The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines your name as a combination of your first and last names. The agency does not consider middle names or suffixes. Typically, the agency will consider your legal name to be as it appears on your US birth certificate. If you were born in a foreign country, then the name provided on your immigration documents will be used on your Social Security card.
Sometimes, situations do arise that require a person to change his or her name. For example, a person may get married or divorced. Whenever there is a change in name for any reason, you must inform the SSA. There is no online provision for changing the name on your Social Security card. You must provide legal identity documents which can include your driver’s license, state-issued non-driver identification card, or a US passport. If these documents are not available for any reason, you may provide your employee, student, health insurance, or US military cards.
You must also prove documents as evidence of your legal name change. These documents may include your marriage certificate, divorce decree, Certificate of Naturalization with your new name, or a court order accepting the name change. Remember that these must all be original documents, not photocopies or notarized documents. File your application form, take a print of it and mail it to the Social Security office with the documents. Once all documents have been verified, the agency will mail you your new card with the new name.
For questions about your Social Security card or disability benefits applications, contact this law firm.