Can I Get My Baby Social Security Number Online?

Getting a Social Security number for your new child may be one of the last things you want to do when welcoming your baby into your family. We’ve made it easy for you. Prior to leaving the hospital, you can apply for your child’s Social Security number in the hospital.

Can I Get My Baby Social Security Number Online?

No, you cannot apply for a SSN card online for the first time. In order to obtain a Social Security number for your baby, you must visit a local Social Security office to complete the application and provide the necessary documentation; you cannot obtain your baby’s Social Security number online alone. 

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Start online:
  Start the application process for your child’s Social Security card on the SSA website. 
• In-person visit required:
  All required documents must be submitted in person to receive your child’s Social Security number. 
• Documents needed:
  You must provide original documentation proving your child’s identity, citizenship, and age. 

Your New Baby’s Social Security Number: How To Get It

You’ll be asked to provide both parents’ Social Security numbers when you apply for your child’s birth certificate at the hospital. If you choose to do so, you’ll have to provide both parents’ Social Security numbers. No matter what your parents’ Social Security numbers are, you can still apply for a number for your child.

Social Security numbers are needed for many reasons, including claiming your child as a dependent on your income tax return. Your child may also need one for the following reasons:

• Get a bank account.
• Invest in savings bonds.
• Obtain medical coverage.
• Submit an application for government assistance.

Also check: Can I Print My Social Security Award Letter Online?

Applying for a Social Security Number

Obtaining a Social Security number for your newborn is as simple as completing a birth registration form at the hospital. Hospitals usually provide these forms to mothers while they are still at the hospital. SSA receives the information from the hospital and passes it along to the agency that issues birth certificates. You should receive your baby’s Social Security card within one to six weeks, depending on your state’s requirements.

Regardless of whether your baby was delivered in the hospital or not, you can apply online for a registration number if you weren’t given one. Step-by-step instructions are provided on the online application portal.

Your local SSA office must receive the following documentation within 45 calendar days after submitting your online application:

• You must provide two documents proving your baby’s age, citizenship status, and identity. You can use your child’s birth certificate as proof of citizenship status and age.a:
  • Non-driver’s identification card issued by the started
  • Order of adoption
  • Records from a clinic, hospital, or doctor’s office
  • Record of religious beliefs
  • Records from the school’s daycare center
  • Identification card for school.

Originals or certified copies of the documents must be provided by the issuing agency.

• Documents proving your identity, such as your driver’s license, non-driver identification card, or passport. You will be required to provide another form of identification-such as an employee ID or U.S. military ID-that is current, lists your name, age, and preferably includes a photograph if you don’t have these.

By mail, you can submit your completed Form SS-5 along with your identification documents to your local Social Security office (the SSA will return all documents). Since all identification documents must be submitted to the SSA in original or certified form, most people apply in person.

Within six to 12 weeks of submitting your application, you should receive your Social Security card. A birth certificate that is more than one year old may take considerably longer to process because the SSA will contact the department of vital statistics in your state to confirm its authenticity.

What If You Are Adopting a Child?

It is possible that the child you are adopting already has a Social Security number. If you do not know the number, you will need to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) for instructions. While the adoption of your child is pending, if your child doesn’t have an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN), you can claim child-related tax breaks.

After you submit the IRS Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions, you will receive the ATIN within four to eight weeks. ATIN numbers are only valid for two years, after which you can extend them if your adoption is still pending. Once your adoption is final, you must stop using the ATIN and obtain a Social Security number for your child.

Getting a Social Security number for your child will require you to wait until the adoption is final and the child has entered the U.S. Once that has occurred, you can proceed with the procedure described above.