1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

The recent decision by the federal government to suspend the Enumeration at Birth program in Maine is an unnecessary burden on new parents during an already stressful period. For over three decades, this voluntary program has provided a convenient way for 99% of parents to obtain a Social Security number for their newborns directly at the hospital. Requiring families to now visit a Social Security office in-person adds an extra step and logistical challenge in those precious first days and weeks after childbirth. While the stated goal is to increase efficiency, removing a long-standing service that has worked smoothly for 35 years is counterproductive. The postpartum period is already filled with doctor visits, lack of sleep, and major life adjustments. This change needlessly compounds the difficulties faced by new mothers and families. Rather than making their lives easier through common-sense policies, it introduces more hassle and bureaucracy at a highly vulnerable time. I urge you to reconsider reinstating the Enumeration at Birth program in Maine to ease the burdens on parents and protect this simple convenience during those irreplaceable early moments with a new child. Families deserve better than punitive policies that disrupt critical services under the guise of cost-cutting.