Having a Baby

Congratulations! This is an exciting and rewarding time for you! And while it will pose a lot of new challenges and questions, being prepared can help ease many of the doubts and concerns common to new parents and allow you to enjoy the million precious moments as they occur. This section will take you through the information you'll need to welcome a new addition to your family.
 
Things to Consider

1. Add Child to your Benefits
To add a child to your benefits, HBC requires a Birth Certificate to be returned to the Benefits Center. Required documentation can be loaded to the Benefit portal during the enrollment process. For enrollment instructions, click here.

Important! You have 31 days, from the date of birth, to enroll your child in the benefit plans.

2. Consider changes to your beneficiary designations.

  • Contact Merrill at 1-888-335-8218 to make changes to your 401(k) beneficiary
  • Contact Wex at 1-800-498-8705 to make changes to your insurance beneficiary


3. Review Tax Withholding
For instructions on how to update your tax withholding elections with HBC, click here. 


4. Review Life Insurance Coverage
When having a baby, make sure to review and update your life insurance coverage. You should find insurance calculators helpful in thinking about how much life insurance you should purchase. It is also advisable for you to consult with your financial advisor.

5.  Apply for a Social Security Card for Child
To avoid having to fill out a special application or go to a Social Security office: when applying for your baby's birth certificate in the hospital, indicate that you want to apply to have a Social Security number assigned as well. The information will be passed on to the Social Security Administration, who will issue a number.

Otherwise, you will need to fill out an Application for a Social Security Card (SS-5) form and submit it. You can download a copy of the SS-5 form and instructions in an electronic format and print it out at your leisure.

Note: Social Security telephone lines are busiest early in the week and early in the month, so if possible, avoid those times. The Social Security Administration treats all information as confidential. Also, you can visit the Social Security website or call 1-800-772-1213 at any hour of the day toll-free. If you wish to speak to a service representative, call between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern time on business days. If you are hearing-impaired, call 1-800-325-0778 instead.