Social Security Requirements For Employee Name Changes
With the summer wedding season now over, it is critical for employers to ensure that each employees name and Social Security Number as shown on his or her Social Security cardmatches the employers payroll records and year-end Forms W-2.
Employers: If an employee legally changes his or her name because of marriage,;employers should continue to use the old name and tell the employee to contact Social Security to obtain an updated card. Employers should change their payroll records;only after;the employee obtains an updated Social Security card with the new name. Using a new name before the employee updates Social Securitys records may prevent the posting of earnings to the employees Social Security earnings history. Employers can use Social Securitys free;Social Security Number Verification Service ;to match employees names and SSNs at the time they are hired, or before the employer prepares and submits employees Forms W-2. Employees Employees must take the following three steps in order to obtain a corrected Social Security card:
What Documents Do You Need
See the SSAs website for full instructions on getting a corrected card. The abbreviated version: Youll need to fill out Form SS-5, which is the Application for a Social Security Card. Youll also have to show the SSA:
- Your legal name change document
- Proof of identity
- Proof of citizenship but only if you havent proved citizenship with the SSA already
Mail or bring all those documents to a nearby SSA office. Find your nearest location here.
Replacement Card For A Us Born Adult
You can replace your Social Security card for free if it is lost or stolen. However, you may not need to get a replacement card. Knowing your Social Security number is what is important. You are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime. Legal name changes and other exceptions do not count toward these limits. For example, changes in immigration status that require card updates may not count toward these limits. Also, you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship.
Important
You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current . We cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.
You may be able to request your replacement Social Security card online. Our online service is a fast and secure way to get a replacement. If you are age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address and have amySocial Security account, you can apply for a replacement card online. For more information about creating my Social Security account and getting a replacement card online, visit our Social Security Number and Card website.
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Who Needs To Be Notified After A Name Change
Your final step, after changing your name, will be to notify government agencies, businesses, family, and friends of your new name.
Here is a list of the institutions you will need to reach out to, in order to communicate your legal name change:
- Department of Records or Vital Statistics
- Social Security Administration
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Gather Need Identifying Information To Submit With Your Card Replacement Application

The next step is to find original documents youll need to ensure you have the right information. Remember, you are not applying for a new Social Security card but replacing an existing one.
The SS-5 is used for a lot of different purposes, but to replace your Social Security card in New Mexico you will need documentation to prove your identity and date of birth. Examples of such documents for U.S. citizens include:
If you were born outside the United States, youll have a different set of documents to first prove your U.S. citizenship or proof of legal, work-authorized status.
Be sure to submit legal, original copiesnot photocopies or notarized replacements.
If you are unable to find the right documents, and unable to replace them in a timely manner, you may be able use other documents. Its best to bring these to the Social Security Office rather than mailing them. These documents include:
The secondary documents must clearly show your full name, your date of birth or age, and preferably will have a current photograph. If you are in doubt about whether you have the right documents, call the SSA at Call us at 1-800-772-1213 for guidance.
For non-citizens, immigration papers are a must, or a foreign passport with photograph and age and name identification. Your immigration status should show up on whatever documents you use.
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How Do I Report A Change Of Name Or Address To Medicare
You can view or update your contact information of record via the;My Profile;Tab on;my;Social Security, even if you do not receive Social Security benefits. In addition, you can decide when your change of address will take effect. Changing your address on line is the fastest way to get assistance.
You may also report a change of name or address for the Medicare program by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting your local field office. Addresses and directions to the Social Security field offices may be obtained from the;Social Security Office Locator. See the;Contacts;page;for additional information on contacting the;Social Security Administration.;
You can also get more information on changing your name on the;Social Security’s web site.
How To Get A Social Security Card
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Original Card For A Foreign Born Us Citizen Adopted Child
Information
You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current . We cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.
Adoption
In some cases, we can assign your adopted child a number before the adoption is complete, but you may want to wait. Then, you can apply for the number using your child’s new name. If you want to claim your child for tax purposes while the adoption is still pending, contact the Internal Revenue Service for Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions. For more information, see Social Security Numbers For Children .
Replacement Card For A Foreign Born U S Citizen Adult
You can replace your Social Security card for free if it is lost or stolen. However, you may not need to get a replacement card. Knowing your Social Security number is what’s important. You are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime. Legal name changes do not count toward these limits. Also, you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship.
Important
You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies. All documents must be current . We cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.
You may be able to request your replacement Social Security card online. Our online service is a fast and secure way to get a replacement. If you are age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address and have amySocial Security account, you can apply for a replacement card online. For more information about creating my Social Security account and getting a replacement card online, visit our Social Security Number and Card website.
