Online Services, Social Security Number and Card

Need to Change Your Name on Your Social Security Card?

October 9, 2018 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 3, 2023

A stack of social security cardsAre you changing your name? If so, let Social Security know so we can update your information, send you a corrected card, and make sure you get the benefits you’ve earned.

To change your name on your card, you must show us documents proving your legal name change and identity. If you are a U.S. citizen, you also must show us a document proving your U.S. citizenship, if it is not already in our records. You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We can’t accept photocopies or notarized copies.

To prove your legal name change, you must show one of the following documents:

  • Marriage document.
  • Divorce decree.
  • Certificate of naturalization showing a new name.
  • Court order for a name change.

To prove your identity, you must show an unexpired document showing your name, identifying information, and photograph, such as one of the following:

  • U.S. driver’s license.
  • State-issued non-driver’s identification card.
  • U.S. passport.

If you don’t have one of those documents available, we may be able to accept your:

  • Employer identification card.
  • School identification card.
  • Health insurance card.
  • U.S. military identification card.

To prove your U.S. citizenship, you must show one of the following documents:

  • U.S. birth certificate.
  • U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
  • U.S. passport (unexpired).
  • Certificate of Naturalization.
  • Certificate of Citizenship.

Whatever your reason for your name change, Social Security is here to help you with the new… you! Fill out the form online and follow the instructions to ensure your Social Security card is delivered in a timely manner. You can also locate your local field office so you can apply for your updated card and show your required documents in person.

For complete instructions, visit our Social Security Number and Card page, which includes information for non-citizens. And remember, if you simply need to replace a lost Social Security card, but don’t need to change your name, you can — in most states — request your replacement card online using your personal my Social Security account.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Debbie M.

    I am divorced and want to change my name from Deborah Fazzolari to Deborah Melling. My divorce was disposed the number is 0002705/2018.Please change my name on my account and send me a new card

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  3. Curtis A.

    How can I change my mailing address? It appears that the Social Security Department has “suspended electronic access to my personal information” for reasons unknown to me. I tried to call the 800 number but have a wait time of 1hour and 45 minutes. Can I possible get this issue resolved and get the phone number of the Tucson Social Security office? Thank you. I have been trying for 5 days.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Curtis. We are sorry to hear you have had difficulty accessing your personal my Social Security account and reaching us by telephone. Representatives are available on our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will generally have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. To find your local Social Security office information, visit here. We hope this helps.

  4. Tabitha Z.

    How to make an appointment

    • L.A.

      Hi Tabitha. You can schedule an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will generally have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. We hope this helps.

  5. Gloria S.

    Just got married today, want to change my name on SS Card

    • L.A.

      Hi Gloria. Congratulations! To change your name on your Social Security card, you must show us a document that proves your legal name change. If the document you provide as evidence of a legal name change does not give us enough information to identify you in our records, you must show us an identity document in your “old” name (as shown in our records) and another document showing your “new” name. To learn more on the process and what documents you will need to get a card, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.

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  9. Patricia

    if i want to hyphenate my last name using my maiden name and married name, if i use my marriage certificate is that enough proof of my “new” name? after i got married 18 years ago, i changed my last name to my husband’s. I now want to hyphenate it. I have an appointment to get the new drivers license on October 31, 2019 and want to have the hyphenated name on it too. When i did the name change 18 years ago, i remember Social Security needing proof of my name changed on my drivers license and DMV needing proof of my name change on my SSN. What do i do?

    • L.A.

      Hi Patricia. To change your name on your Social Security card, you must show us a document that proves your legal name change. If the document you provide as evidence of a legal name change does not give us enough information to identify you in our records, you must show us an identity document in your “old” name (as shown in our records) and another document showing your “new” name. To learn more on the process and what documents you will need to get a card, please check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.

  10. Kevin B.

    I currently receive my SS check on the third Wednesday of the month. Can that date be changed to the first of the month?

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