Joe and I discovered last night as he was doing our taxes that we need Lucy’s social security number to complete our return and file it. We hadn’t thought about that (parent fail!), and so this morning I headed out to the social security office since we never received her social security card.
It was a long trip. I first went to the hospital to get her proof of birth and then to the Health Department in that county to get her birth certificate, since I had never gotten around to going over there until now to get it. Then, I headed to the social security office.
When I finally got called to a window, I told the employee that I had never recieved my daughter’s social security card, so I needed to get a replacement and I needed her number to file my taxes. She took Lucy’s birth certificate and checked the system.
There is no record of Lucy. She was never given a social security number.
Um. Why not?
“It happens sometimes.”
She said it so nonchalantly that it seemed like it’s a regular occurrance.
Ok. So what do I need to do?
“Well, we need her photo ID.”
Seriously? She’s FIVE MONTHS OLD. She can’t sit up unassisted. She doesn’t have a freaking photo ID.
I told them I had her birth certificate, proof of birth and insurance card, as well as my insurance card and photo ID.
“Well, her date of birth isn’t on her insurance card.”
No, but it’s on her BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
So, guess what trumps a birth certificate. Immunization records. Seriously?
Now, I have to go back on Friday with her certified immunization records to prove she is who she is and that she exists. And, I’ll have to take her birth certificate again, even though they said they need to verify it really IS her birth certificate because, you know, I guess it could be fake even with the seal.
I guess we’ll be stopping by the DMV to get Lucy a photo ID. And hoping I can finally get her social security card in the works on Friday. I’m not holding my breath.
Wow, I’ve never heard of that happening. I remember filling out a form in the hospital with both girls & then a ss card was mailed to us within a week or two of them being born. I recently had to go in to get them replaced since they were stolen when our house got robbed. (Don’t worry, we’re monitoring all of our credit)
Anyhow, I’d get her a passport over a photo id at the dmv. It probably doesn’t really matter, but it’s always nice to have a passport, especially if you think you’ll ever go over the border to Mexico or Canada. You can’t even see Niagra Falls without one now!
Oh, I did fill out the form at the hospital. Apparently, it never got processed. Her birth certificate says that I submitted the form, but the woman at the social security office tried to tell me I never filled out the application.
Oh, this sucks! Is it going to be a problem for your taxes since the filing deadline is tomorrow?
Wow!
If we have a #2, we will be filing for his/her ssn at the SS department. The hospital way takes 14-17 weeks in our state. If you go to the department, it goes in the “normal” way and only takes 6 weeks. Since Andrew was born at the end of December, we only had 4 months in which to file our taxes, and we barely got his number in time.
That being said, going to the SS dept was MUCH easier than you’ve described. We literally just brought his birth cert and they filed for it. Easy peasy. We won’t be waiting for the hospital again.
This is the most interesting thing I have heard! We haven’t gotten Drake’s yet either…I’m hoping he didn’t get lost in the system, too! 🙂 Don’t they know what a pain it is to get in and out of the car with an infant?!