If you are changing your name for any reason — marriage, divorce, or a court order — Social Security is your first real stop. Not because it is the most important card in your wallet, but because so many other offices check your name against Social Security's records. Get this one done and the rest of the list gets easier.
Here is what to bring, how to start, and what to do once it is done.
Why Social Security comes first
Your employer reports your wages under the name and number Social Security has on file. The IRS matches the name on your tax return against those same records. Many state driver's license offices check it too before they will issue a license in a new name.
So if you update your license first, you may get turned away. If you update your payroll first, your W-2 may not match. Doing Social Security first means every office after it sees the same name you are asking for.
What it costs
Nothing. Social Security does not charge to change your name or to issue a replacement card. If you land on a website that wants a fee to "file" your name change with Social Security, that is a private service. You do not need it. Everything you need is free at ssa.gov.
What you need
Social Security needs to see two things: proof that your name legally changed, and proof of who you are.
Proof of the name change
This is the legal document that changed your name. Usually one of these:
- A marriage certificate
- A divorce decree that restores your former name
- A court order for a name change
It has to be an original or a certified copy from the office that issued it. Social Security does not accept photocopies, and it does not accept notarized copies. A notary stamp on a photocopy does not make it certified. Certified copies come from the county clerk, the court clerk, or the vital records office that holds the original.
Proof of identity
A current, unexpired photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID card, or U.S. passport. It can still show your old name. That is expected — your name change document is what connects the two.
If the document that changed your name does not give Social Security enough to identify you, they may ask for more. Their site lists what they accept.
Sometimes: proof of citizenship or immigration status
If Social Security does not already have proof of your citizenship on record, they may ask for it, such as a U.S. birth certificate or passport. If you are not a U.S. citizen, they will ask for current immigration documents. You will find out when you start the application.
How to start
The application is Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. It is the same form used for a replacement card.
The easiest place to begin is the Replace Social Security Card page on ssa.gov. It asks you a few questions and tells you which of these fits you:
- You can finish online. Not everyone can, but check first. It may save you a trip.
- You can start online and finish in person. You begin the application on the website, then bring your documents to a Social Security office or Card Center within the time it gives you.
- You need to apply in person or by mail. You fill out the SS-5 and bring or mail it with your original or certified documents.
If you mail original documents, Social Security returns them. But mailing a certified copy means you do not have it while it is in transit, so think about whether you need it for another office that same week. This is one more reason to order more than one certified copy.
Before you go to an office, check ssa.gov or call for current hours and whether an appointment helps. That changes, and it varies by office.
Filling out the SS-5 without mistakes
The form is short. Most of the problems come from a few spots:
- Your new name. Write it exactly as it appears on your name change document. If your marriage certificate shows a hyphenated name, write the hyphen. If it shows a middle name you plan to drop, ask before you assume you can.
- The name on your last card. The form asks for the name shown on your most recent card. That is your old name. Do not leave it blank.
- Other names used. List them. This is how Social Security connects your records.
- Signature. Sign it. An unsigned form comes back.
Always use the current form from ssa.gov. Old copies saved from years ago may no longer be accepted.
Your number does not change
This one worries people. Changing your name does not change your Social Security number. Your earnings record stays with you. The only thing that changes is the name attached to it, and the name printed on your new card.
After you apply
Your new card comes by mail. Social Security can tell you about how long that usually takes. Until it arrives, two things matter:
- Give the update time to go through before your next stop. If you walk straight from Social Security to your state's license office, their system may not show your new name yet. Ask Social Security when it is safe to move on.
- Keep your receipt or confirmation. If something goes wrong later, it shows when you applied and what you sent.
When the card comes, check the name letter by letter. If it is wrong, contact Social Security right away. It is much easier to fix now than after your license and bank accounts carry the same mistake.
Store the card somewhere safe. You rarely need to carry it.
What to update next
Once Social Security has your new name, move on in this order:
- Driver's license or state ID. In Texas, see how to change your name on a Texas driver's license.
- Passport. See how to change your name on your passport.
- Employer and payroll, so your W-2 matches.
- Banks, cards, insurance, and the rest.
The full list is in what order to change your name in. It works for divorce and court-ordered changes too.
The short version
- Get certified copies of the document that changed your name.
- Go to the Replace Social Security Card page on ssa.gov and see whether you can finish online.
- If not, complete Form SS-5 and bring or mail it with original or certified documents.
- Pay nothing. It is free.
- Wait for the update to go through, check your new card, then move on to your license.
Forms, document rules and office options are set by Social Security and change from time to time. Check ssa.gov before you go.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Name-change rules, forms, fees and processing times are set by courts and agencies, differ by state, and change. Confirm every requirement with the court or agency handling your case, and talk to an attorney licensed in your state if your situation is complicated.
Questions people ask
Does it cost money to change my name on my Social Security card?
No. Social Security does not charge to change your name or to replace your card. If a website asks you to pay to file, it is a third-party service, not Social Security.
Can I change my name with Social Security online?
Sometimes. Social Security's Replace Social Security Card page asks you a few questions and tells you whether you can finish online or need to bring documents to an office. Start there, at ssa.gov, before you make a trip.
What documents do I need to change my name with Social Security?
Proof of the legal name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order, and proof of identity, such as a current driver's license or passport. They must be originals or certified copies. Social Security does not accept photocopies or notarized copies.
Will I get a new Social Security number with my new name?
No. Your number stays the same. Only the name on your record and card changes.
Do I have to change my name with Social Security before the DMV?
It is the order that works best. Many state license offices, employers and the IRS check your name against Social Security's records. If Social Security still shows your old name, the next office may not be able to update you.