Title: Having a Baby: Applying for a Social Security Number | Lawyers.com
Headings: Having a Baby: Applying for a Social Security Number
Having a Baby: Applying for a Social Security Number
Apply for a Social Security Number at the Hospital
Handling the Application Process Yourself
What Happens After You Apply for a Social Security Card?

Content: You'll also need one for your child if you want to claim him or her as a dependent on your tax return, get the child tax credit, buy savings bonds for your child, open a bank account for your child, or start a college savings account. You also need a Social Security number to add your baby to your health insurance plan or to apply for government benefits like SSI or general assistance. In addition, if you retire, become disabled or die, your children may be eligible for Social Security benefits based on your work record, but they need their own Social Security numbers to claim those benefits. To ensure that your newborn baby is able to take advantage of these benefits, you should apply for a Social Security card as soon as possible after your child's birth. Apply for a Social Security Number at the Hospital
It is easiest to apply for your child's Social Security number (SSN) through the hospital after your child is born. The hospital, the state agency that issues birth certificates, and the Social Security Administration together coordinate the process, which is known as "Enumeration at Birth," or EAB. EAB is easiest way to apply for a Social Security Number for a newborn baby because the hospital does all of the work; the parents don't have to submit any supporting documentation. The hospital usually fills out a birth registration form for you and has you sign it. Both parents should be prepared to supply their SSNs as part of the application process, although a SSN can be issued to a child whose parents don't have SSNs of their own.