How to Freeze a Child’s Credit Before Someone Uses Their Number
A child's Social Security number can sit misused for years. How a parent freezes credit under 16 at all three bureaus, what to mail, and when it can be lifted.
Your child has no loans, no cards and no reason to check a credit report, which is exactly why a stolen number can go unnoticed until a student loan application at 18. A freeze is free. It is also a slower, paper-based process than an adult freeze.
The Federal Trade Commission’s child identity theft page says “if your child is under 16, request a free credit freeze to make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your child’s name.” It also warns that “the process for getting a freeze for a minor is different than getting one for an adult.” You cannot simply repeat the steps in our adult three-bureau checklist.
Quick decision guide
| Child’s age | Who can request | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | Parent or legal guardian | Separate request to each bureau. TransUnion’s route covers children 15 and under |
| 16 or 17 | The teen, says the FTC: “Minors who are 16 or 17 may request and remove a security freeze themselves” | Help them gather documents; the request is theirs |
| 18 and over | The adult, using the standard online freeze | Our adult checklist applies |
| You are not the parent | A legal guardian with proof | The FTC says you may need documents proving guardianship |
What to gather
Make copies, and keep originals at home. The FTC lists what bureaus may request, and Experian’s minor-freeze guide (updated August 26, 2026) lists the same set:
- Your driver’s license or other government-issued ID
- Proof of your address, such as a utility bill or a credit card or insurance statement
- The child’s birth certificate
- The child’s Social Security card
- Proof of guardianship, if your name is not on the birth certificate
Where each request goes
Mailing addresses and forms change, so confirm these on each bureau’s site before you send anything. As described in Experian’s guide:
Experian
Online form on its Child Identity Theft Services page, or by mail to PO Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013.
Equifax
Online Minor Freeze Request Form, or U.S. Mail to P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348.
TransUnion
A written letter requesting a “Protected Consumer Freeze,” sent by standard or certified mail to P.O. Box 380, Woodlyn, PA 19094. There is no online route, according to Experian’s guide.
A sample line for the letter to TransUnion: “I am the parent of [child’s full name], date of birth [date], and I request a Protected Consumer Freeze on my child’s file. Copies of the required documents are enclosed.” Sign it, date it and include a return address.
Before you freeze: should you check for an existing file?
The FTC explains that “generally, a child under 18 won’t have” a credit report. You can ask each bureau for a manual search using your child’s Social Security number. If a file already exists, someone may have used the number, and you should treat that as a problem to resolve before a freeze. Warning signs from the FTC include:
- “Someone contacts you about your child’s overdue bill, but it’s not an account you opened.”
- “You get a letter from the IRS about unpaid income taxes for your child.”
- “Your child is denied a student loan because your child has bad credit.”
Report any of these at IdentityTheft.gov and contact the bureaus and the company involved. Then keep an eye out for the same warning signs on younger siblings.
What the freeze does, and what it leaves open
A freeze makes it harder to open new credit in your child’s name and, the FTC says, “stays in place until you tell the credit bureaus to remove it.” It does not stop someone using the number for a tax return or a job. If you are worried about tax fraud specifically, our guide to the IRS Identity Protection PIN explains how dependents can get one.
It also does not stop scammers targeting the child directly. Our settings guide for a child’s first phone is the companion to this article.
When to do it
December is a good month for one reason: you already need birth certificates and Social Security cards for school, travel or tax paperwork, so the documents are likely in reach. Do one bureau per evening if the whole job feels long. Younger children benefit most, because their numbers have the longest time to sit unused and unwatched.
A freeze for each child in the family is three separate requests, and each one is free under the rule the FTC describes. Be wary of any service that charges a fee to “lock” a child’s credit for you, and of any phone call offering to help with this process. Nobody at a bureau needs to phone you to complete a freeze you started by mail.
Common questions from parents
Do I need to freeze all three? Yes for full coverage. Experian’s guide says each bureau must be contacted separately.
What if my child gets a job or a student loan at 16 or 17? The FTC says minors who are 16 or 17 may request and remove a security freeze themselves, so a teen can lift it when needed, and put it back afterward.
Does a freeze affect my own credit? It is placed on your child’s file. A freeze you hold on your own file is a separate request.
Should my child’s school have the number on file? Ask why it’s needed and how it is stored before you hand it over. A form asking for the number with no stated purpose is worth a question.