To report your marriage to Social Security, file a free Application for a Social Security Card along with your certified marriage certificate and a current proof of identity. In 21 states you can do this entirely online through your my Social Security account; everywhere else, you submit paper Form SS-5 in person or by mail. There is no fee, and a new card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days after an in-person filing.
Documents to Gather First
Social Security accepts only originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Regular photocopies and notarized copies are rejected, even when they look identical to the original, and every document must be current and unexpired.
Two documents do the work:
- A certified marriage certificate showing the date and location of the ceremony. This is what justifies the name change.
- A current U.S. passport, state-issued driver’s license, or state-issued non-driver ID for proof of identity.
If SSA doesn’t already have your citizenship on file, add a birth certificate or Certificate of Naturalization.
If You’re Not a U.S. Citizen
Noncitizens also need proof of immigration status and work authorization. Acceptable documents include a Lawful Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), or a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record with an admission stamp in an unexpired foreign passport. F-1 and M-1 students need their Form I-20, and J-1 or J-2 exchange visitors need their DS-2019.
Filing Online vs. Filing on Paper
Twenty-one states let you complete the entire name change through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, with no office visit and no mailing. Those 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.1Social Security Administration. Just Married? Need to Change your Name? SSA recommends waiting at least 30 days after the wedding before applying online so your state has time to update its vital records.
If your state isn’t on that list, or the online path doesn’t fit your situation, use paper Form SS-5. You can download it at ssa.gov or pick one up at any local office. There is no fee.2Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5
When you fill out SS-5, put your new married name in the “Name to be shown on card” field, enter your full name at birth where indicated, and list any other legal names you’ve used in the “Other names used” line. That last field is how SSA links your new name to your existing earnings record. You’ll also give your parents’ names and your current Social Security number. Sign using your new name; SSA prefers the signature to match what you’re requesting, though it will accept an application signed with your previous name.2Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5
Submitting In Person or by Mail
To find your nearest office, use the field office locator at ssa.gov, which searches by address, city, state, or ZIP code.3Social Security Administration. Field Office Locator SSA currently asks that you call ahead and schedule an appointment before visiting if you haven’t started the application online.4Social Security Administration. Make or Change an Appointment
Mailing works, but you’ll be sending your original marriage certificate and passport through the postal system. Use certified mail with tracking. SSA returns all original documents at no cost, so you don’t need to include a self-addressed stamped envelope.2Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5 Mailed applications take longer because of the round-trip shipping.
How Long It Takes
A new card should arrive within 7 to 10 business days after an in-person filing.5Social Security Administration. Your Social Security Number and Card Mailed applications generally take two to four weeks once you factor in handling and the return of your original documents.6Social Security Administration. How Long Will It Take to Get a Social Security Card?
Track progress through your my Social Security account: sign in, scroll to “Your Benefit Applications” on the home page, and select “View Details.”7Social Security Administration. How to Check Your Application Status If nothing has arrived by the end of the expected window, call your local office to confirm the update went through.
Timing Around Payroll and Taxes
Your employer reports wages under whatever name Social Security has on file, and the IRS matches every tax return’s name and SSN against SSA’s records. A mismatch delays refunds and can leave earnings unrecorded against your future benefits.
The rule of thumb is straightforward. If you’ve already updated Social Security, file your return under the new name. If you haven’t updated yet, file under your former name. Once your new card arrives, give the information to your employer so payroll matches. If a year-end W-2 still shows your former name after you’ve updated SSA, ask for a corrected W-2c and include it with your return.8Internal Revenue Service. Name Changes and Social Security Number Matching Issues The cleanest approach is to update SSA well before December so year-end reporting already reflects your new name.
What to Update Next
Social Security should come first, because most other agencies key off SSA’s records. Many state DMVs require the name on a new driver’s license to match SSA exactly, and some ask you to bring the new card as proof. Update Social Security, wait for the card, then handle your license. DMV name-change fees generally run $10 to $30, with rules varying by state.
Your U.S. passport has its own path. If the current passport was issued less than a year ago and the name change also happened within that year, mail Form DS-5504 with the passport, marriage certificate, and a new photo at no charge; expedited processing is an additional $60.9U.S. Department of State. Change or Correct a Passport Older passports require a different form and standard fees, with standard processing running four to six weeks and expedited service two to three weeks.10U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
If you have Medicare, your Medicare card updates automatically once SSA processes the change. Any questions about that update go to Social Security, not to Medicare.11HHS.gov. How Do I Report a Change of Name or Address to Medicare