How to Get a Social Security Card for a Newborn

The Two Ways to Get Your Baby’s Number

You have two routes, and one is far easier than the other.

	At the hospital (Enumeration at Birth)	Later, through SSA
When	During the birth registration paperwork	Any time after birth
Where	Hospital, birthing center, or with a licensed midwife	Online application, then a local Social Security office
Documents you gather	None	Originals for your baby and for you
Birth record check	Handled by your state	SSA must verify the birth certificate with the issuing office
Typical wait	State processing time plus up to 2 weeks for mail	5 to 10 business days by mail after approval
Cost	Free	Free

SSA itself says it’s a good idea to apply for your child’s number and birth certificate at birth. If you wait, there may be delays while SSA verifies the birth certificate.

How the Hospital Route Works

SSA calls the hospital route Enumeration at Birth. During the birth registration process, the hospital, birthing center or licensed midwife asks whether you want a Social Security number for your baby. Say yes.

Your state’s vital statistics office then sends the birth registration details to SSA electronically. SSA assigns the number, issues the card and updates its records with proof of birth. You don’t fill out Form SS-5, and you don’t take documents anywhere.

A few tips make the hospital route smooth:

• Settle the baby’s name before you sign. The name on the birth registration is the name on the card.
• Give a mailing address you’ll have for a month or more. The card arrives by mail.
• Keep a note of the date. If the card is late, you’ll want to know how long it’s been.

The 2026 Commemorative Card

Babies born in the U.S. between July 2 and December 31, 2026, whose numbers come through the hospital route, get a limited-edition card with the Freedom 250 logo for the 250th anniversary of American independence. It works exactly like a standard card. Cards issued later as replacements or duplicates won’t carry the design, so keep the original safe.

How Long a Social Security Card for a Newborn Takes

Through the hospital route, the national average processing time is about 2 weeks, and the card can take up to another 2 weeks in the mail. Your state sets most of the pace, because it has to send the birth record to SSA first.

These are the average times each state took to send applications to SSA for the quarter ending March 2026. Add about two weeks for mailing.

State processing time	States and territories
1 week	California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming
2 weeks	Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York City, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia, Northern Mariana Islands
3 weeks	Louisiana, New York (outside New York City), Virginia, Wisconsin
4 weeks	Hawaii, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island
5 weeks	New Mexico
7 weeks	Alaska

If you’ve waited your state’s time plus two weeks and nothing has arrived, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If You Didn’t Apply at the Hospital

You can still get a number at any age. The process has two parts: start the application online, then go to a local Social Security office to show your documents. Once SSA approves the application, the card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.

1. Get a certified copy of the birth certificate. Order it from your state or county vital records office. SSA needs the original certificate or a copy certified by the office that issued it.
2. Find a document that proves your baby’s identity. This is the step that trips parents up, because the birth certificate doesn’t count for identity. The list is in the next section.
3. Bring your own ID. You prove who you are as well as who your child is.
4. Start the application on ssa.gov. Choose the option to request a number for the first time.
5. Visit the office with originals. SSA reviews your documents and verifies the birth record with the office that issued it, which can add time.

The Documents SSA Accepts for a Baby’s First Card

Everything must be an original or a copy certified by the issuing agency. SSA doesn’t accept photocopies, notarized copies, receipts, or electronically certified copies. You must provide at least two separate documents in total.

What you prove	Documents SSA accepts
Baby’s U.S. citizenship and age	U.S. birth certificate (or U.S. passport)
Baby’s identity	U.S. passport preferred; otherwise a state-issued non-driver ID, adoption decree, doctor, clinic or hospital record, religious record, daycare center record, or school ID card
Your identity	U.S. driver’s license, state-issued non-driver ID card, or U.S. passport; second choice: employee ID, school ID, health insurance card (not a Medicare card), or U.S. military ID
Your custody or responsibility, if asked	Court custody papers, being listed as the parent in SSA records, a state social services placement letter, school records, or a rental agreement listing the child in your household

For a newborn, a hospital or doctor’s record is usually the easiest identity document. It must show your baby’s name and identifying details, such as date of birth or your names as parents. To be certified, the hospital or clinic must sign, stamp or seal the copy.

