If you change your name due to marriage, divorce, or another reason, notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) as soon as possible so officials can update your file and send you a new Social Security card.
You will need to complete form SS-5, the standard application for a social security card that you can download from the social security website. mail or hand-deliver the form to your local social security office, along with original copies of documents proving your legal name change and identity.
Local offices fully reopened on April 7 after being closed to traffic for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Social Security recommends calling ahead and making an appointment to avoid long waits. evidence of the name change could be:
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marriage certificate.
a decree of divorce.
a certificate from us naturalization.
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a court order granting the name change.
As proof of identity, please provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as:
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us. passport.
a driver’s license.
a state-issued identification card.
If you don’t have one of these, Social Security may also accept a school, employer, or military ID card or a health insurance card.
you may also need to provide proof from us. citizenship if that status is not already reflected in social security records. Acceptable documents include:
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us. birth certificate.
a u.s. passport.
a certification of naturalization.
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a certificate of citizenship.
one of the us consular report of birth abroad.
Non-citizens must provide immigration documents that prove their identity and authorization to work in the United States, along with their foreign passport and a legal record of a name change. The SSA brochure “Social Security Numbers for Non-Citizens” has details.
Your documents must be originals or certified copies from the agency that issued the original, for example, the county where you received your marriage license. Social Security will not accept photocopies or even notarized copies. the documents will be returned to you.
You will not be charged to apply for or receive the new card, which should arrive 10-14 days after your application is processed. your social security number will not change.
The Social Security website has an interactive page with more detailed information about what you need to get a new card. for name change requests, click the tab that says “corrected” under “card type.”
keep in mind
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Failure to notify the Social Security Administration of a name change can have significant consequences. If your legal name does not match the name on your Social Security record, it could prevent the agency from crediting earnings to you or cause delays in processing your tax return.
If you are not changing your name but simply need to replace a lost or stolen social security card, you can apply for a new card online in most states using your my social security account.
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