Giving your kids social security number

[Erin1700]

I do not remember where I heard this...possibly here.

When doctors offices/hospitals ask for your kids social security number, do you give it to them?

We had to take the baby to the ER July 4th night. I dont carry his number with me but the lady at the desk was complaining that I didnt have it to give to them.

I thought I heard they really dont need it and that you shouldnt give it out.
True??? Do you give it? They had all of our insurance numbers and my DH is the policy holder so I think they had his number.

 

[happygirl]

I do not remember where I heard this...possibly here.

When doctors offices/hospitals ask for your kids social security number, do you give it to them?

We had to take the baby to the ER July 4th night. I dont carry his number with me but the lady at the desk was complaining that I didnt have it to give to them.

I thought I heard they really dont need it and that you shouldnt give it out.
True??? Do you give it? They had all of our insurance numbers and my DH is the policy holder so I think they had his number.

Yes, I would if they asked. I have never had a Dr.office ask for it before. Just the insurance cards

 

[JESW]

I never give it (for one, I don't have them memorized and I don't carry the cards with me) nor do I give my own. Just had this happen at the oral surgeon's office for my ds's upcoming wisdom teeth surgery and when I didn't put them down they didn't argue with me.

Jill

 

[PatsMom]

I don't give my DD's social security number to doctor's. The only reason I can think of why they would need it is for billing purposes. Since she isn't responsible for the bill, I don't see a need to give them her number. I've had a few receptionists argue with me but none could provide me with a good reason to give them the number.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

I've had people ask for our DS's number and I won't give it to them and sometimes the person gets mad, at that point I remind them that SS #'s are not a form of ID and that minors aren't required to show ID. I offer to give them mine or DH's but they usually end up saying that they don't really need a number

I realize you didn't ask this but IMO dr's and hospitals are asking for #'s of minors more and more b/c they want all of their health related info linked to them by SS# so when unviersal health care is made mandatory for all citizens the govt will have everything it needs to catagorize people according to health risks A dr's office recently asked my DS if he wears his seatbelt all the time, what physical activities he's in, and etc, questions that had nothing to do with the reason DS was there. The questions didn't last long until I interrupted and told the nurse to direct all of the questions to me, the questioning stopped at that point, go figure . Please no flaming, that's jmo, no one has to agree

 

[okeydokey]

I've had people ask for our DS's number and I won't give it to them and sometimes the person gets mad, at that point I remind them that SS #'s are not a form of ID and that minors aren't required to show ID. I offer to give them mine or DH's but they usually end up saying that they don't really need a number

I realize you didn't ask this but IMO dr's and hospitals are asking for #'s of minors more and more b/c they want all of their health related info linked to them by SS# so when unviersal health care is made mandatory for all citizens the govt will have everything it needs to catagorize people according to health risks A dr's office recently asked my DS if he wears his seatbelt all the time, what physical activities he's in, and etc, questions that had nothing to do with the reason DS was there. The questions didn't last long until I interrupted and told the nurse to direct all of the questions to me, the questioning stopped at that point, go figure . Please no flaming, that's jmo, no one has to agree

I would be grateful to a DR who asked my child general safety and health questions. My Dr isn't just responsible for the particular issue that brought me to their office that day but to my general health as a whole. What a great Dr to care so much about your son.

 

[ajk912]

I've had people ask for our DS's number and I won't give it to them and sometimes the person gets mad, at that point I remind them that SS #'s are not a form of ID and that minors aren't required to show ID. I offer to give them mine or DH's but they usually end up saying that they don't really need a number

I realize you didn't ask this but IMO dr's and hospitals are asking for #'s of minors more and more b/c they want all of their health related info linked to them by SS# so when unviersal health care is made mandatory for all citizens the govt will have everything it needs to catagorize people according to health risks A dr's office recently asked my DS if he wears his seatbelt all the time, what physical activities he's in, and etc, questions that had nothing to do with the reason DS was there. The questions didn't last long until I interrupted and told the nurse to direct all of the questions to me, the questioning stopped at that point, go figure . Please no flaming, that's jmo, no one has to agree

I never thought of it but it makes sense. I always decline to give it, and I am honestly not lying when I say I don't have it on me and I don't have it memorized.

What REALLY ticks me off is when the schools ask for it. Why on EARTH would an elementary school need a kids' social security number???? In April, the office staff was giving me a hard time and hinting that they couldn't fully register my daughter till I gave them her number. Birth certificate, proof of residence, medical record, immunizations & physicals..that I get as being mandatory for school entrance. But to deny her because I don't want to give out her social security number? That's nuts.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

I would be grateful to a DR who asked my child general safety and health questions. My Dr isn't just responsible for the particular issue that brought me to their office that day but to my general health as a whole. What a great Dr to care so much about your son.

