WASHINGTON, DC – Area Congressman Lloyd Smucker introduced legislation to better protect children from fraud when their Social Security cards are lost or stolen. Called the Social Security Child Protection Act, the measure would require the Social Security Administration (SSA) to issue a new, different Social Security Number to an individual under the age of 14, if the card is lost or stolen while being issued to the child in the mail. Currently, Social Security cards are only issued to children after their parents complete an application, either at the hospital immediately after birth, or in person at a Social Security office. Once the application is processed, a card is issued and mailed to the child. Currently, if the card is stolen or lost in the mail, the SSA will not issue the child a new number until that child is the victim of fraud and reports it within 2 years of the fraud taking place. Child victims of Social Security fraud often learn of the fraud years after it occurs. Changing your Social Security Number as an adult resets your credit history and complicates one’s ability to keep track of government and employment records. By allowing a child to replace their number before entering adulthood, they can be spared from these difficult situations.
REP. LLOYD SMUCKER