That is kind of an extreme thing to say. If true, what has America become when you must sit around and do nothing until you acquire that precious SS card that somehow makes it OK to work?
As I understand it, the IRS requires parents to get a social security number for their children at a very early age (I believe it's 2 years old, but not sure). No number, no deduction for the rug-rat.
This has been in effect for quite some time.