If what you say is true, the questions would have continued with me giving the answers, but that didn't happen. So how much of the general safety and health were they wanting to know? It's not like I was rude to them, as a matter of fact the nurse's response was "yeah, those are a lot of questions to be asking a child to remember or know" and she laughed. Sorry, but that's obviously not the purpose of the questions.

 

[Darsa]

My DD's doctor asks "general health" questions as well, and I am perfectly happy to allow DD to answer them. She needs to become comfortable with this doctor who will be seeing her through her teenage years, AND I know that the doctor is looking for candid responses from her, in order to determine that her health is being taken care of by me. I, as an adult, can "edit" the answers should I feel that the "whole truth" is not what the doctor will want to hear; my DD will not, will answer with the first thing that comes into her head.

In fact, the last time I took her to the doctor and had the questions asked of her, one of the questions was about what she eats daily. It was enormously satisfying to hear her respond with "and we have to have vegetables every day" accompanied by an eyeroll

 

[okeydokey]

If what you say is true, the questions would have continued with me giving the answers, but that didn't happen. So how much of the general safety and health were they wanting to know? It's not like I was rude to them, as a matter of fact the nurse's response was "yeah, those are a lot of questions to be asking a child to remember or know" and she laughed. Sorry, but that's obviously not the purpose of the questions.

How old is your son. Mine is 9 and I always want him to answer questions posed directly to him by adults when we are together. They asked him, not me.

 

[happygirl]

If what you say is true, the questions would have continued with me giving the answers, but that didn't happen. So how much of the general safety and health were they wanting to know? It's not like I was rude to them, as a matter of fact the nurse's response was "yeah, those are a lot of questions to be asking a child to remember or know" and she laughed. Sorry, but that's obviously not the purpose of the questions.

What do you feel was the purpose of the questions?

 

[okeydokey]

If what you say is true, the questions would have continued with me giving the answers, but that didn't happen. So how much of the general safety and health were they wanting to know? It's not like I was rude to them, as a matter of fact the nurse's response was "yeah, those are a lot of questions to be asking a child to remember or know" and she laughed. Sorry, but that's obviously not the purpose of the questions.

So what do you think was the purpose of the questions?

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[dis-happy]

NO!!! I don't give it out. There have been a lot of cases of identity theft linked to medical records and staff that has access.

Had a big fight with one doctor's office about this. Called my insurance company (BCBS) and was told they do not need a SSN in order to process my claims. If insurance doesn't need it the doctor's office didn't either.

People can be pushy. It's okay to say no. And keep on saying it!

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

What do you feel was the purpose of the questions?

So what do you think was the purpose of the questions?

The OP's question was about giving out SS#'s of children, I answered and also gave my opinion as to why dr's and hospitals are asking, however my reasoning/opinion as to why they ask is not the topic here. But for the curious, obviously the nurse did not think they were relevant/needed or had any purpose whatsoever or she would have continued with them.

 

[Tigger2252]

I will not give out my or my children's numbers. They don't need them to process any claim so there is no reason to. Even insurers don't reference your SS# in your ID# anymore. After hearing about all the identity theft that goes on I am very careful about them. I have not yet had a problem when I leave the field blank or put N/A in it.

 

[Orange County Girl]

I never give them out, especially to the schools. I've always told them "You don't need it." They leave that info in unlocked file cabinets. Also, the high school was assigning the students their computer passwords. Guess what the passwords were? Yep, their SS#. Also, the K-4 school accidentally gave every student's SS# to the company that takes the school photos in the fall and they printed the student's SS# on the student body cards.

They may need them upon graduation, but for now they aren't getting them from me.

 

[Erin1700]

OP here... that is what I thought, they really don't need them.

I dont carry the cards and I dont really have the kid's numbers memorized. The last thing I was thinking when I was rushing the baby at 1AM to the ER, was "let me stop and get his ss card out of the lock box!"

 

[Inigo]

I don't give out the kids' SSNs, not even to their elementary, middle, and high schools. I just wrote on the forms, "Social Security Number on file at the Admin Building." The Admin Bldg for the schools had their SSns since DH works for the schools, and they had them so that they would be covered on health insurance.

The colleges do need their SSNs, but I'm so glad that their Student ID numbers are not the same as the SSN anymore. When I went to IU, the Student ID number was the SSN.

 

[shellybaxter]

What REALLY ticks me off is when the schools ask for it. Why on EARTH would an elementary school need a kids' social security number???? In April, the office staff was giving me a hard time and hinting that they couldn't fully register my daughter till I gave them her number. Birth certificate, proof of residence, medical record, immunizations & physicals..that I get as being mandatory for school entrance. But to deny her because I don't want to give out her social security number? That's nuts.

I don't know about regular schools for sure, but I can tell you that as a state funded preschool we have a federally funded food program and pays for all of the children's meals (not the entire cost, but at least some of them). That program requires a social security number for the family head of household (not the child). If we don't get it the child still gets the food but we get no reimbursement. Doesn't quite seem fair - the other kids suffer because we have to make up the missing food money.