How to Change Your Name at the Social Security Office

To change your name at the Social Security office, bring three things: a completed Form SS-5, an original document that proves the name change (such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order), and a current photo ID. There is no fee, your Social Security number stays the same, and you’ll get a new card in the mail with your updated name within about 7 to 10 business days after processing.¹

What to Bring

The SSA only accepts originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies won’t work, no matter how official they look.¹ You need documents in two main categories, plus a third in some cases.

Proof of Identity

One current document showing who you are. A U.S. driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or U.S. passport is the standard choice.² If you don’t have any of those, a U.S. military ID, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship is also accepted.³ The ID should show your current (old) name; the name change document connects it to your new one.

Proof of the Name Change

You need a document that shows both your old and new name and establishes the legal reason for the change. Accepted documents include a marriage certificate, a divorce decree that specifies a name change, a court order granting a legal name change, or a Certificate of Naturalization reflecting your new name.²

If the document is in a foreign language, don’t pay for a translation. The SSA handles that internally. Bring the original foreign-language document and the agency will route it through its own translation process.⁴

Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status

If the SSA already verified your citizenship or immigration status on an earlier application, you probably won’t need to provide it again. If you do, U.S. citizens can use a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport; lawful permanent residents use Form I-551. Non-citizens with other statuses have their own document requirements, which the SSA lists in full on its website.⁵

Filling Out Form SS-5

The application is Form SS-5, “Application for a Social Security Card.” Download it at ssa.gov or pick one up at the office.⁶ It’s one page, but a couple of fields catch people off guard.

The first line is the name you want printed on the new card. Below that, put your full name at birth and any other names you’ve used. The rest is basic: date of birth, place of birth, parents’ names, and your existing Social Security number. Your SSN does not change. You’re getting a new card showing the same number under your current legal name.¹

Sign using your new legal name. Don’t add anything else on the signature line; the SSA warns that extra notations can invalidate the application.⁶

How to Submit Your Application

Even though the search is for the office, you actually have three ways to file.

In Person

Walk into any Social Security office with your completed Form SS-5 and originals. Use the office locator at ssa.gov to find the nearest location. The advantage of showing up in person is simple: your originals are reviewed on the spot and handed back the same day.²

By Mail

Send your completed form and original documents to your local office. Faxing and office drop boxes are also options where available.⁷ The SSA returns your originals separately after processing. Certified mail with a return receipt is worth the small cost so you can track them. Expect two to four weeks total for a mail-in application.⁸

Online

In some states, you can complete the entire process through your personal my Social Security account. In others, you can start online and finish in person or by mail. Sign in at ssa.gov and answer a few screening questions to see what’s available where you live.¹

Cost and Processing Time

There’s no fee. The application and the replacement card are free.⁶ The only money you’ll spend is on the supporting documents themselves. Certified copies of marriage certificates and divorce decrees typically run $15 to $35 depending on your state.

The new card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days after the SSA has everything it needs. If you filed by mail, budget two to four weeks total, because the agency has to receive the documents, process the request, and mail your originals back separately from the card.⁸

Federal law limits replacement cards to three per year and ten in a lifetime, but name-change cards are exempt from both caps.⁹

If You Just Got Married, Wait 30 Days

Apply too soon after a wedding and your application can stall. Your state needs time to update its vital records, and if the SSA can’t verify the marriage, it will delay processing. Wait at least 30 days after the wedding date before submitting.¹⁰

Taxes and Your Employer

The name on your tax return must match what the SSA has on file for your SSN. A mismatch can delay your refund.¹¹ If you’ve changed your name but haven’t updated it with Social Security yet, file that year’s return under your old name to avoid processing problems.

Same idea at work. Your employer reports wages to the SSA using the name and SSN from your W-4. Once your Social Security record shows the new name, tell your employer so payroll matches. If a W-2 goes out under your old name after the SSA already has the new one, ask for a corrected W-2c and file it with your return.¹¹

What to Update Next

Social Security is the first domino because other agencies want to see the updated card before they’ll change their own records.

Driver’s license or state ID. Your DMV will want the new Social Security card as proof. For a Real ID, the name on your Social Security card must already reflect the new name.
U.S. passport. The State Department handles this separately and will want your court order or marriage certificate plus a new photo.
Employer and payroll, so future W-2s are accurate.
Banks, insurance, and other accounts. Most financial institutions want to see a new Social Security card or driver’s license before updating their systems.
Voter registration, so there’s no confusion at the polls.

Working through the list in roughly that order avoids the circular problem where one agency asks for a document you haven’t updated yet.

1
Social Security Administration. How Do I Change or Correct My Name on My Social Security Number Card?
2
Social Security Administration. Change Name with Social Security
3
Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10210.420 – Priority List of Acceptable Evidence of Identity
4
Social Security Administration. POMS GN 00301.365 – Transmittal of Foreign-Language Documents for Translation
5
Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
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Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card
7
Social Security Administration. Submit Forms and Upload Documents
8
Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card?
9
Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10205.400 – Limits on Replacement SSN Cards
10
Social Security Administration. Just Married? Need to Change Your Name?
11
Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues