Social Security

I changed my name prepandemic, but it was so easy! I got drivers license and SS done in the same day. Practically in and out both places. It took maybe a couple of weeks to get my new SS card and that was that.

View Quoted Comment Prepandemic and now are sadly not the same. They dont appear to be even open and no one answers any phones. Everyone else is opened back up but not SS.

There's a form you fill out online, and mail it to your local Social Security office with a certified copy of your marriage certificate (they will mail this back to you). Very easy process; I think I got my new card in 3-4 weeks.

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For SS, I printed out the required form online then filled it out and placed it in an envelope with our marriage certificate. I just dropped it off at our local SS office and they mailed my marriage certificate along with my new SS card within a week.

For my DL, that has to be done in person. Our local DMV requires we fill out a form online which they keep on file for 60 days, then we go to the office in person. I have to bring a certified copy of our marriage certificate for that as well and I'm bringing my new SS card just to be safe!

You have to have your official marriage certificate first. After our officiant sent in our paperwork, I had to request mine and wait for it to be mailed to me.

Mine is taking forever! I printed out the form online, brought it in person. to the local field office drop box along with my marriage certificate and it took them about 3 weeks to even process the application. Then they mailed me a “receipt” with my supporting document.. the receipt is a brief letter acknowledging the processing of the card and said it will take another two weeks before I get the new card. So the process is not always fast - I say this because if you are planning to travel etc and are depending on a quick turn around time, I wouldn’t do it unless you have good lead time to be able to account for their delays budget at least 2 months, and then get your new IDs. Glad to hear that prior posters had better luck with their mail in apps but be aware there are several news articles regarding the massive mail-in delays and (taking months to process apps) so if you *can* drop it off in person to the drop box, it would seem you may be able to avoid those mail-in delays that thousands of people have experienced. Also, my local field office had the wrong address posted online but the correct address stated on their phone line. I’d confirm your local field office address by phone before mailing in. Me dropping off in person took care of this issue and was the primary reason I decided to drop in person.

Here is the article:
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/07/29/new-report-shows-covid-19-has-delayed-social-security-mail-processing.html

View Quoted Comment That's what I'll scared of; having the same issue. I can't get a call through it just says no one is available to answer and hangs up so I'll go by in person and see if there's a drop box. I have the official but not a certified copy...might want to get a copy first to give them so I can keep the offical one.

My SS card office returns original documents by FedEx right away. But, after 6 months of back & forth (3 my fault, 1 theirs), I am still waiting. You don't need your SS to change your passport though and can save $ if changed within 1 year of your last reissue.

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Yep, this is what I had to do as well since their office is not open in my area.

HitchSwitch was worth it for me! You pay for a package and they give you all the forms you need for your state plus very clear step-by-step instructions, and they pre-fill most of the form fields for you except sensitive info like your SSN. I bought a package after we got legally married in September, but didn't start filling things out until after our December honeymoon as I wanted to still have my TSA PreCheck.

I ended up sending the social security card application + certified copy of our marriage certificate on 1/29, got the marriage certificate returned to me a couple weeks later, then got a letter dated 3/8 saying my application had been received and I should have the new card within 2 weeks - got it today! Super easy process apart from the minor hassle of having to go to a post office to send the application + certificate as tracked mail. And best part, they didn't give me any crap about making my maiden name a second middle name, so it should now be easy to change my other documents - I think every state is different on the hoops you have to jump through to change a middle name and you can end up having to go to court if you want to do that, but HitchSwitch customizes their recommendations for where you live to help avoid having to go to court and it worked out great for me (I'm in IL).

View Quoted Comment Update: finally got the new card! It ended up taking about 30 days from the time I dropped off the application to the drop box. Definitely use a certified copy, don’t send your only one.

It was not nearly as difficult for me as I expected it might be!! I actually went to the DMV first and changed my driver's license. I had no issues there at all, it was quick. I did that because there's a DMV right in my town a few miles from me and it was easy to go there on a weekday when they weren't too busy. I then went to social security, with my new driver's license, and was in and out within no more than 15 minutes. I will say I did go on a weekday, when they tend to be less busy, and that helped. I did not have an appointment prior, just checked in when I got there. I got my new card within a few weeks!