A recent scare with one of my children while they were in the process of completing their paperwork for a new job, brought up the very important question. What documents does a young adult need while attending college?
1 - Social Security card - If your young adult needs their Social Security Card, by all means give it to them, but only if they absolutely have to have it. Otherwise keep the card in a safe place in your home. Losing a social security card is the same as inviting identify theft. The good news is that while they should have the number memorized, they actually don’t need the actual card until they they are hired for a job. Never carry your Social Security card in your wallet.
2 - Driver’s License / Learner’s Permit - Never underestimate the power of identification. I learned this recently when I lost my own Driver’s License. Why do you need a state issued picture ID? To go the bank, use a credit card, basically every time you need to prove who you are, which I’ve found is quite often.
Other important documents of note:
-Birth Certificate
-Childhood shot record
Lose just one document and it’s amazing how difficult life can suddenly become. Even experienced adults panic at the thought of losing an important document. Help your young adult safeguard their life and teach them the value of life documents.
Great advice!
ReplyDelete