takes

Through the hospital’s Enumeration at Birth program, the national average is about two weeks for the state to relay the birth registration to the SSA, plus up to two more weeks for the card to arrive by mail.¹ Individual states range from one to six weeks on their end, so the full timeline can run from about three weeks to eight weeks depending on where you live.⁶

If you apply directly at a Social Security office, the card arrives by mail in five to ten business days after approval.⁴ That’s often faster than the hospital route, but you’re doing the document-gathering and the office visit yourself.

Why Not to Wait

Without your child’s Social Security number, you cannot claim them as a dependent on your federal tax return.⁷ That means losing the Child Tax Credit, worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child.⁸ The SSN has to be issued before the due date of your return, including extensions.⁹ A baby born in December whose SSN doesn’t arrive before the April filing deadline puts real money at risk.

You’ll also need the number to add your baby to your health insurance, open a bank account or savings bond in their name, and enroll them in Medicaid or CHIP.

After the Card Arrives

Store the card somewhere secure at home and leave it there. Don’t laminate it. Lamination prevents detection of the built-in security features.¹⁰ A removable plastic sleeve is fine.¹¹

Child identity theft is an underappreciated risk. Because children don’t apply for credit, a stolen SSN can be exploited for years before anyone notices. You can request a free credit freeze for your child at each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). The freeze stays in place until you remove it and prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your child’s name.¹² You’ll need to show proof of parental authority, such as the child’s birth certificate, to set up the freeze.¹³

1
Social Security Administration. What Is Enumeration at Birth and How Does It Work
2
Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Children
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Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card
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Social Security Administration. Request Social Security Number for the First Time
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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. How Long Does It Take to Get My Child’s Social Security Number
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Internal Revenue Service. Dependents
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Internal Revenue Service. Child Tax Credit
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 24 Child Tax Credit
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Social Security Administration. Can I Laminate My Social Security Card
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Social Security Administration. SSA POMS RM 10201.065 Safeguarding the SSN and SSN Card
12
Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
13
Federal Trade Commission. New Protections Available for Minors Under 16