[tlmerrie]

I remember hearing once on here that you could change the social security number for an adopted child but that you should take in the information from the SS agency handbook as it is a little known fact. Is this true? and if so does anyone know where I can find said handbook?

We have not gotten around to changing J's card but need to get it done soon. Her birth mother has a history of using her card number inappropriately and I am concerned about the damage that could be done over time.

[mrstkg1]

We were told this too, but in fact the social security office would not change my adopted daughters SSN. We just had to have it reprinted with her new name on it.

[Happy123]

We were able to change the name/number...I took the adoption agreement along with the SS card application. It is more work for them so I understand why they would not be wanting to do it..They have to wait to get verification back the the adoption is valid/final. We are in CA.
Happy123

[Chancey]

We specifically asked and SS told us no we could not do it. So, we just had new name put on it.

[mnmomma]

I've come across threads about this issue before. What I've read is that social security doesn't want to issue new numbers whenever possible because it opens more doors for fraud to have extra #'s floating around. They will often do it if you can provide some evidence of good reason (ex. notification from IRS saying you can't claim child as a dependent because somebody else did). I've never had to do it, but that's what I've heard.

[hkolln]

We were told we also couldn't get her number changed but just her name. The reasoning they gave us was "Because she knows she's adopted." Then I've heard others having to problems changing the number. We tried twice (with 2 different people) at our local SS office and they both refused. I just went in again and had her name change done instead.

[jp4ga]

I was told NO but I did end up getting a new SS number. It was really not a problem. I told the lady that I was told no number was issued when one actually had been issued. I told her that I was uncomfortable having a number that the bmom had access too. We got the number changed and a fraud alert was placed on the old number.

This happened in GA

[marigold]

I had no issue. I have several friends that have adopted recently and they have not had issues either. I just had to wait untill I recieved his new birth certificate then take that, the adoption decree, and a form of the website and poof a new number and card. I brought everthing I thought I might need, but it was simple and no hassle.

[Sdirector]

I was able to change my son's number. At first they did not want to, but when I told them the circumstances, they did so with no problems.

[greenrobin]

Our state adoption worker told us that when we go to change their numbers that we will be asked if the kids know they are adopted.

The answer is NO.

Apparently that ranks right up there on the magic word scale with please and thank you and abbra caddabra.


So, FWIW, that's what aI know.

[hkolln]

Originally Posted by greenrobin

Our state adoption worker told us that when we go to change their numbers that we will be asked if the kids know they are adopted.

That's kinda hard to say "NO" when the child is 9 yrs old. Like they won't know they are adopted at that age? That was our issue. They thought we were crazy when we asked to change her number because of her age. They said if she was say under 3 then OK they would but because she was 9 then they couldn't. Something written in the guidelines. But then our SS office hires incompetents and I hate going in there! And the medicaid office is just as bad!

[greenrobin]

You know, that's the same thing that the adoption worker said--kind of hard, especially when you've adopted from foster care. But, that's just the way it is.

Weird how bureauacracies work, I guess.

[Prettyboicris]

I know adults who have changed their SS number.I don't know your entire situation or your child's history but for the OP or anyone else there is a way to get it changed no matter what the age of the child. As long as you can prove that not changing the number can jeopordize the child's safety and yours (i.e. Parents have violent history, history of inappropriate behavior, history/potential for harassment etc.) then they can change it for you. They change numbers for battered women quite often. The SS number change rules are federal but certain states add their own bias to the matter. The due it more often for DV victims but child abuse in many states holds just as much weight if not more than DV when it comes to safety precautions. Here is the official info from the Social security website.

[mamachell]

I don't understand why it would matter if the child knows they are adopted or not; I think that's a little crazy. To me it's a security issue. If bioparents or family have access to the number they could potentially wreak havoc with the child's number. I think it should be automatic.

On another note, is it possible a child would not have a social security card? Is a number automatically issued? I haven't heard of my fd having a ss # and am wondering if she does. BTW, she doesn't have a birth certificate either (I don't mean I don't have one, I mean one was never made for her; long story) so I'm wondering if she also doesn't have a ss#.

[ScrapMonkey]

This is really an easy process. You go into the SS office with your new birth certificate and a second form of ID like an insurance card (we had our son's Medicaid card with his new name on it). When you fill out the form, it asks you if this child has ever had a SS# issued. You check NO. This child with this name has NOT had a SS# before. This was NEVER told to us for our first adoption, but thankfully the agent saw he was adopted from foster care on the adoption decree I brought and said, "Of course, let's get this done." I heard other people talk about checking the no box and I thought it didn't make sense. Then, for our second adoption, this info was provided to us by DCFS.

Hope that info helps someone, it sure helped us!