Library: Policy

340:75-13-10. Social Security number

Revised 5-15-09

     A SSN is required by federal regulations for anyone applying for Medicaid coverage.  Form SS-5, Application for Social Security Number, is completed and submitted to the local Social Security Administration office by the Child Welfare worker for the child in the legal custody of Oklahoma Department of Human Services in out-of-home care:

• (A) who does not have a Social Security number (SSN);

• (B) whose SSN cannot be obtained from family resources; or

• (C) for whom the OKDHS Information Management System (IMS) does not show a verified SSN.  • 1 
      

1.(a) Original Social Security card. Public Law 108-458 limits the number of replacement Social Security cards an individual may receive to three per calendar year and no more than ten in a lifetime.Each Social Security card issued while a child is in Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) custody counts against the child's lifetime card count and can lead to potential fraud issues when multiple cards are requested. To reduce Social Security Number (SSN) theft, the child welfare (CW) specialist applies for an original Social Security card only when:

(1) the child has no SSN and the placement goal changes to adoption;

(2) the child, in DHS custody in out-of-home placement, has no original Social Security card and is nearing 16 years of age; or

(3) a request for other reasons has been approved by the Child Welfare Services (CWS), Trust Account Unit.

(b) When obtained, the original Social Security card is maintained in the CWS case record until the child leaves out-of-home placement.Upon the child's exit, the card is given to the child or the child's caregiver.

(c) Use of existing SSN.The child's SSN is provided to the custody specialist when applying for Medicaid.

(d) Application for child's Social Security card.To request an original Social Security card from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for a child in DHS custody in out-of-home placement, the CW specialist takes completed Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, to the local SSA office with:

(1) the child's full-certified birth certificate;

(2) another form of the child's identification, such as a court document verifying the:

(A) child is in DHS custody;

(B) child's first and last name;

(C) child's date of, or place of, birth or parent(s)' name; and

(3) the applicant's identification.CWS staff presents a DHS identification badge.The signature on Form SS-5 must match the name of the person presenting DHS identification.

(e) Replacement of child's Social Security card.To request Social Security card replacement from SSA for a child in DHS custody in out-of-home placement nearing 16 years of age, the CW specialist takes completed Form SS-5 to the local Social Security office with:

(1) the child's full-certified birth certificate;

(2) another form of child's identification, such as a court document verifying the:

(A) child is in DHS custody;

(B) child's first and last name;

(C) child's date of, or place of, birth or parent(s)' name; and

(3) the applicant's identification.CWS staff presents a DHS identification badge.The signature on Form SS-5 must match the name of the person presenting DHS identification.