If you legally change your name because of marriage, divorce, court order or any other reason, you need to tell Social Security so that you can get a corrected card. If you are working, also tell your employer. If you do not tell them when your name changes, it may:
- Prevent your wages from being posted correctly to your Social Security record, which may lower the amount of your future Social Security benefits.
- Cause delays when you file your taxes.
Social Security cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. They cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document. All documents must be current (not expired).
They may use one document for two purposes. For example, they may use your U.S. passport as proof of both citizenship and identity.
U.S. Born Citizens
What original documents do I need?
Citizenship
If you have not already established your U.S. citizenship with us, Social Security needs to see proof of U.S. citizenship. They can accept only certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport.
Important!
This documentation is only required if you have NOT already established citizenship with Social Security.
Name change
If you need to change your name on your Social Security card, you must show them proof of your legal name change. Documents Social Security may accept to prove a legal name change include:
- Marriage document;
- Divorce decree;
- Certificate of Naturalization showing the new name; or
- Court order approving the name change.
If the document you provide as evidence of a legal name change does not give them enough information to identify you in their records or if you changed your name more than two years ago (four years ago if you are under 18 years of age), you must show them an identity document in your prior name (as shown in our records). They will accept an identity document in your old name that has expired.
If you do not have an identity document in your prior name, Social Security may accept an unexpired identity document in your new name, as long as they can properly establish your identity in their records.
Identity
Social Security can accept only certain documents as proof of identity. An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity Social Security must see your:
- U.S. driver's license;
- State-issued non-driver identification card; or
- U.S. passport.
If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, they will ask to see other documents. Any documents submitted, including the following, must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph:
- Employee identification card;
- School identification card;
- Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); or
- U.S. military identification card.
Your new card will have the same number as your previous card, but will show your new name. Social Security will mail your card as soon as they have all of your information and have verified your documents.
Foreign Born U.S. Citizen Adult
If you legally change your name because of marriage, divorce, court order or any other reason, you need to tell Social Security so that you can get a corrected card. If you are working, also tell your employer. If you do not tell us when your name changes, it may:
- Prevent your wages from being posted correctly to your Social Security record, which may lower the amount of your future Social Security benefits.
- Cause delays when you file your taxes.
Social Security cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. They cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document. All documents must be current (not expired).
They may use one document for two purposes. For example, they may use your U.S. passport as proof of both citizenship and identity.
What original documents do I need?
Citizenship
If you have not already established your U.S. citizenship with Social Security, they need to see proof of U.S. citizenship. They can accept only certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include:
- U.S. passport;
- Certificate of Naturalization (N-550/N-570);
- Certificate of Citizenship (N-560/N-561);
- Certificate of Report of Birth (DS-1350);
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240, CRBA).
Important!
Social Security require this documentation only if you have NOT already established U.S. citizenship with them.
Name change
If you need to change your name on your Social Security card, you must show them proof of your legal name change. Documents Social Security may accept to prove a legal name change include:
- Marriage document;
- Divorce decree;
- Certificate of Naturalization showing the new name; or
- Court order approving the name change.
If the document you provide as evidence of a legal name change does not give Social Security enough information to identify you in their records or if you changed your name more than two years ago (four years ago if you are under 18 years of age), you must show them an identity document in your prior name (as shown in our records). Social Security will accept an identity document in your old name that has expired.
If you do not have an identity document in your prior name, they may accept an unexpired identity document in your new name, as long as they can properly establish your identity in our records.
Identity
Social Security can accept only certain documents as proof of identity. An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity Social Security must see your:
- U.S. driver's license;
- State-issued non-driver identification card; or
- U.S. passport.
If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, they will ask to see other documents. Any documents submitted, including the following, must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph:
- Employee identification card;
- School identification card;
- Health insurance card (not a Medicare card); or
- U.S. military identification card.
Your new card will have the same number as your previous card, but will show your new name. Social Security will mail your card as soon as they have all of your information and have verified your documents.
Noncitizen Adult
If you change your name, become a U.S. citizen, or your immigration status or work authorization has changed, you need to tell Social Security so they can update their records and when necessary, issue a new card.
When you request a replacement or a corrected Social Security card, you must show them proof of your identity, immigration status and work authorization. In addition, if you need to change or correct any information on your Social Security card, you need to show them certain documents about the change. Social Security can only accept certain documents.
What documents do I need to prove my identity?
