[hkolln]

I think it depends upon what your local SS office allows. I have heard of people being able to change theirs no questions asked and our office won't allow it for a child that knows they are adopted. I think it should be across the board..you adopt from foster care you should be able to file a new SS# request. It seems that would prevent any identity fraud in the future.

While I was waiting in the office for our turn I was talking with a lady where her sister stole her identity and got arrested. Now she's trying to get a new SS number and she's been back 3x's with different proof they keep requiring. She even had letters from the police dept showing she was arrested when it wasn't her, etc...all kinds of documentation but everytime it didn't seem like enough to them. I felt so bad for her!

[millie58]

I was told this also and all my adoptions were older kid adoptions. I still don't understand that reasoning.

[millie58]

And after each adoption, a DSS worker sends a form to be filled out with the SS number. He says (it's a man) to get a NEW number. I felt like calling him to see if he knew something I didn't.

[tlmerrie]

I had no idea that my question would generate such a response, but I thank you as this conversation has been very informative for me. I think I have a better idea how to handle the situation now.

Just to share briefly, J is now five but has been with us since two and a half. She does know she is adopted, but of course I don't consider that to be anyone else's business. We do have a new birth certificate for her. We have put off getting the card because she still needs to be adopted by me, technically only my partner adopted her, but with her going to kindergarten soon, I don't want a bunch of old information floating around out there.

J's b-mom and b-mom's husband have used her on any number of occassions to get benefits and who knows what else. I am planning to send off a request to have her credit checked. I'm worried about proving that this needs to be done since it can be so hard to get evidence, but I do have some evidence that backs up my claim that they often used the kids to get services, even after they were taken. Furthermore, both b-mom and her husband have a lengthy history of SS fraud, but of course the SSA never actually gets around to investigating anything; even when there is solid proof. Also there was abuse, and there have been kidnapping threats in the past. I'd just rather deal with this now while she is so young that when she's older and actually might encounter problems.

Amy

[Malanae]

I am currently working with/arguing with Social Security on this issue because my daughter was 8 when the adoption was finalized. We even have it in the legal adoption papers, signed by the courts, that her SS# was to be changed along with her name. My local office is not cooperating very well. However, I will continue to pursue this issue and go to another SS office with people who understand the issues foster/adoptive kids have gone through. A spokesperson from the national SS 1-800 number suggested this idea.

[Sooner]

I talked to our office today about it & they initially said that it had to be written in the adoption agreement but I pushed & they asked the same as most of the PP "does he know he is adopted" They did also tell me that I can get the card changed with a certified copy of the adoption papers & don't have to wait for the birth cert, that was good news.

[mamachell]

It seems like our DCFS and the SS office are not on the same page. We aren't to the point of adopting yet but I did ask my adoptions worker, after reading this thread, if our fd would get a new SS# with her new name once she was adopted. She said yes. Then I called the Federal SS office and they told me no, it's not their usual policy to change the SS# but the representative said it was possible depending on the policy of the local office. To me that doesn't make sense. She was basically telling me that if I get a sympathetic agent I can get a new one but it's not a guarantee. That's very unfair. Plus, I still have no idea why it would make any difference if the child knew they were adopted or not. It's the same security issue for the child.

[Sooner]

So frustated with SS office today. My husband is disabled so I am trying to add our newly adopted son to his benifits so I scheduled a call with them yesterday to have that done. The girl I talked to yesterday told me I needed to have his number changed first. I explained that it required the birth cert first which could take months. She asks me to hold & goes to ask someone else & says no I just need the Adoption Decree.

So I go up to the office today to have that done & was told I NEED THE BIRTH CERT. grrrrrrrr Ok so now have 2 diff people from the same agency telling me different things. The girl today tells me I don't have to have his new ssn in order to file the disability claim but I should reschedule for the end of the month in order to give time for the birth cert to come in. HELLO? I explained again that could take months.

Now I don't know what to believe or do.