How do I get a Social Security card for my newborn?

Question

Accepted Answer

Most parents get their newborn's Social Security number without ever filling out a separate application — it happens automatically as part of the paperwork you complete for the birth certificate at the hospital. This is called the Enumeration at Birth (EAB) program: when you fill out the state's birth certificate worksheet, there's usually a question asking whether you want to apply for a Social Security number for your child. Say yes, and the state vital records agency shares the necessary information with SSA on your behalf — you don't need to visit an office or file anything separately, and SSA mails the card directly to the address you provided. If you skipped that question at the hospital, or your state doesn't participate in EAB, you can still apply afterward — it's the same original-card application used for anyone who's never had a number, just for a child. In most cases this means visiting a Social Security field office in person, since online applications for an original number generally aren't available for infants. Bring your documents and, since most in-person visits now require scheduling ahead, call your local office or use SSA's online scheduler before you go. You'll need to establish your child's identity, citizenship (if not already on file), and your relationship to and custody of the child. For your child's identity, SSA prefers to see a U.S. passport; if you don't have one yet, they'll accept other documents that show the child's name and age or date of birth, such as a state-issued ID, an adoption decree, or a doctor, clinic, or hospital record. You'll also need to prove your own identity with a driver's license, state ID, or passport, and provide documentation — like a hospital record or a letter from a state agency — establishing that you're the parent or legal guardian. One document notably does not work as proof of your child's identity for this application: a birth certificate. It's commonly assumed to be the go-to document, but SSA treats it only as evidence of citizenship, not identity, for this purpose — you'll need one of the identity documents listed above instead. That said, you generally don't need the Social Security number itself before you can get a birth certificate or apply for a passport; those are separate processes handled by the state and the U.S. State Department, though having the number on hand can make some later paperwork, like tax filings, easier. If you applied through the hospital's EAB program, processing time depends on how quickly your state's vital records office forwards the birth certificate information to SSA — this ranges from about 1 to 7 weeks depending on the state, with an average of around 2 weeks, plus roughly two more weeks for SSA to mail the card once it has everything it needs. If you don't receive the card within the expected window for your state, contact your local Social Security field office or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). A Social Security number for your child isn't required to add them to your health insurance or open a savings account in most cases, but it becomes necessary fairly quickly for a few common reasons: claiming your child as a dependent on your tax return, opening some types of bank or investment accounts in the child's name, and applying for government benefits on their behalf. Getting the number soon after birth — rather than waiting until you need it for one of these — avoids a scramble later.

Getting a Social Security Card for a Newborn

Quick facts

Apply through the hospital at birth

Applying after you've already left the hospital

Documents you'll need

Do you need the number before you can get a birth certificate or passport?

How long it takes to arrive

Why you need it

Documents to bring (if not using the hospital's EAB program)

Verify directly with the source

Find your nearest Social Security office