How Do You Change Your Name on a Social Security Card?

The name-change rule in one table

| Trigger | A legal name change because of marriage, divorce, or court order, or a correction needed for other reasons | | What to show | Evidence of identity, the new legal name, and the name-change event. Citizenship or lawful noncitizen status if needed | | Supporting document rule | Recent, and identifying you by both your old and new names. If the event was over 2 years ago, or the document does not prove identity well enough, also provide identity documents in the prior name or the new legal name | | Online availability | Situation- and state-dependent. In some states, a corrected card can be requested through a personal my Social Security account. Otherwise, start the application online | | Paper route | Complete Form SS-5 and show the required documents at a local office or Card Center, or by appointment | | Limits | None for name changes. Cards issued to reflect legal-name changes do not count toward the 3-per-year and 10-per-lifetime replacement limits | | Delivery and fee | Replacement card by mail in 5 to 10 business days after the request is completed. Free |

What makes a name change different

A name change is a corrected card, not a replacement for a lost one, and the limits prove it: name-change cards do not count toward the replacement caps. The second difference is the online question, where the current position is narrower than the old blanket rule. Older Administration material said the online route excluded any card change including a name change. The current FAQ says that in some states a corrected card can be requested through a personal my Social Security account, and the life-events page says that depending on the situation the change may be requested online, and if not, an appointment at a local office is needed. Which states and which name-change types qualify online is not stated on the pages read, so this guide states the dependence and points to the Administration's screener instead of asserting either blanket.

The third difference is the both-names rule on the supporting document. A marriage certificate is the ideal document for a marriage name change. A document supporting a name change must be recent and identify the applicant by both the old and new names. For a divorce or court-order change, the triggering event is named on the Administration's FAQ, and the same both-names and recency rule on Form SS-5 governs the supporting document.

The process, step by step

1. Check the Administration's name-change screener first: depending on the situation and the state, the corrected card may be requested online through a personal my Social Security account. If not, start the application online.
2. Paper route: complete Form SS-5 and show the required documents. Bring proof of identity (a U.S. driver's license is preferred, or a state-issued non-driver ID card or U.S. passport), proof of the new legal name and the name-change event (a marriage certificate is ideal for a marriage change), and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful noncitizen status if needed.
3. Documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. No photocopies, no notarized copies.
4. If the name-change event occurred over 2 years ago, or the supporting document does not carry enough information to prove identity, also provide documents proving identity in the prior name or, in some cases, the new legal name.
5. Wait for the replacement card by mail in 5 to 10 business days after the request is completed. Applying for a Social Security card is free.

Related guides

A lost or stolen card follows the replacement track. A first card for a newborn follows the Enumeration at Birth track. See the full hub at U.S. Federal Credentials Directory.

Source

The triggers, the document rules, the both-names rule, the limits, the delivery time, and the online position on this page come from the Social Security Administration: the name-change FAQ (November 14, 2024), the Change Name with Social Security life-events page, the October 22, 2026 blog post, and Form SS-5 (December 2024). Facts verified 2026-10-27.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to a lawyer or your government agency.