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You May Be Able To Apply For A Replacement Card Online
You can use a to apply for a replacement Social Security card online if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address ;
- Are not requesting a name change or any other change to your card; and
- Have a drivers license or state-issued identification card from one of the many participating states or the District of Columbia.
Note:
If your drivers license or state-issued identification card was issued by one of the states listed below, this service is not yet available. If your state appears on this list, please check back. We are working to make this service available to additional states.
- Alaska
- Oklahoma
- West Virginia
This service is also not yet available if your drivers license or identification card was issued by a U.S. territory .
If you are a U.S. citizen, and have not gotten a replacement Social Security card or name change recently, you may not be eligible to use the online replacement card application inmySocial Security.
If you dont have a mySocial Security account, you can create one today. To set up your account, go to:
If you do not qualify to apply online for a card, please follow the instructions in the next section.
Does Social Security Number Change After Adoption
When this check-in process is completed, we register/ validate your report in SEVIS. This confirms that you have arrived at the University in Chicago. It will take about three days in your registration to be updated within the SSA system. J-2 dependent spouses and children are also eligible to use for social safety numbers, after making use of for receiving an Employment Authorization Document. Please see theJ-2 work authorizationpage for extra info.
If you wouldnt have a car, however have a overseas or domestic drivers license, renting a zip car is an possibility, as these automobiles could be rented by the hour or by the day. To hire a zip car, you have to have had a drivers license for no less than a year, and in case you have a international license, you also need to obtain a replica of your driving data, translated in English. Zip car has extra information on their web site concerning eligibility for driving with a international license. Students should have already got a job provide, and may apply for a SSN no earlier than 30 days before the start date of your on-campus job. Provide ISS with an unique on campus employment confirmation letter. Students might begin employment before they obtain their Social Security Number, nevertheless, you will be unable to obtain any payment or compensation until you could have obtained this card and offered the data to your employer as required.
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How To Get A Marriage License
To get a marriage license, youll need to apply in the state or country where your legal ceremony will take place. For a Maine marriage license, head to the city or town clerks where either you or your soon-to-be spouse live. If neither of you lives in Maine but youre getting married in the state, you can go to any Maine city or town clerk to obtain the license.
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Original Card For A Us Born Child

Important
Social Security must verify a birth record for all U.S.-born applicants who apply for an original SSN. An exception is made for a parent who applies for a baby’s SSN at the hospital when the baby is born. To verify a birth record, we will contact the office that issued it.
All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. We also cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.
Get a certified copy of a document showing a birth, marriage or divorce that took place in the United States.
Adoption
In some cases, we can assign your adopted child a number before the adoption is complete, but you may want to wait. Then, you can apply for the number using your child’s new name. If you want to claim your child for tax purposes while the adoption is still pending, contact the Internal Revenue Service for Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions. For more information, see Social Security Numbers For Children .
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How To Request A Social Security Card Replacement
If all you need is a replacement Social Security card, with no other changes, you can simply request a new card online at the Social Security website. You’ll need to be a U.S. citizen age 18 or older with a U.S. mailing address and will have to supply information from a drivers license or state-issued identification card from a participating state or the District of Columbia.
Currently, every state but Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and West Virginia participates in this program. If you’re from Alaska, Delaware, and Wisconsin, note that Social Security will only accept a driver’s license.
This service is not yet available to people whose drivers license or identification card was issued by a U.S. territory, such as Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Note that a new Social Security card can also be requested by filling out the application and returning it via mail to dropping it off at the local Social Security Administration office. Or applicants can go to the local Social Security Administration office and fill out an application there.
S To Complete Form Ss
Here’s how to complete the 18 items on the form:
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Corrected Card For A 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 we can update our records and when necessary, issue a new card.
When you request a replacement or a corrected Social Security card, you must show us 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 us certain documents about the change. We can only accept certain documents.
Gathering The Documents Needed To Change Your Ssa Card
As mentioned, the first step in updating your Social Security card is to gather documentation to prove:
To prove that youve legally changed your name, youll need to provide a certified copy of one of the following documents:
- Certificate of naturalization
- Divorce decree
Its possible that one of these documents could provide enough information for the SSA to verify your identity, but if it doesnt, youll need to submit another document to prove your identity. To prove your identity, all of the following documentation may be accepted:
- United States passport
- U.S. drivers license
- State-issued ID card
To prove your prior name, any of the above documents will be acceptedeven if theyre expiredas long as they match your name in the SSAs records. If you dont have an ID document with your prior name, you can use an ID document with your current name as long as the SSA can verify your identity in their records. Finally, if you do not have a passport, license, or state-issued ID card and you cant get one within ten days, you can use one of the following documents:
- Health insurance card
- Employee I.D. card
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