Social Security Card Changes Marriage: How to Inform about your Marriage and Why It’s Important

Social Security Card Changes Marriage: Name changes occur frequently after marriage, so if you legally change your name, you should apply for a new Social Security card with your new name on it. To guarantee that your wage history is appropriately documented—which is essential for determining your future benefits—you should also let your employer know.

Your earnings may have been reported incorrectly if you have previously filed taxes under a different name and haven’t updated them. Correcting this now, during the name change, is simpler than waiting years to retire and potentially delaying your benefits.

Social Security Card Replacement: How Long Does It Take to Get a New Social Security Card If You Replace It?

Your precise earnings record serves as the foundation for your future benefits. For information on the paperwork required to apply for a replacement card and change your name, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber or give us a call at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Since the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which upholds the legal right of same-sex couples to marry anywhere in the United States, Social Security has expanded the number of same-sex marriages that qualify for benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Social Security Card Changes Marriage: Will my benefits change if I get married?

Employees processing claims and appeals of marital status are now assisted by updated instructions. Anyone who might qualify for benefits must apply in light of these changes.

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In the meantime, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) clarifies that getting married won’t have an impact on your benefits. According to SSA, your Social Security retirement or disability benefit will not change if you get married. On the other hand, there might be an impact on other benefits like SSI, survivors, divorced spouses, and child benefits.

See Will Remarrying Affect My Social Security Benefits? for information on how your SSI or Social Security benefits may be impacted.

To report your marriage and obtain further information, call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.