If your child’s Social Security card is missing, it could be either you have misplaced it or you have lost it. Things can become very hectic when running a business, and organization of all personal and professional documents is key or mistakes like this will happen. The risky part is that it could fall into the wrong hands and be involved in identity theft, opening financial accounts, sold to illegal immigrants or be used to commit crimes.
A Social Security number is needed to open a bank account, apply for government benefits, buy savings bonds, or get health insurance for your child. You will also need it on your tax return when claiming your child as a dependent. Therefore, if you discover that the card is missing, there are 3 things you should do right away.
1. Report the loss to the Social Security Administration
Once you lose the card, you should notify the SSA office so you can be advised about the next step. If you suspect it has been stolen, then you will be required to report to various other authorities.
2. Place a fraud alert, report to the police and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission
If you suspect that your child’s Social Security card has been stolen, you should place a fraud alert with the 3 main credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian). Call any of the bureaus and they will place the alert with the other two. You should renew the alert every 90 days until you are sure that the number will not be used for fraudulent activities.
You should also report to the local police in case the card is used for identity theft. This way, you will not be considered the criminal but a victim of identity theft in case the card is used to commit a crime. Also, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and Crime Complaint Center.
3. Get a replacement
After you report, you can now apply for a replacement card from the Social Security Administration. To do this, you require documents that prove the identity of the child and your identity.
You are required to provide original documents or copies of documents that are certified by the issuing agency but not notarized documents or photocopies. You should mail these documents or take them to the local SSA office. You should provide documents showing identity, age, and citizenship of your child.
To prove your child’s identity, you will need a document that shows the name of the child and identifying information such as the age, date of birth or the name of the parents. In that case, you can use a US passport, state-issued non-driver’s ID card, doctor or hospital record, adoption decree, school record or school ID card. Remember that you cannot use the birth certificate to prove the identity of the child.
You should use the child’s birth certificate to show the age of the child. In case it is not available, the SSA may accept a US passport, religious record with a date of birth made before the child is 5 years old, or a US hospital record of birth.
To prove the citizenship of the child, you may use a US passport, US birth certificate, Certificate of Citizenship, a Certificate of Naturalization or US consular report of birth abroad.
To prove your identity, you will need a US passport, US driver’s license, or State-issued non-driver’s ID card.
Once you have these documents, fill out the Social Security card application form (form SS -5). You can get it online on the SSA website, collect it from any SSA office, or call (800) 722 – 1213 to have it mailed to you.
If you find it tasking to do all that, you can get help from third-party agencies such as https://www.application-filing-service.com/socialsecuritycard/form-ss-5/. Here, you will be assisted with preparing the documents and the application will be made on your behalf.
