FreeNo fee
SS-5Form to complete
Same numberYour SSN does not change
Not countedToward the 3 and 10 card limits
Why it matters
Your name on file with Social Security should match your tax return and employer records. A mismatch can cause rejected tax filings, payroll problems, and delays with benefits. Your Social Security number stays the same.
What you need
- Form SS-5, the application for a Social Security card.
- Proof of your legal name change: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that shows your old and new names.
- Proof of identity: a current, unexpired government-issued photo ID in your new name (or your old name, if the document names the change).
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status if SSA does not already have it.
Bring original documents or certified copies. SSA does not accept photocopies.
How to apply
| Method | Notes |
|---|---|
| By mail | Send the completed SS-5 and your documents to your local Social Security office. Your documents are returned to you |
| In person | Visit your local office, often by appointment. Call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule |
| Online | Replacement cards can be requested online in many cases, but not when you are changing your name |
After you apply
Your new card typically arrives within about 10 to 14 days after SSA verifies your documents. A name change does not count toward your limit of 3 replacement cards a year and 10 in a lifetime. See replacing a lost card.
Update these next
- Your employer (so your W-2 shows the right name).
- The IRS: file your tax return with the name that matches Social Security's records.
- Driver's license or state ID, and passport.
- Banks, retirement accounts, and insurance.
- Medicare: if you receive Medicare, your record updates after SSA changes your name. Confirm that your Medicare card shows the correct name. See replacing a Medicare card.
Order matters. Change your name with Social Security before the DMV, because many states verify your name against SSA records.
Do not pay for this. The service is free. Websites that charge to "process" a name change are not Social Security.