Social Security will ask to see your current U.S. immigration documents. Acceptable documents include:
- I-551 Permanent Resident Card
- I-94 Arrival/Departure Record with unexpired foreign passport, or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport; or
- I-766 Employment Authorization Document, (EAD, work permit) from DHS.
You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. Social Security cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current (not expired). They cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.
Social Security may use one document for two purposes. For example, they may use your U.S. passport as proof of both citizenship and identity.
What other documents do I need?
Name Change
If you legally change your name because of marriage, divorce, court order, or any other reason, you should tell Social Security.
If you are working, you also need to tell your employer. If you do not tell us when your name changes, it may:
- Prevent your wages from being posted correctly to your Social Security record, which may lower the amount of your future Social Security benefits.
- Cause delays when you file your taxes.
You must show us proof of your legal name change. Documents Social Security may accept to prove a legal name change include:
- Marriage document;
- Divorce decree;
- Court order approving the name change; or
If the document you provide as evidence of a legal name change does not give us enough information to identify you in our records or if you changed your name more than two years ago (four years ago if you are under 18 years of age), you must show us an identity document in your prior name (as shown in our records). They will accept an identity document in your old name that has expired.
If you do not have an identity document in your prior name, we may accept an unexpired identity document in your new name, as long as we can properly establish your identity in our records.
If we assigned you a Social Security number for non-work purposes, special rules apply. If DHS did not authorize you to work, we will change your name on our records but we cannot issue you a corrected card. If you do not have permission to work but need an SSN for other purposes, see "if you do not have permission to work" below for further information. Remember that you cannot use a Social Security number assigned for non-work purposes to work. If you use it to work, we will inform DHS.
If Social Security issues you a new card, it will have the same number as your previous card, but will show your new name. They will mail your card as soon as they have all of your information and have verified your immigration documents.
Immigration Status
To prove your U.S. immigration status, you must show Social Security your current U.S. immigration document, such as:
- Form I-551 (Lawful Permanent Resident Card, Machine Readable Immigrant Visa);
- I-766 (Employment Authorization Document, EAD, work permit); or
- I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport.
- If you are an F-1 or M-1 student, you also must show us your I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status).
If you are a J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor, you must show them your DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status).
Work Eligibility
In general, only noncitizens who have DHS' permission to work can apply for a Social Security number. If you are a foreign worker, Social Security only need to see your I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) or admission stamp in your unexpired foreign passport showing a class of admission permitting work. You may need to show your I-766 (Employment Authorization Document, EAD, work permit) from DHS.
If you are lawfully present in the United States and plan to apply for work authorization, you can apply for both work authorization from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and request a Social Security card from the Social Security Administration at the same time. For more information on this process, read “Apply For Your Social Security Number While Applying For Your Work Permit”.
If you submit evidence of lawful work-authorized status along with evidence of your name change, Social Security can issue you a corrected card with your new name.
Student:
F-1
If you are an F-1 student and eligible to work on campus, you must provide a letter from your designated school official that:
- Identifies you;
- Confirms your current school status; and
- Identifies your employer and the type of work you are, or will be, doing.
Social Security also need to see evidence of that employment, such as a recent pay slip or a letter from your employer. Your supervisor must sign and date the letter. The letter must describe:
- Your job;
- Your employment start date;
- The number of hours you are, or will be, working; and
- Your supervisor's name and telephone number.
If you are an F-1 student authorized to work in curricular practical training, you must provide them your Form I-20 with the employment page completed and signed by your designated school official.
If you are an F-1 student and have a work permit (I-766) from DHS, you must present it.
J-1
If you are a J-1 student, student intern or international visitor, you must provide a letter from your sponsor. The letter should be on sponsor letterhead with an original signature that authorizes your employment.
If you do not have permission to work: Lawfully admitted noncitizens can get many benefits and services without a Social Security number. You do not need a number to conduct business with a bank, register for school, apply for educational tests, obtain private health insurance, apply for school lunch programs or apply for subsidized housing. You cannot get a Social Security number for the sole purpose of obtaining a driver's license.
Citizenship
If you have not already established your U.S. citizenship with us, we need to see proof of U.S. citizenship. Social Security can accept only certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include:
- U.S. passport;
- Certificate of Naturalization (N-550/N-570);
- Certificate of Citizenship (N-560/N-561);
- Certificate of Report of Birth (DS-1350);
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240, CRBA).
Important!
Social Security require citizenship documentation only if you are a U.S. citizen and you have NOT already established U.S. citizenship with them.
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