Social Security Number and Card

Social Security Implements Self-Attestation of Sex Marker in Social Security Number Records

October 20, 2022 • By

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Last Updated: October 20, 2022

Social Security Administration LogoKilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced that we now offer people the choice to self-select their sex on their Social Security number (SSN) record. We implemented this policy change and the new option is now available.

“The Social Security Administration’s Equity Action Plan includes a commitment to decrease administrative burdens and ensure people who identify as gender diverse or transgender have options in the Social Security Number card application process,” said Acting Commissioner Kijakazi. “This new policy allows people to self-select their sex in our records without needing to provide documentation of their sex designation.”

People who update their sex marker in our records will need to apply for a replacement SSN card. They will still need to show a current document to prove their identity, but they will no longer need to provide medical or legal documentation of their sex designation now that the policy change is in place.

We will accept the applicant’s self-identified sex designation of either male or female, even if it is different from the sex designation shown on identity documents, such as a passport or state-issued driver’s license or identity card. SSN cards do not include sex markers. Currently, our record systems are unable to include a non-binary or unspecified sex designation. We are exploring possible future policy and systems updates to support an “X” sex designation for the SSN card application process.

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About the Author

Abigail Zapote, Senior Advisor, Office of the Commissioner

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Comments

  1. Kenna K.

    04/02/2023
    Thank you very much Ms. Zapote and Social Security and Ms. Hunt. This self-attestation option matters a great deal. You just have no idea. Next Monday Kevin will be changed to Kenna, the way it needed to be a long time ago.

    • M

      Hey, I found you through your Quora entry! Good luck on Monday! 🙂

  2. MB

    Does anyone know when the “X” marker is being allowed? Both my birth certificate and driver’s license reflect my gender marker as X. I am still waiting on SS to make that change available. I was told Feb 2023 by someone, but now I don’t recall where I received that information, and I don’t see it anywhere.

    • Anan

      I want to know this as well. I want to be able to change all my paperwork and my NPI information which also has ‘male’ and ‘female’ under gender because it uses aocial security information.

    • Preston

      Ditto, it’s past February and I’m moving to another state soon and I’m getting nervous about paperwork. I hope we find out something soon.

Comments are closed.