Show April 7, 2022 Update: Local Social Security offices are offering more in-person appointments and have resumed in-person service for people without an appointment. It is strongly encouraged to continue to go online, call for help, and schedule appointments in advance. For more information on “How to Get Help from Social Security, visit the website: https://www.ssa.gov/coronavirus/gethelp/ Link to the Social Security Administration website: www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. +++++++++ To Obtain a New Social Security Number and Card you will need to provide at least two documents to prove age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or current immigration status. The new online service allows individuals to get replacement Social Security cards through the Social Security Administration website at: www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber To Obtain a Replacement Card, if lost or stolen, you must prove your identity and U.S. citizenship. To prove identity: Social Security must see:
If you do not have these specific documents or cannot get a replacement for them within ten days, Social Security will ask to see other documents, such as:
To Prove Age: Social Security must see:
To prove U.S. citizenship: Under recent changes in law, only certain documents can be accepted as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include:
To prove immigration status: If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social security must see your current U.S. immigration documents. Acceptable documents include:
How to Change a Name on Your Social Security Card: To change your name on your Social Security card, you must also complete Form SS-5. You need to provide recently issued documents that show your legally changed name such as a marriage document, divorce decree, court order for a name change, or certificate of Naturalization showing the new name. The new Social Security card will show your new name, but will have the same number as your old card. All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Social Security cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents or receipts showing you have applied for a document. To Find the Nearest
Social Security Office Look in Connecticut’s Community Resources Database: ————————— SOURCE: U.S. Social Security Administration website Did you recently get married or divorced and need to change the name on your Social Security card? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The name change process can be a pain, especially without proper guidance. It all starts with your Social Security name change. This guide outlines the right way to change or correct your name on your social security card. Let’s get started! OverviewThe first thing you need to do after your legal name change (through marriage, divorce, or court order) is to update your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA is the United States issuing agency for Social Security cards. Your updated Social Security card is the gateway to your name change process. Every federal and state entity links your identity to your SSA record, so you need to update it to get a new driver’s license and passport, and any other form of photo ID. Updating your social security card is a fairly straightforward procedure, and the new card can take as few as ten days to arrive in the mail. However, you cannot apply online, so you must visit your local SSA office in person or mail in an application. If the very thought of going to a government office is making you reconsider your name change, follow this guide to navigate you through the process and reduce the stress. Social Security Name Change Checklist
1. Gather the required documentsTo change your name, you’ll need to provide official documents as 1) proof of identity, 2) proof of your citizenship status and 3) proof of legal name change. For each acceptable document, you need to provide either the original document or a certified copy (government-issued with raised seals). Photocopies will not suffice. To prove your identity, you must provide one form of valid photo ID:
To prove your U.S. citizenship, you must provide one of the following:
Note that if you bring your passport, it fulfills both identity and citizenship requirements—so you might only need one document. However, if you don’t have an unexpired US passport, you will need two separate documents—one to prove identity and one to prove citizenship. You also need to provide proof that your new name is official. Bring whichever of the following documents is relevant to your new name:
With these three proofs in hand, now it’s time to fill out your application. 2. Complete Form SS-5No bureaucratic process would be complete without paperwork! Form SS-5 is an application for a social security card. Because you changed your name, you will need to apply for a new social security card. You can download it online here. Print out Form SS-5, fill it out, and sign it in your new name. 3. Mail your application in or take it to your local Social Security officeThe last step to your social security name change is to submit your application. Start by finding the closest SSA office. Click the ‘Locate An Office By Zip’ button. Then enter your ZIP code and click ‘Locate’. The nearest SSA office will appear. You then have two choices. You can mail your application and documents to this SSA office, or you can visit in person. We suggest that you visit in person if you can. That way, you don’t have to mail in sensitive documents you may need before they return in the mail. You’ll also receive a receipt listing the details of your name change—which means you can proceed to the next steps of your name change process that much sooner. You will receive your new SSA card in the mail in approximately 10-14 business days, along with your documents if you mailed them in. Your Social Security number will not change. As an added bonus, the SSA will also notify the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about your name change. One less thing to worry about when tax season rolls around! 4. Be patientIf you mail in your application, we recommend waiting until you’ve received your new social security card in the mail before submitting a name change request at any other government offices. If you submit your application in person, wait at least 48 hours for the SSA records to update before submitting a name change at a DMV or any other government office. Important Tip: If you choose to update your name elsewhere before receiving your new Social Security card, remember to bring your SSA receipt with you. Your new name and your social security number must be printed on the receipt to be accepted. 5. Start changing your name everywhere elseNow that you’ve completed your social security name change, we suggest updating your government-issued photo identification such as your passport and driver’s license. After you update your photo ID, then we suggest updating all of your personal accounts such as your bank, credit cards, frequent flyer accounts, etc. We hope this guide helps you feel more confident as you approach the first big hurdle in updating your name. Updating your social security card is the first of many steps you’ll need to take to change your name. Want to make the rest of your name change easy?If you want to take the stress of this process completely out of the equation, NewlyNamed provides personalized name change kits complete with everything you need. Our kits take a few minutes to fill out and help you with your social security card, driver’s license, vehicle title and registration, passport, and even all of your personal accounts like banks, credit cards, frequent flyer programs, and much more. We even offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with your name change kit so there’s no reason not to learn more. Get started on your name change today! Frequently Asked Questions:Does a Social Security name change cost money? Will I receive a new Social Security card with my new name? Do I have to pay for a new Social Security card after changing my name? What documents do I need for a Social Security name change? When is
the best time to visit the Social Security office? Can I set up an appointment for a Social Security name change? Can change my name with Social Security online? What documents do I need to change my Social Security?You will need evidence of your identity, your new legal name, and name change event. Sometimes you also may need to prove your current U.S. citizenship or lawful noncitizen status. For a list of documents you need, go to the Learn What Documents You Need page and select “Corrected” under the “Type of Card” heading.
Can you change your name with Social Security online?You can't change the name on your Social Security card online because the SSA requires original documents. You can either mail in the originals or certified copies from the issuing agency, or you can take your documents directly to the nearest SSA office in your county.
How do I inform Social Security that I got married?By calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office.
How long do you have to report marriage to Social Security?Report Changes in a Timely Manner
You may also be penalized if you report the change later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred or lose SSI for not reporting the information we use to determine eligibility for payments.
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