What documents will I need to get a Child Social Security card?

The easiest time to get a child's Social Security card is when you give information for your child’s birth certificate. If you wait to apply for a number at a Social Security office, there may be delays while they verify the child’s birth certificate. A birth certificate showing a birth in the United States should be enough to get an infant a Social Security number / card. SSA may say the card already was mailed but they should have a number assigned in their system for the infant so you may need to ask for the card again - in some areas the post office will not deliver the mail unless the child's name is on the mail delivery address (they can be real sticklers sometimes.) If you have to go and apply for the card all over again because it was not done or not done properly at the time of getting the birth certificate than it is a bit more difficult and depends on your citizenship status. If you are a U.S. citizen, Social Security will ask to see your U.S. driver’s license, state-issued nondriver identification card or U.S. passport as proof of your identity. If you do not have these specific documents, we will ask to see other documents that may be available, such as: Employee ID card; School ID card; Marriage document; Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); U.S. military ID card; or Life insurance policy.

Check with the hospital where you child was born to see if they actually filed for you - you do not want 2 social security nubers. Assuming the hospital did not already file, then Mr. Wayson's advice is right on point. Good luck to you.

I agree with both of my colleagues. Contact the birth hospital to check on their policy as to applying for SSNs. If their policy is not to apply, your best to then follow the process suggested by my colleague.