Social Security to Offer Self-Attestation of Sex Marker in Social Security Number Records
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 31, 2022
Today, Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the Social Security will offer people the choice to self-select their sex on their Social Security number (SSN) record. We anticipate this option will be available in the fall of 2022.
“The Social Security Administration is committed to reducing barriers and ensuring the fair treatment of the LGBTQ+ community by updating our procedures for Social Security number records,” said Acting Commissioner Kijakazi. “This policy change will allow 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 Social Security’s 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 once the policy change becomes effective. SSN cards do not include sex markers.
In February 2022, we issued guidance instructing employees to accept evidence documents that contain non-binary identifiers (e.g., “X”) for original SSN and replacement SSN card applications, and other updates to our internal SSN records. 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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Tags: General Information, Social Security card, SSN
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Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Aisling W.
I submitted an application to update my name and went into the Reston, VA SSA office on 9/14/22 with a legal name change order and my Driver’s License. The representative refused to do the update because the SSA system still shows a M gender marker, but my Virginia Driver’s License shows an F. She told me my ID isn’t valid and to come back with another form of ID. When will this policy be changed so that I can update my name and gender marker and stop being rejected?
A.C.
Hi, Aisling. We are sorry to hear you did not receive the level of customer service you expected. You can submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. In the meantime, we have referred your concerns to our Operations Staff. We hope this helps.
Michelle
I submitted a court order for legal name and gender change for my 17 year old daughter. The SSA worker claimed it was not enough. She asked for a medical letter saying “the procedure” was done. I was shocked to hear that she wanted a doctor to describe what IS or ISN’T in my daughter’s underwear! She conferred with a coworker who said it is routine now. After the coworker telling the SSA worker helping us how it is done, the coworker threw up her hands and walked away. The SSA worker performed the name change but would not tell us what gender she entered in the computer. Our state requires SS record and license to match so I did SS first. Don’t want an unpleasant surprise when we apply for replacement license after SS card comes. Can someone at SSA email me to follow up on this please? Thanks.
A.C.
Hi, Michelle. We are sorry to hear about your experience. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a manager on your next visit or call. You can also submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.
Alwin R.
Please refer to my name & gender court order you already used to change my SS name, with my Form SS-5 (dated 9/29/2020).
Michelle
Wondering if anyone helped you with this. I submitted a court order for legal name and gender change for my 17 year old daughter. The SSA worker claimed it was not enough. She performed the name change but would not tell us what gender she entered in the computer. Our state requires SS record and license to match so I did SS first. Don’t want an unpleasant surprise when we apply for replacement license after SS card comes.
Alice S.
uhh i think this is a scam. link goes to some dude’s microsoft account with poor grammar and a secondary link to a url not on the first page of google.