Age Requirements

Age at Application

A child must be under age 18 when an application is initiated for Foster Care.

Evidence of Age

[42-111.1]

The age of a Foster Care child must be verified. Acceptable evidence of the child’s age includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Birth certificate or hospital’s, physician’s or midwife’s birth record.
  • Baptismal certificate or church record of baptism.
  • Confirmation papers or church record of confirmation.
  • School records.
  • Indian agency records (if applicable).
  • Immigration papers or governmental record of immigration.
  • Naturalization papers or governmental record of naturalization.
  • Adoption decree.
  • Passport.
  • State or Federal census record.
  • The affidavit of an adult if it is based on his personal knowledge of facts which would determine the probable age of the child and it is not merely a statement of belief based on the child’s personal appearance. The affidavit must contain statements of the circumstances upon which the affiant’s knowledge is based.
  • Entries in a family Bible or other genealogical record or memorandum of the child’s age.

Documentation of Age

[42-111.2]

The verification used to establish the child’s age must be documented on the “Statement of Facts Supporting Eligibility for AFDC-FC” (FC 2) before it is scanned.

Note: The verification document must be filed in the case folder in the permanent verification section, fastener 1, bottom until IDM is implemented for Foster Care and the document is scanned.

  • Original documents (i.e. birth certificate, SSN card) requested by our agency must be photocopied and forwarded to the SW/PO to be retained in the services folder so they can be given to the child when they leave the Foster Care system.
  • Original documents provided by someone else, i.e. a caretaker relative, must be photocopied and returned to the person who provided them.
  • If a document does not appear to be valid, additional evidence may be needed and/or a fraud referral may be indicated.

Original Birth Certificates

The Social Security Administration requires an original birth certificate when an application for a Social Security Number is requested. FC EWs are authorized to apply for a SSN on behalf of a Foster Care child.

  • If the child’s SSN is already on file and verified, there is no need to request an original birth certificate for Foster Care. Any of the documents listed in the section above are allowable for proof of age.
  • If an application for an SSN is required and an original birth certificate is not available, the EW must request it.

Note: If other evidence of the child’s age is available and all other conditions of eligibility are met, Foster Care may be approved pending receipt of the birth certificate and the child’s SSN card.

  • Original birth certificates will be taken to the SSA office by clerical staff with the completed SSN Application form (SS -5). Social Security will complete the SSN application and return the original birth certificate to clerical.
  • The original birth certificate should remain in theFC FC case until the SSN is received/ verified (so that it is available if the SSN card isn’t received and the application has to be submitted again).
  • Once the SSN card is on file and verified, make a copy of the SSN card and birth certificate and give the originals to the child’s Social Worker.

Related Topics

Requests for Birth Certificates