Adoption
Adoption brings joy and fulfillment to the lives of parents and children. Since the lifelong interests of the child are involved, the process can be complicated, time-consuming and, at times, frustrating. This section acquaints you with adoption procedures and the issues you should consider. It provides information and resources needed to take the next step: bringing an adopted child into your life -- and bringing happiness to the child.
Event Checklist
- Enroll Child in Benefit Plans
Contact your Human Resources Department for information about the benefit plans you may want to enroll your child in, and what paperwork is necessary to accomplish this.
In addition to enrolling your child in your health plans, you may want to consider changes to your beneficiary designation on your retirement and insurance plans. Contact your Human Resources Department for information on beneficiary designations.
Important! When your new child arrives, you have a limited time to enroll your newly adopted child in the benefit plans offered by your company.
- Review Tax Withholding
The Internal Revenue Service's W-4 Form has been set in a web-ready, electronic format. If you wish to change your withholding, download it and print it out at your leisure.
- Review Life Insurance Coverage
When adopting a child, 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.
- Apply for a Social Security Card for Child
You can avoid having to fill out a special application or go to a Social Security office: when you apply 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, and it 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 from here 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 web site 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.