If a child under six who has no SSN is added to the household, when must the family disclose and document the SSN?

When a child under the age of six without a Social Security Number (SSN) is added to a household, the family is required to disclose and document the SSN within 90 days of the addition. This requirement is part of the regulations that ensure eligibility and maintain accurate records for assistance programs.

The 90-day period provides a reasonable timeframe for families to secure the necessary documentation for the child, as acquiring an SSN can take some time depending on various circumstances, such as the process involved in obtaining it for a newborn or an adopted child. This policy balances the need for timely reporting with the understanding that families may not be able to provide the SSN immediately.

While some people might consider that documentation could be deferred until a later point in time, such as at recertification or when the child turns six, these alternatives do not align with the established regulatory timeline, which emphasizes the importance of securing SSNs promptly for all household members, particularly young children.