How to Change Your Name on Your Social Security Card
You change your name with Social Security by requesting a replacement card, not through a separate name-change process. Depending on your record, you may be able to start the request online through your personal my Social Security account; if you don't qualify for that option, you'll need to call or visit a local field office instead. Either path uses the same Form SS-5, plus one recent document showing both your old and new legal names. There's no fee, and a name-change card doesn't count against SSA's replacement-card limits.
Step by step
- 1 Check whether you qualify to do this online Sign in to your my Social Security account and look for the option to request a name change. Not everyone qualifies for the online path since it depends on details already in your SSA record, but if you do, it's the fastest route: no appointment and no trip to an office.
- 2 If you don't qualify online, call before you go anywhere Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and tell the representative you want to update your name. They can often finish the request over the phone or tell you exactly what to bring if an in-person appointment is needed.
- 3 Complete Form SS-5 Download Form SS-5 free from ssa.gov or pick one up at any field office. Sign it in black or blue ink and answer the questions as they apply to you — it's the same form used for an original card, a replacement, or a record change.
- 4 Gather one document proving the name change You need a single, recent document listing both your old and new legal names: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court-ordered name change all work. If that event happened more than two years ago, or the document lacks enough biographical detail to confirm your identity, SSA will also ask for a separate identity document in your prior name, new name, or both.
- 5 Submit online, by mail, or at a scheduled appointment If you used the online tool, you're finished here. Otherwise, mail your signed SS-5 and original documents to your local Social Security office, or bring them to an appointment — as of January 2025, SSA requires one for field-office service. SSA returns original documents after processing, so avoid sending anything irreplaceable if you can get a certified copy instead. See how to schedule one.
- 6 Wait for your new card Once your request is processed, your card typically arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days. Your name updates in SSA's records right away, even before the physical card shows up.
What you need for Form SS-5
Legal Name Change Document
- Certified marriage certificate from the county or state vital records office — a religious or ceremonial certificate isn't an official government record and won't be accepted
- Certified divorce decree listing both your former and new legal names
- Original or certified copy of a court order approving the name change
Proof of Identity
- Unexpired U.S. driver's license
- State-issued non-driver ID card
- U.S. passport
Proof of Citizenship (if born outside the U.S.)
- U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport
- Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship
- Consular Report of Birth
After marriage
Submit a certified marriage certificate from the county or state vital records office — not the decorative certificate from your ceremony.
After divorce
Submit a certified divorce decree that lists both your former and new legal names.
By court order
Submit the original or a certified copy of the court order approving your name change.
How the two-year identity-document rule works
A fresh name-change document usually proves both the change itself and your identity, as long as it's recent. Once more than two years have passed since the marriage, divorce, or court order, or if the document doesn't include enough biographical detail, SSA needs an additional identity document in your old or new legal name before it will issue the updated card. This is the most common reason a request stalls: someone brings in a marriage certificate from years earlier with nothing current tying it to who they are today.
SSA only accepts original documents or copies certified by the office that issued them. Notarized copies and regular photocopies are rejected outright — bring or mail the real certificate, decree, or court order.
Your 9-digit Social Security number never changes. A name change only updates the name printed on your card and in SSA's records — not the number itself.
This is always free, directly through SSA. If a site charges for a “name change kit” or offers to file Form SS-5 for you, it isn't affiliated with Social Security.
Don't mail an original document you can't easily replace. SSA does return it, but a certified copy from the issuing agency is the safer option for anything irreplaceable, like a Certificate of Naturalization.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get a new Social Security number when I change my name?
No. Your number stays the same for life regardless of a legal name change. Only the name printed on your card and in SSA's records updates.
Can I change my name with Social Security completely online?
Only if SSA's online tool finds you eligible based on your existing record. If not, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office instead.
How long does it take to get the new card?
SSA states a replacement card typically arrives by mail within 5 to 10 business days once your request is processed.
Does a name-change card count against the replacement-card limit?
No. Cards issued because of a legal name change, or a change to a work-authorization legend, don't count toward the 3-per-year or 10-per-lifetime limits.
What if my name-change document doesn't show my date of birth?
SSA will ask for an additional identity document, such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport, in your prior name, your new name, or both, before issuing the card.
Reviewed against official SSA guidance. Source 1, Source 2
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