New (July 2007) Policy for Social Security Name Change Without Documentation

Do you not have all the documentation that Social Security requires for your official name change? There are new requirements under this new policy - "While we always ask for evidence of identity in the old name, when needed, the applicant is not required to submit evidence of identity in the old name if he or she meets the documentation requirements under this new policy."

Sue Johnson has been married for over 30 years. Recently, she learned she never changed her last name on her Social Security card to her husband’s last name (the name she has been using since marriage) when the DMV was unsuccessful at electronically verifying her name and SSN. In addition, Ms. Johnson had recently applied for spouse’s benefits and SSA confirmed her name had never been changed on her SSN. Further, she alleges not having any evidence of identity in the old name (as shown on the latest Numident record- her maiden name of Sue Davis). All of her identity documents are in her married name including her driver’s license. Under the identity guidelines for a name change in EM-06064, Ms. Johnson would need to submit evidence of identity in her old name in addition to her marriage document because she married over 30 years ago. While it’s possible that she may obtain identity documents such as school records that were issued to her when she was a child, it is not required because Ms. Johnson does not have an identity document in the old name with her at the time the SSN application was filed and she meets the documentation requirements under this new policy as shown below.

In name change situations where there is no evidence of identity in the old name because the person has been going by the new married name for years (at least two years) and the name on the SSN card was never changed to the married name, accept the following documentation to process the name change:
1. Marriage document showing the old name that agrees with the name on the latest Numident record (in this case, marriage document shows Sue Davis married Al Johnson and the NH’s latest Numident record is in the name Sue Davis), and

2. Evidence of identity in the new name to be shown on the SSN card (driver’s license is in applicant’s married name, Sue Johnson), and

3. Applicant’s identifying information (SSN, names on prior records, date of birth, place of birth, parents’ names) from the latest Numident record (propagated into the SS-5 Assistant/MES application path) agrees with applicant’s allegation and data shown on the SS-5. In this case, all of the identifying information except the mother’s maiden name matched. Since under this policy an incorrect or unknown mother’s maiden name is considered a minor discrepancy, the identifying information was considered verified.

More information ...

This should make some Social Security Name Changes somewhat simpler...