When your child’s adoption is finalized, you can apply for a new birth certificate with your child’s new name. You can also apply for a new Social Security number. This step is not required, but it is an option. Read on to find out why you might choose to get a new number for your adopted child.
What are Social Security numbers for?
Tracking earnings for Social Security benefits is the main purpose of Social Security numbers. This information is used to determine eligibility for and calculate the amount of Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. These numbers are also used for taxes.
Over time, the SSN has become a widely used form of identification. It’s often required for various transactions:
- Employment
- Banking and financial services
- Applying for government benefits
- Applying for colleges and scholarships
- Obtaining a driver’s license
Social security numbers are used in many other ways, including background checks and credit reporting. These many uses make it extremely important that your child has a Social Security number. The application for a child’s Social Security number is often arranged at the hospital where the baby is born, and your adopted child may already have one.
Why get a new one?
It’s important to note that the widespread use of SSNs has also made them a target for identity theft. You may not know who has access to your child’s original Social Security number, and this is one reason that adoptive parents may choose to apply for a new number for their child.
Name changes are another reason. While it is not required to get a new Social Security number if your name is changed, it can lead to confusion in the future. Many kids have had the experience of filling out a FAFSA form for college loans and having to go through hoops because their name is not identical on all paperwork including their Social Security card.
How to get a new one
Just submit the child’s new birth certificate, a certified copy of the final adoption decree, and your own identification (like a driver’s license or passport) to the Social Security Administration.