How do I get access to grandson's social security number now that I have custody?
Full Question:
Answer:
If you are seeking to get access to your grandson's social security number and cannot locate the social security card, you may be able to request a replacement from the Social Security office.
However, you will have to prove you are the legal guardian or custodian of him as well as provide a copy of his birth certificate.
A notarized permission paper may or may not be legally sufficient especially if it was executed by only one parent. It may be necessary for you to petition the local probate court to be appointed as legal guardian of the minor.
The state of Iowa has specific laws establishing "subsidized guardianship program."
This option is available in some states to children whose caregivers have obtained legal guardianship or permanent custody through existing state laws and the use of state funds. A few states are able to provide subsidized guardianship programs as a result of a waiver from the federal government that allows them to use Title IV-E foster care funding for this purpose. At this time, unless a state has a waiver, there is no federal foster care funding for guardianship programs. Many states do not currently have subsidized guardianship programs.
The states that have implemented subsidized guardianship programs recognize that in certain family situations, guardianship or permanent custody might be the best permanence option available when children cannot return home or be adopted. Subsidized guardianship arrangements are particularly important for children raised by grandparents or other relatives because they:
Enable families to maintain bonds with the birth parent(s) who may have a physical or mental disability that makes them unable to care safely for the children in their own home;2
Honor the wishes of many older children who may not wish to be adopted and/or to break ties with their birth parents;
Allow birth parents who may one day be able to resume caregiving activities to regain custody of the child with the oversight and approval of the courts and/or child welfare agency;
Respect the cultural norms existent in many cultures where terminating parental rights defies important societal norms of extended family and mutual interdependence;
Provide the courts with the flexibility to limit or expand the legal guardian’s and parents’ authority as necessary to best serve the changing needs of individual children, their caregivers, and birth parents;
Limit ongoing state oversight and intervention in the lives of grandparents and other relatives who are ready to care permanently for the children in their homes, but for whom adoption and reunification have been ruled out, as permanency options.
It may be important to seek the assistance of a local attorney who can provide specific advice about your situation.