To change your last name with Social Security, gather proof of the legal name change along with proof of your identity and U.S. citizenship or immigration status, then submit them either online (if you qualify) or through a local Social Security office. The service is free, your nine-digit Social Security number stays the same, and a new card usually arrives within 7 to 10 business days once the agency has what it needs.1Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card?
Documents You Need
The Social Security Administration asks for three things: proof of the name change, proof of who you are, and proof of citizenship or lawful status.2eCFR. 20 CFR Part 422 – Organization and Procedures Every document must be an original or a certified copy from the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.3Social Security Administration. U.S. Citizen – Adult Name Change on Social Security Card
For the name change itself, any one of these works:
- A certified marriage certificate
- A divorce decree that specifically grants or reflects the name change
- A court order approving the name change
- A certificate of naturalization showing the new name
For identity, bring a current U.S. driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or U.S. passport. For citizenship, bring a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport (which counts for both), a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad. If you don’t have a primary identity document, the SSA may accept a military ID, employee ID, school ID, health insurance card, or medical record.2eCFR. 20 CFR Part 422 – Organization and Procedures
If Your Name Changed More Than Two Years Ago
If more than two years have passed since the name change and you never updated your record, you’ll also need to show an identity document in your old name — the name still in SSA’s system. That older document can be expired.4Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card The same rule applies at four years for a child.
If Your Documents Are Not in English
Submit the original foreign-language document anyway. The SSA will arrange a word-for-word translation or may ask you to provide one from a qualified translator.5Social Security Administration. Transmittal of Foreign-Language Documents for Translation
Applying Online
If you changed your last name because of marriage and you hold a driver’s license or state ID from one of 21 participating states, you can often handle the whole thing online. You’ll need a Login.gov or ID.me account to verify your identity.3Social Security Administration. U.S. Citizen – Adult Name Change on Social Security Card
As of 2026, the participating states are Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The SSA has said the list will keep growing.6Social Security Administration. Just Married? Need to Change Your Name?
Start at ssa.gov/number-card/replace-card and answer the screening questions. The system will tell you whether you can finish everything online or need to start online and then bring documents to a local office within 45 calendar days.3Social Security Administration. U.S. Citizen – Adult Name Change on Social Security Card That second, hybrid path still cuts down on paperwork and lets you book the office appointment through the same system.
One boundary to know: the fully online path is limited to marriage-based last name changes. Court orders, divorce-based changes, and any other reason still require an in-person or mail application.
Applying in Person or by Mail
If you can’t apply online, complete Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card) and submit it with your supporting documents. Download it at ssa.gov or pick one up at any Social Security office. The form asks for your current name, the new name you want, your Social Security number, date of birth, and parental information so the agency can locate the right record.7Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5
At a Local Office
The SSA now requires an appointment for in-person visits. Schedule one at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.8Social Security Administration. Make or Change an Appointment Find the closest office using the SSA’s locator at ssa.gov/locator.9Social Security Administration. Field Office Locator The advantage of going in person is that staff verify your original documents on the spot and hand them back before you leave.
By Mail or Drop Box
You can also mail Form SS-5 and your original documents to your local office. Use a trackable service like certified mail — these are original identity documents, and replacing them is a headache. Many offices also have a secure drop box that lets you leave documents without an appointment.10Social Security Administration. Upload Documents The SSA returns originals by mail once processing is complete.
Mail runs slower. The SSA has said mail-in processing can take two to four weeks with handling and return shipping, compared to 7 to 10 business days when documents are verified in person or online.1Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card?
Your New Card, Your Same Number
Once the SSA has everything it needs, the new card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days.1Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card? Your Social Security number does not change. Your work history, tax contributions, and benefit eligibility stay attached to that same number under your new name.
There is no fee. The SSA issues cards free of charge, whether for a name change, a lost card, or a first-time application.11Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card Getting the underlying legal document — a court-ordered name change, for instance — may cost court filing fees that vary by jurisdiction, but the SSA itself charges nothing.
The SSA generally limits individuals to three replacement cards per year and ten per lifetime. Cards issued because of a legal name change don’t count against those limits.12eCFR. 20 CFR 422.103 – Social Security Numbers
Tell Your Employer and the IRS
Once your Social Security record is updated, notify your employer so payroll can be corrected. Employers report wages to the IRS using your name and Social Security number, and a mismatch between what they file and what the SSA has on record can delay your tax refund.13Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues Submit a new Form W-4 with the updated name; the W-4 instructions specifically prompt you to make sure your name matches your Social Security card.14Internal Revenue Service. Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Certificate
If a W-2 arrives in your old name, ask your employer to issue a corrected form. The IRS says to file your return using the name that matches your current Social Security record — so if the SSA update hasn’t gone through yet by the time you file, use your former name on the return to avoid processing delays.13Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues
Updating Your Driver’s License and Other IDs
Update Social Security before the DMV. REAL ID rules require states to verify your Social Security number with the SSA before issuing a driver’s license or state ID, and a name mismatch can cause that verification to fail.15Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions Doing Social Security first, DMV second, avoids the problem.
A passport doesn’t have to match your Social Security card. U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirms you can travel internationally on a passport in your former name as long as you carry proof of the change, such as a marriage certificate or court order.16U.S. Customs and Border Protection. US Citizens/Lawful Permanent Residents Name Does Not Match Documents Destination countries may be stricter, so check entry rules before you travel.
Beyond government IDs, update your bank, credit card companies, health insurance, and any other institution that has your Social Security number on file. Each has its own process, and most will ask for the updated card or the underlying legal document.
If You Already Receive Social Security Benefits
Current retirement, disability, or survivor benefit recipients have an extra reporting duty. You must notify the SSA of the name change by the 10th day of the month after it happens to avoid disruption to your payments.17Social Security Administration. Communicate Changes to Personal Situation Call 1-800-772-1213 and tell the representative you need to update your personal information. Filing the standard name change application updates your card and record, but if you’re already receiving benefits, make that direct report as well so payments keep flowing without interruption.