What form for social security name change?

If your legal name changes due to a divorce, marriage, or court order, you must inform Social Security to update your file. Social Security is responsible for issuing Social Security cards, which other state and federal agencies use to identify you. Updating your name is an easy process, but you must follow the laid-down procedure for a name change.

Form SS-5 is the standard application form that you can use for Social Security name change. This form is used to apply for a new or replacement Social Security card. You can get a copy of Form SS-5 on the Social Security website or by visiting the local Social Security office. You must fill out all relevant information such as your new legal name, birth name, date of birth, Social Security number, etc.

What is Form SS-5?

Form SS-5 is the standard application form that you can use for Social Security name change. You can obtain this form by downloading it from the Social Security Administration (SSA) website or by visiting the local Social Security office.

Once you have obtained a copy of Form SS-5, you must fill out the relevant information depending on the reason you are submitting the form. Some of the information that you are required to provide include your new legal name, date of birth, your parent’s Social Security number, and your Social Security number.

Additionally, when submitting Form SS-5, you will be required to provide certain supporting documents to support the application. Some of these documents may include proof of age, proof of identity, and proof of citizenship. If you are a non-US citizen, you must provide the appropriate documents to prove your citizenship status.

Supporting documents to include with Form SS-5

Once you have filled out Form SS-5, you will need to provide certain supporting documents along with the form to prove your age, identity, and citizenship. Social Security requires that you must provide the original documents, or copies certified by the issuer.

Here is a breakdown of the documents you will need:

Proof of new legal name

To prove the new legal name, you must provide documents that show the name change. If you changed your name once after receiving the Social Security card, you should provide the last original document in which you received the new name. However, if you have changed your name more than once, you must provide documents to support each name change.

Some of the documents you can provide to prove your legal name include:

Marriage license

Divorce decree

Certificate of naturalization

Court order in a name change proceeding.

Proof of identity

You can prove your identity by providing at least one of these documents:

US driver’s license

State ID card

US Passport

US Military ID card

Health Insurance ID card

Student ID

Proof of Citizenship

You can prove your US citizenship or legal status by providing one of these documents:

US Birth Certificate

US Passport

Certificate of citizenship

Certificate of naturalization

US Consular Report of Birth Abroad

If you are a non-US citizen, you must provide an Employment Authorization Document, your foreign passport, or an original record of the new legal name. Some of the approved immigration documents include:

Form I-551

Form I-94

Form I-766

How to apply for a Social Security name change

Gather the required documents

When applying for a Social Security name change, you will be required to provide official documents that prove your new legal name, identity, and proof of citizenship status. These documents may include your birth certificate, US passport, driver’s license, US military ID, etc. SSA only accepts original documents or copies certified by the issuer.

Fill Form SS-5

Form SS-5 is the standard application form that is used when applying for a new or replacement Social Security card. If you have a new legal name, you must fill out this form to establish the new identity SSA. You can download this form on the SSA website, or obtain it from the nearest Social Security Office. You can fill out the form on a PDF and print it, or print the form and fill it by hand.

You should indicate your new legal name in the first block, then fill out your birth name, followed by other names you have used previously. Fill out and submit the complete form to SSA, alongside the required original documents.

Submit the complete form by mail or in person

When submitting Form SS-5, you can decide to mail it to the SSA official address or visit the local Social Security office in person. If you decide to mail the complete form and supporting documents, you should send them to the Social Security address. Once Social Security processes the name change, it will mail the documents back to you alongside the new Social Security card bearing your new legal name.

If you decide to visit the local SSA office, use Social Security’s Field Office Locator to find the nearest Social Security office. On the locator, enter your ZIP code to find the nearest SSA office. Appearing in-person at the local Social Security office ensures that you won’t have to mail sensitive documents, which may get lost or stolen in the mail. 

Wait for approval

Social Security says that it can take 10 to 14 days to process your new Social Security name change and send you a new card. Once you receive the new card, the new legal name will appear on the Social Security card, but the Social Security number will remain the same.

What to do after Social Security name change

Once you have completed the Social Security name change, you should submit a name change request for other government documents and personal accounts. You can make a name change request for your passport, driver’s license, state ID card, etc. You can also update your bank accounts, investment accounts, and credit cards to reflect the new legal name.