Is your parents social security number on your birth certificate

If you have a child in the United States, he or she can get a Social Security number (SSN) virtually at birth. At the hospital, while giving information for the birth certificate, you can simultaneously apply for the baby’s Social Security number. You'll be asked for both parents’ Social Security numbers, but if you don't have them you can still apply.

If you decide to wait until later, you'll need to fill out an SS-5, the application form for a Social Security card, and bring it to your local Social Security office along with:

• At least two documents proving your child’s U.S. citizenship, age and identity. A birth certificate and passport will fully satisfy the requirements. For a list of other acceptable documents, see the Social Security pamphlet “Social Security Numbers for Children.”
• Proof of your identity, such as a driver's license, passport or state-issued ID card.

All documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies or notarized copies will not be accepted.

If the child is 12 or older, he or she must appear at a Social Security office for an interview. Local offices fully reopened April 7 after being closed to walk-in traffic for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Social Security recommends calling in advance and scheduling an appointment to avoid long waits.

Non-U.S. citizens can get a Social Security number provided they are in the country legally. If you have permanent residency, you’ll be issued the same type of Social Security card that citizens get. You will need to show proof of identity and your authorization from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to live and work in the country.

Two types of limited Social Security numbers are available to noncitizens who do not have permanent residency:

• If you have temporary permission to live and work in the United States, you can get a Social Security card stamped “valid for work only with DHS authorization."
• If you do not plan to work but need a Social Security number for another reason — for example, to apply for government benefits or services — your card will be stamped "not valid for employment."

Incoming immigrants can apply for a Social Security number from their home country as part of the visa application process. If you are already in the United States, you will need to visit a Social Security office. The pamphlet “Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens” has more information on how, when and where to apply. 

Keep in mind

You can ask Social Security to assign you a new number under limited circumstances, for example if you are a victim of domestic violence or identify theft. You can only apply for a new number in person at a Social Security office. Contact your local office to schedule an appointment or learn more.

Learn how to apply for your child's Social Security number.

A Social Security number is the federal government's way of identifying your child. Your child will need a Social Security number in order for you to claim child-related tax breaks—such as the dependent exemption and the child tax credit—on your income taxes. You will also need the number to add your new baby to your health insurance plan, to set up a college savings plan or bank account for your child, or to apply for government benefits that could help your little one.

Here's how to get a Social Security number for your baby.

How to Apply for a Social Security Number

The easiest way to apply for a Social Security number for your child is to complete a birth registration form, which has a box you can check to request a number for your child. To complete the form, you will need to provide both parents' Social Security numbers.

For most new parents, it's easy to obtain the birth registration form, because hospitals usually distribute them while the mother is still a patient.

But if you didn't deliver your baby in the hospital or if for some other reason you were never given a birth registration form to complete, you can visit your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office and request a number in person. This process requires you to do three things:

• Complete Form SS-5 (Application for Social Security Number) and provide both parents' Social Security numbers on the form. To save time, download and complete Form SS-5 from the SSA website (www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf) before you go.
• Provide at least two documents proving your baby's age, identity, and citizenship status. One document should ideally be your child's birth certificate. The other document can be your child's hospital birth record or other medical record.
• Provide proof of your own identity. Your driver's license and passport are both acceptable.

Find the SSA office nearest you by logging on to the SSA's Office Locator at www.socialsecurity.gov/locator. If you'd prefer, you can send in a completed Form SS-5 along with your identification documents to your local SSA office by mail. Most people apply in person, however, because you'll need to provide the SSA with originals or certified copies of all identification documents.

Once you've submitted your application, you should receive a Social Security card in six to 12 weeks. It may take substantially longer to process your application if your child is one year of age or older, because the SSA will contact your state's department of vital statistics to confirm that the birth certificate you have provided is valid.

If You Are Adopting a Child

If the child you are adopting is a United States citizen, your child may have a Social Security number already. But if you are adopting domestically and your child does not have one, you can obtain an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN) to claim child-related tax breaks while your child's adoption is pending. To apply for one, complete IRS Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions. The ATIN will be valid for only two years, at which point you can extend it if your child's adoption is still not final. Once the adoption is final, you must stop using the ATIN and get a Social Security number for your child following the process described above.

If you are adopting a child from another country, you will have to wait until the adoption is final and your child has entered the United States before you can obtain a Social Security number for your child. Once that happens, you can use the process described above.

To Learn More

To find out more about child-related tax breaks, see Tax Breaks Every Parent Should Know About.

Find a Lawyer

Start here to find family and divorce lawyers near you.

How it Works

1. Briefly tell us about your case
2. Provide your contact information
3. Choose attorneys to contact you

Legal Information & Books from Nolo

Popular Products from Nolo

How can I find my parents social security number?

What documents have SSN on them?

Do you have to have your parents social security number?

Is your social security number given to you at birth?