• geekworking@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Depends upon how long ago. Back in the 70s and 80s it was not common to apply for Social Security at birth or as a young child. It was also a bigger hassle before the internet. Some combination of phone calls, mail, and visiting the Social Security office in some cases.

    You really didn’t need it until you hit your teens and started to work or got your own bank account.

    I think I was like 10 or 12 when I got my SSN. It wasn’t any sort of protest or parental BS. Just didn’t need it before then.

    • SokathHisEyesOpen@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      I think she was born in 1980, but literally everyone else I knew had a SSN their whole life. I think you’re an outlier, but I’m just speaking from my own limited experience. Have you met other people your age who didn’t have SSN as kids? When my son was born we just filled out a form at the hospital. I’m pretty sure they filed it for us, although I can’t remember for sure, since it has been a couple of decades now.

      • calypsopub@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I was born in the 60s and didn’t get my social security number until I got my first job. That’s the way it used to be.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        I’m a little older and it was normal to not get SSN until you needed it as a teen. Meanwhile, for my kids, it was part of their newborn paperwork. I don’t know if it was actually required but they made it easy and there were benefits that did require it