Right after my girls were born, we applied for a Social Security number for each of them, just as the law required. We had no choice, of course.
The Internal Revenue Service requires parents to obtain a Social Security number for a child before the age of one if they want to claim their child as a tax deduction. News reports of the increase in children’s identify theft cases made me wonder if my own girls were at risk. I have filled in their social security number on many forms. Was this a cause for concern? Not really, said Linda Foley, founder of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center. However, it’s wise to keep your eyes open for red flags. Flags could be getting a credit card bill in your child’s name when you have not opened one for them or receiving collection agency calls for your child.
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