A Nebraska father, Jason Kilburn, finally received a major breakthrough in his battle to secure a Social Security number and a valid birth certificate for his two-year-old daughter, Caroline.
This victory came after an ongoing struggle that began shortly after her birth, when Caroline was listed in state records under an incorrect name.
Caroline’s Birth Certificate Nightmare
Since her birth in November 2022, Caroline has been officially recognized as a pretty bizarre name in state records, a name Kilburn says was computer-generated by the Iowa hospital where she was born, as reported by NBC News.
To make matters worse, Caroline had never been assigned a Social Security number, leaving her unable to access essential services like Medicaid, day care, or other public resources that require a Social Security number for identity verification.
The name she was recognized as was “Unakite Thirteen Hotel”.
“I am just so relieved that we finally have this part of the puzzle in place,” Kilburn shared in an email following the resolution.
“I am absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for myself and Caroline and grateful for the support of each governmental agency that reached out to assist in finally resolving this part of the problem.”
A Step Toward Resolution
Kilburn’s difficult journey to secure his daughter’s Social Security number began to take a positive turn after NBC News reported on the situation.
Just a day after the news story aired last year, Kilburn received a call from the Social Security Administration (SSA), inviting him to the agency’s Omaha field office.
The meeting took place the following morning, where Kilburn was issued a Social Security number for Caroline.
However, there was a catch. The number was issued under the name “Unakite,” as that’s how Caroline is listed in government records.
While this was not ideal, Kilburn and his attorney, Joshua Livingston, of the Koenig | Dunne law firm in Omaha, viewed it as a significant step forward.
“Getting it under ‘Unakite’ is obviously not the most desirable way to go about it, but having that number under any name at this point is such a victory,” Livingston said. “There’s mechanisms in place to change names.”
Kilburn was informed that Caroline would receive an official Social Security card within weeks, which was a relief for the family after enduring months of bureaucratic hurdles.
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The Struggle for a Birth Certificate
The confusion surrounding Caroline’s name and identification began when she was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, just across the Nebraska border.
Kilburn was not immediately sure whether he was Caroline’s biological father, as he and Caroline’s mother were not together at the time.
A DNA test confirmed he was her father, leading to a court decision that transferred custody of Caroline from Nebraska’s foster care system to Kilburn in 2023.
However, Kilburn quickly discovered that Caroline lacked a valid birth certificate and Social Security number. The only documentation she had was a certificate of live birth, an unofficial document hospitals submit to initiate the birth certificate process.
Unfortunately, this certificate listed Caroline as “Unakite Thirteen Hotel,” further complicating her ability to access services.
Legal Efforts to Resolve the Issue
The legal battle to correct Caroline’s documentation has been ongoing.
In March 2023, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) filed a motion in juvenile court requesting permission to use the name “Unakite Thirteen Hotel” temporarily in order to secure a birth certificate and Social Security number for Caroline.
The court granted the motion, allowing NDHHS to issue a birth certificate labeled “for government use only.” However, the state agency failed to follow through with obtaining a valid Social Security number for Caroline.
Kilburn’s attorney, Joshua Livingston, filed a motion in December 2024 to reopen the case, but the court denied the request.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has since stated that it is working with Kilburn’s attorney to resolve the matter, though it has not provided further details due to confidentiality regulations.