[momraine]

Hi, I am not here much, as my Russian adoption was six years ago, almost seven! Wow time flies! Anyway, I am usually either on the poland or special needs boards, but thought you guys would help with this question. When we did the paperwork at the embassy for our latest little one, we were asked if wanted to automatcally apply for the SS number. We said yes, and we were told it would come automatically as well as the citizenship papers. It's been three months and we got the citizenship papers but no SS number, we need that for taxes. We went once to the SS office and were told it would come and to wait. Anyone know how long it will take or if we should go back again to the office (an hours drive from here)?
Thanks!

[Beaglepup]

Well back in Juneof 2005 we were also told it would come automatically. However, we realized it wasn't and went to the SS office. They checked and didn't seen an order put in for one so we had to apply then. I want to say it came in like 6 days. If the SS office told you there was an order put in for your little one, I'm not sure what the hold up would be. I would probably contact them again and get some specifics. You may also be able to re-apply. I know they told us if we happened to get 2 cards for DD, to send one back or something like that.
Good luck.

[beckyww]

Ha! Several threads have gone around on this. Yes, at the embassy they told us, too, that Julia's SS# would come "automatically." It did not and does not. You have to go apply for it. Those SS clerks are not working there because they had a host of other career options. Don't tell them what you were told elsewhere - it just confuses them - just go get 'er done (apply.)

Becky
The Woodworth Family in Beautiful San Antonio TX

[sak9645]

I'm hearing an awful lot of families say that they were told they'd get cards automatically, but didn't.

My sense is that you should go and apply for a card. Forget that you asked for one to come automatically. Don't even bother telling the clerk; it will just be confusing.

You should be able to get the number right away, and the card should arrive in a few weeks.

Sharon

[Ktates]

i have read of a ton of families being told the same thing but I have yet to read of one post where the family actually received the card just from fillng out the stuff at the embassy.

I would say reapply - we went in person for DD's and got it within 2 weeks.

best of luck
Karen

[Abdulina]

Lorraine,

Go down and apply in person. It will come in a week to two weeks. We were told to NOT listen to them when it comes to getting it automatically. We did not. Went in person and it's quick. Good luck. BTW, do you know of any tax breaks for special needs? I've been hearing alot about it but we've never filed in that way before--meaning nothing about our special needs kiddos. Drop me a line if you know anythign about it. I've heard but just don't know.

Take care,

[TweetyMom04]

I've not heard of that one (SSN coming automatically), nor were we ever asked about SSN's / cards.

We were home in March '04. I went in person in December '04 and applied for SSN's and received the cards a few weeks later.

[GCS]

We were told the same but still had to apply in person to get SSN's.

[LouLouBelle]

In May we were told that it would come automatically. There were a ton of posts on FRUA about the same thing. Something someone posted rang true to me...you have to be a US Citizen to apply. With an IR-3 visa you are not a citizen until you land on US soil, therefore you need to do it once home (relaying only what I remember reading, but it sounded reasonable). The local SS office did check and said nothing was in process for DD. It was quick in the office and the card arrived in about 2 weeks.

[sak9645]

Abdulina, the federal tax credit law has one provision that pertains to DOMESTICALLLY ADOPTED children with special needs. Basically, the law simply says that parents of such children, who qualify based on their income, can claim the entire tax credit, even if they didn't have qualifying adoption expenses equal to the amount of the credit.

This provision was put in to the last revision of the tax credit law, because many people adopting from state foster care systems were unable to take the credit, since they did not incur many qualifying adoption expenses. These people, many of whom adopted children with severe special needs, often had to spend thousands of dollars renovating their homes and vehicles to accommodate children who needed wheelchairs and other assistance; such improvements do not fall under the heading of qualifying adoption expenses.

Do be aware that some STATES have their own tax credit laws, and that some may apply to internationally adopted children, with or without special needs. It would be a good idea for you to do some research on whether you can reduce your state taxes in any way.

Sharon

[momraine]

We have recieved nothing from the state, or any government entity for our special needs kids. We paid for our on wheelchair van, and built ramps ourselves. We did go today and apply for the social security card, now I know it does't come as there was nothing in the computer. Though the woman obviously had no idea what she was doing. She asked for his birth certificate, and we gave her the translation of the birth certificate that we used at the embassy. She said, this is not any good to me, I need a real birth certificate. So we gave that to her, she said she could not read it because it was in polish, DUH! and then we again tried to give her the official translation, she said, no I don't know who that translator was. I explained that it is someone certified by the US embassy, she insisted that they would need to do thier own translations and she didn't know if they had someone who spoke Polish. I asked why she could not just use the passport and the citizenship papers. She finally agreed to use those and then was unhappy that she had never heard of his birth town. Then she typed it wrong, spelling his name wrong and was mad she had to redo it before I could sign it since the name was wrong. But still even with all that we were in and out in thirty minutes.

[kretzklan]

Yep - you have to apply. I did question it and got the answer that they are planning on making it paperless for us (i.e. they will automatically be sent) but the systems are not working here in the SS offices...no one told the embassey this fact and they continue to tell folks it's "in the mail".

[doozer22boys]

This is so interesting! We were also told to check the "send automatically" box and it never arrived. Our agency had no idea what they were talking about and said we needed to apply on our own. I thought maybe I had misunderstood something since I was a bit overwhelmed at the time. Nice to know I didn't imagine that whole thing!