What is Enumeration at Birth and how does it work?

The Enumeration at Birth (EAB) program eliminates the need for a parent to gather the necessary documents, complete an Application for a Social Security Card (SS-5), and take or mail original documents to a local Social Security office for processing.

New parents at a hospital, birthing center, or using a licensed midwife can request a Social Security number (SSN) during the birth registration process. Through EAB, the bureaus of vital statistics electronically send birth registration information to us, and we assign an SSN, issue a card, and automatically update our records with proof of birth.

Currently, the national average processing time for EAB cases is 2 weeks. Parents may expect to wait up to an additional 2 weeks to receive the SSN card in the mail.

Read our publication Social Security Numbers for Children for more information.