How to Change the Name on Your Social Security Card

The Social Safety Administration (SSA) requires you to fill out a type and supply proof of your id and identify change to replace your Social Safety card. There are 3 ways to request a reputation change in your card, and you will get a brand new card free of charge.

What you have to change your identify in your Social Safety card

You’ll want up-to-date data, and so they have to be unique paperwork or copies that had been licensed by the company that issued them^[0]

As a result of a Social Safety card is a authorized report, you’ll must show you’re who you say you’re. Any such doc or report ought to embody figuring out info, corresponding to your date of delivery. The SSA additionally prefers that the documentation features a latest {photograph}. You need to use a:

• Nondriver ID card issued by your state.

In the event you don’t have any of these data accessible, you’ll be able to ask to make use of a unique type of ID, corresponding to one issued by your faculty or employer, or a medical health insurance card.

You’ll must show to the SSA that you’ve got legally modified your identify. To take action, present documentation that reveals why you’re altering your identify, corresponding to a:

• Court docket order exhibiting the authorised identify change.

• Certificates of naturalization with the brand new identify.

In the event you haven’t offered proof of citizenship to the SSA earlier than, you’ll want to offer documentation exhibiting your citizenship standing. You need to use a U.S. delivery certificates or U.S. passport.

How you can replace your Social Safety card

There are 3 ways to submit a request to vary your identify in your Social Safety card. All three use the identical utility.

You’ll be able to submit a request on-line to vary your identify in your Social Safety card should you’re at the very least 18 years previous and have a U.S. mailing deal with^[0]

When you’ve submitted your request on-line, you’ll want to offer proof of id. This have to be executed in individual at both an SSA workplace or a Social Safety card heart inside 45 days of submitting your utility.

To request a reputation change on-line:

2. Choose the “Apply Now” button.

3. Learn the Privateness Act Assertion, and choose the “Subsequent” button.

4. Reply the required questions, that are adopted by a pink asterisk. Choose the “Subsequent” button to submit your solutions and transfer to every new query.

5. For the questions relating to race and ethnicity, select whether or not you need to reply them. These questions are non-compulsory and don’t have an effect on your utility being authorised.

6. For documentation, select the varieties of data you propose to offer and fill out the suitable info for every one.

7. The following web page offers a abstract of your info. Evaluation it and make edits as wanted. If all the pieces appears to be like good, choose the “Subsequent” button.

8. On the ultimate web page, learn the knowledge and verify the field to point out that you simply perceive find out how to submit your documentation. When you’ve checked the field, choose the “Submit Software Package deal” button. Your utility received’t be submitted on-line should you skip this step.

9. Collect the required documentation to show your id and identify change.

10. Take the documentation to an SSA workplace inside 45 days to finish your utility.

In the event you favor to fill out a conventional type or can’t full the net utility, you’ll be able to obtain the applying and do it offline. To do that:

2. Resolve the way you need to fill it out: Obtain it and fill it out on a pc earlier than printing it or print it first and fill it out by hand. Directions for find out how to full the shape are on Web page 3 of the doc.

3. Collect the required documentation to show your id and identify change.

4. Both mail the packet to an SSA workplace or go in individual to submit your utility and documentation.

Whereas the company will return any data you ship, think about using licensed copies to keep away from dropping an unique doc in case your packet is misplaced.

You’ll be able to full the complete course of in individual at an SSA workplace should you’d favor to have somebody show you how to. However the SSA warns that some workplaces could be too busy to see you an identical day, and chances are you’ll must schedule an appointment ^[0]

To make the method as simple as doable:

1. Get the required documentation collectively to show your id and identify change.

2. Find the closest SSA workplace.

3. Name the SSA workplace to seek out out should you want an appointment and to study what the typical wait time is.

4. Take your documentation to the SSA workplace and fill out an utility in individual when somebody is ready to see you.

Causes to vary your identify in your Social Safety card

You have to hold the SSA updated should you change your identify for any purpose. The next are causes you’re prone to want a brand new identify in your Social Safety card.

• You bought divorced and need to return to your earlier identify.

• You don’t need to be related together with your delivery or household identify for private causes.

• You now establish your self with a brand new identify. For instance, you transitioned and now establish as a unique gender than what was assigned at delivery.

• You needed to amend or right your delivery certificates.

• You lately turned a U.S. citizen.

Professionals and cons of fixing your identify in your Social Safety card

The advantages of fixing the identify in your Social Safety card embody:

• Your authorities and nongovernment data will match to keep away from points with proving your id sooner or later.

• Authorities businesses can have the identical identify on file, which might keep away from points like your tax refund being delayed^[0]

However there are a couple of downsides to altering your identify in your Social Safety card:

• You must replace loads of data, presumably together with employment data, voter registration, insurance coverage insurance policies, utility and mortgage accounts, deeds, bank card accounts, credit score experiences, and physician and pharmacy data.

• You’ll need to get new bodily IDs, together with your driver’s license and passport.

• In the event you file your taxes earlier than your identify change is full, your tax return may very well be affected^[0]

Getting assist with updating your Social Safety card

If in case you have bother finishing the applying, you’ll be able to name the SSA at 800-772-1213 and inform them you need assistance changing your Social Safety card. Its workplace is open Monday by way of Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Help is accessible in English and different languages.

In the event you’re onerous of listening to or deaf, you’ll be able to name the SSA at TTY 800-325-0778 for help.