[tylind23]

The Social Security guidelines are very specific. A new number is not to be issued except in extreme situations. The workers at the SS office are not trying to be a pain, it's just policy. It's true that a new number can be issued for an adopted child if they do not know they are adopted. The only way to get a new number issued for a child who does know that they are adopted is to prove immediate danger (victims of domestic violence, etc.) or to prove that the current number has been abused (not just that there is a possibility of it being abused in the future). You may occasionally find a SS employee who will disregard the rules, but if they are doing their job, these are the only ways to get a new number issued. Even then, these decisions should not be made by the worker at the window. There are forms to fill out, documentation to be submitted, and it is all sent in to the Central Office for approval.

To the person who posted about not knowing if their foster child has a SS number, if you take ID for you and the child (shot record, school record, medicaid card, etc.) and proof of custody to the SS office, they can tell you if a number has ever been issued for that child.