Wednesday night at 10...we heard from a frustrated Oklahoma mother. She gave birth last November, but here we are 3 months later and she's still waiting on her daughter's social security card. Without that SS number...our mother isn't able to claim her new daughter as a dependent...which means she can't file her taxes. She's not alone. Hospitals throughout the state have been receiving complaints from other annoyed parents. The problem is the new software the state uses to register newborns. They made the switchover back in April...but it wasn't until the new calendar year that the program started to act up. The glitch temporarily prevented the state from registering newborns and as a result it delayed them several weeks. They've been trying to play catch up ever since.
Here's the problem...when a baby is born, the hospital sends his or her birth records electronically to the state health department. It's then the health department's responsibility to forward those birth records to the Social Security Administration. At that point, the SSA issues the newborn a social security number. Confused?? In a nutshell, the social security office can't issue a social security number to a newborn until the state health department process his or her birth records. Don't worry...the state seems to think they have the glitch ironed out...
While you don't have to request your infant's social security card, you must request a copy of your birth certificate. It's a $15 dollar charge...and you can download the application off the state's website. http://www.ok.gov/health/Birth_and_Death_Certificates/Birth_Certificates/
You can also send in the application by mail...the address is...Vital Records Service Oklahoma State Department of Health1000 Northeast 10th Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Or drop it off in person, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at:
Vital Records Service, Room 117Oklahoma State Department of Health1000 Northeast 10th Oklahoma City, OK
Tulsa Health Department,Central Regional Health Center315 S. UticaTulsa, OK
Pittsburg County Health Department1400 East College Avenue McAlester, OK
Here's an interesting tid bit of information...did you know the 1,000 babies are born in Oklahoma each week....that comes out to 54,000 newborns statewide per year. I couldn't believe those numbers when I heard them...crazy, but true! The state has compiled a host of databases including birth and death certificates. You can access those figures by logging onto www.health.ok.gov/ok2share.
I'm Scott Hines...In Your Corner!
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