Adopted Children and Children Born Abroad

Adoption changes the timing. SSA can sometimes assign an adopted child a number before the adoption is final, but it notes you may want to wait so you can apply using the child’s new name. If you need to claim the child on your taxes while the adoption is pending, the IRS offers Form W-7A for a temporary taxpayer number. A final adoption decree is one of the identity documents SSA accepts for a child.

Children born outside the U.S. follow a different document list, because they can’t use a U.S. birth certificate. The guide for non-citizens covers noncitizen children, and SSA’s document tool on ssa.gov lists the papers for foreign-born U.S. citizen children.

Do You Need to Visit an Office?

Not if you said yes at the hospital. Otherwise, a first card for a child needs an in-person visit so SSA can see the original documents. Anyone 12 or older applying for a first number must also be interviewed in person.

The office finder lists all 1,231 Social Security offices in SSA’s office data, checked against SSA’s Office Locator on October 1, 2026. Most, 1,194 offices, are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Some examples:

• San Diego Social Security offices, including the Kearny Mesa office
• Columbus Social Security offices, including the Columbus East office
• Charlotte Social Security office
• Memphis Social Security offices

Before you go, read what to bring to a Social Security office and the office hours and appointments guide.

Scams and Paid “Baby SSN” Services

A Social Security number for your baby is free. Some private companies charge for help, but they offer no advantage, and you still have to give your documents to SSA yourself. SSA lists charging for a free card as a sign of an imposter.

Be wary of calls, texts or emails about your child’s number. SSA won’t ask for sensitive information through social media, email or text. If something seems off, report it to SSA’s Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report. The Social Security phone number guide lists the real numbers.

If Something Goes Wrong

The card hasn’t arrived. Check the state table above, add two weeks, then contact your local office or call 1-800-772-1213.

The name on the card is wrong. The card follows the birth record. Fix the birth record with your state if it’s wrong, then request a corrected card; the name change guide explains the documents.

You have no identity document for the baby. Ask the hospital or your pediatrician for a certified copy of the medical record, signed, stamped or sealed. A daycare record also works once your child is enrolled.

You’re not a U.S. citizen. Your U.S.-born child is applying as a U.S. citizen, so the steps above apply. For your own number and documents, see the guide for non-citizens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does It Cost Anything to Get My Baby's Number?

No. SSA says getting a Social Security number and card is free, including for a newborn.

Can I Use My Baby's Birth Certificate as ID?

Not as proof of identity. A birth certificate can prove age and citizenship, but SSA needs a separate document showing the child exists after birth, such as a U.S. passport, a doctor or hospital record, or a daycare record.

Will My Baby Get the Freedom 250 Card?

Children born in the U.S. between July 2 and December 31, 2026, whose numbers come through the hospital program, get a commemorative card with the Freedom 250 logo. It works like any other card. Replacement cards don't carry the design.

Does the First Card Count Toward the Replacement Limits?

No. A card issued through the hospital program, or any original card, doesn't count toward the limits of three replacement cards a year and 10 in a lifetime.

What if My Child Is 12 or Older and Never Got a Number?

Anyone 12 or older applying for a first number must go to an interview in person, and SSA asks for evidence that the child was never assigned a number, such as school or tax records.

My Baby's Card Is Lost. How Do I Replace It?

Start online on ssa.gov. You show your own identity, the child's identity, your relationship or custody, and the child's citizenship if SSA doesn't already have it. See the replacement card guide.

Keep Reading

• What to BringThe documents SSA asks for at common office visits and what you can do online instead
• Office Hours and AppointmentsStandard office hours, how appointments work and when to call instead
• Phone NumbersSSA's national number, local office lines and how to get through faster
• Replace a CardWho can replace a card online, the documents needed and what it costs
• Name ChangeChanging your name on your Social Security record after marriage, divorce or a court order
• Change of AddressWho must report a move, the ways to do it and what happens to your payments

Sources

1. SSA FAQ: What is Enumeration at Birth and how does it work?
2. SSA FAQ: How long does it take to get my child's Social Security number?
3. SSA: Learn what documents you will need to get a Social Security card
4. SSA: Request Social Security number for the first time
5. SSA FAQ: What documents are required to request a replacement SSN card for a child?
6. SSA FAQ: What does it cost to get a Social Security card?