Social Security Q&A: How Long Does It Take to Get a Child’s Card?
Question: I applied for my child’s Social Security card in the hospital but have not received it. How long does it take? Answer: In most states it takes an average of three weeks to get the card, but in some states it can take longer. If you have not received your child’s card in a timely manner, please visit your local Social Security office. Be sure to take proof of your child’s citizenship, age and identity as well as proof of your...
Social Security Q&A: Do I Have to Wait a Year to Apply for Disability?
Question: I heard that my disability must be expected to last at least one year to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Does this mean I have to wait until I’ve been disabled an entire year before applying for disability? Answer: No. If you believe your disability will last a year or longer, apply for disability benefits as soon as you become disabled. Processing your application can take an average of three to five...
Cellphones for Children May Not Be a Wise Choice
My colleague Michelle Quinn got her son an iPhone when he entered middle school last year. My son wasn’t so lucky. Not only did he not get a smartphone when he entered middle school, but I don’t plan to get him even a simple cellphone anytime soon. Michelle’s story about what happened with her son’s use of his phone has served as a cautionary tale. That, plus some research I’ve done on my own, has influenced my thinking. My take-away...
Economics of Day Care Hurts New Families
Washington — It’s not the cost of diapers or even future college tuition that’s rattling Amber Sparks. “We basically had to remake our entire budget around day care,” said Sparks, 37, whose 3-month-old daughter began attending childcare this month when Sparks returned to work for a labor union in Washington. “We’ll eat out a lot less, and have a lot less discretionary spending. We live in an apartment building and I don’t think...
Poll: Burden of Child Care Is Shaping Careers
Washington — More than three-quarters of mothers and half of fathers in the United States say they’ve passed up work opportunities, switched jobs or quit to tend to their kids, according to a new Washington Post poll. While it has long been clear that finding affordable, dependable child care is a daily challenge for parents of young children, the new poll provides rare data on the breadth of the problem and how it’s shaping careers...
