A Social Security Change in Information form allows you to update your personal information with the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you’ve recently changed your name or address, gotten married or divorced, or experienced another change in status like a new bank account for direct deposit, you can update your information using this form.
How To Write a Social Security Change in Information Form
To start, you’ll need to either draft a letter detailing your requested change or download our free Social Security Change in Information form. Once you have the form, complete the following steps:
- Find out the location of your local Social Security office. You can use the Social Security Office Locator to help you find the closest branch. Then add their address to the form.
- Clearly state changes to your personal information. Provide as much detail as you can. Include any required documents, depending on your change:
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Name change: Attach documents showing your prior name and your new name, along with an Application for Social Security Card. Acceptable documents to prove your prior name include:
- Marriage Certificate
- Court Order for Name Change
- Divorce Decree
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Birth or adoption of your child: Attach a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate.
- Death of a Social Security beneficiary: Attach a certified copy of the death certificate.
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Name change: Attach documents showing your prior name and your new name, along with an Application for Social Security Card. Acceptable documents to prove your prior name include:
- Filing for someone else: If you’re filling out a Social Security Change in Information form for another person, you must prove your identity and relationship to that person. Acceptable documents to verify your identity include:
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- U.S. driver’s license
- State-issued identification card
- U.S. passport
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If you cannot provide one of the above documents or obtain a copy within 10 days, SSA will accept any of the following:
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- Health insurance card other than your Medicare card
- U.S. Military I.D. card
- Employee I.D. card
- School I.D. card
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- Sign the letter
- Make a copy. Keep a copy of the completed letter and any attachments for your records.
- Mail the letter and supporting documentation. Send form and documents to your local Social Security office.
What To Include in a Social Security Change in Information Form
To complete a Social Security Change in Information letter, you need to include the following information:
- The address of your local Social Security office
- The current date
- Your full legal name and social security number
- A description of the changes you are requesting
- Your signature
Sample Social Security Change in Information Form
Below is a sample of a Social Security Change in Information letter. ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ___________, 20___ Social Security Administration ________________________ ________________________ Re: Report of Change for ________________________ Social Security Number: ____ – ____ – ______ Dear Sir or Madam, The purpose of this letter is to advise your office of the following change(s) with respect to receipt of social security benefits by ________________________. (Check all applicable) ☐ Change of address and telephone number ☐ Change in marital status ☐ Name change ☐ Change in income, earnings or other government benefits ☐ Birth or adoption of a child ☐ Change of child custody ☐ Incarceration of beneficiary ☐ Departure from the United States ☐ Death of beneficiary ☐ Change in direct deposit accounts ☐ Beneficiary unable to manage funds CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER Effective ___________, 20___, ________________________ has moved and needs to update his/her address as follows. Former Address: ________________________________________ Telephone: _______________ New Address: _______________________________________ Telephone: _______________ (Check if applicable) ☐ The following family members will also receive checks or other information at the new address: ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ CHANGE IN MARITAL STATUS On ___________, 20___, ________________________ was (Check one) ☐ married to ☐ divorced from________________________. Enclosed is a certified copy of the (Check one) ☐ marriage license ☐divorce decree. Please advise as to the change in benefits, if any, or if any additional information is required. NAME CHANGE On ___________, 20___, ________________________ changed his/her name to ________________________. Please forward the necessary form(s) to request a new social security card reflecting this name change. Enclosed is documentation showing the name change. CHANGE IN INCOME, EARNINGS, OR OTHER GOVERNMENT BENEFITS Effective ___________, 20___, ________________________ has had the following changes in income, earnings, or other government benefits: __________________________________________________. Please advise if any additional information is needed. BIRTH OR ADOPTION OF CHILD On ___________, 20___, a child, ________________________, was (Check one) ☐ born to ☐ adopted by ________________________. A certified copy of the ☐ child’s birth certificate ☐ child’s amended birth certificate ☐ court order is enclosed. Please advise if any additional information is needed. CHANGE OF CHILD CUSTODY Custody has changed for the following child(ren): ________________________ The child(ren) was/were in the custody of ________________________, whose address is _______________________________________. As of ___________, 20___, the above-named child(ren) will be in the custody of ________________________, whose address is _______________________________________. A certified copy of the court order to change custody is enclosed. Please advise if any additional information is needed in order for________________________ to receive benefits. INCARCERATION OF BENEFICIARY On ___________, 20___, ________________________ was convicted of ________________________. ________________________ was incarcerated on ___________, 20___ at ________________________ [Imprisonment Facility], _______________________________________ [Facility Address]. ________________________ will be incarcerated for ___________ [Length of Imprisonment]. Please advise if any additional information is needed, as well as the effect that this will have on ________________________’s benefits. DEPARTURE FROM UNITED STATES ________________________ left the United States on ___________, 20___, for ___________ [Length of Time]. ________________________ plans to return to the United States on ___________, 20___. ________________________ plans to visit the following country or countries: _______________________________________. (Check if applicable) ☐ Please have social security checks forwarded to: ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ DEATH OF BENEFICIARY ________________________ died on ___________, 20___, and was a resident of the State of _____________. (Check one) ☐ Enclosed is the decedent’s last social security check and a certified copy of the death certificate. ☐ Enclosed is a certified copy of the death certificate. (Check if applicable) ☐ Please advise as to the survivor’s benefits for the following dependent(s)/spouse of the decedent: Name: ________________________ Age: ___________ Relationship: ___________ Name: ________________________ Age: ___________ Relationship: ___________ Name: ________________________ Age: ___________ Relationship: ___________ CHANGE IN DIRECT DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS ________________________ has changed financial institutions as follows: ________________________’s former bank was ________________________ [Bank Name], _______________________________________ [Bank Address], Account Number ________________________. As of ___________, 20___, please send ________________________’s social security checks to ________________________ [Bank Name], _______________________________________ [Bank Address], Account Number________________________. BENEFICIARY IS UNABLE TO MANAGE FUNDS ________________________ has become unable to manage his/her funds because _______________________________________. (Check one) ☐ On ___________, 20___, ☐ Fund manager ________________________ ☐ Fund manager ________________________ of Company ________________________ agreed to manage ________________________’s funds. ☐ On ___________, 20___, ________________________ [Court] appointed (Check one): ☐ Fund manager ________________________ ☐ Fund manager ________________________ of Company ________________________ to manage ________________________’s funds. A certified copy of the court order is enclosed. A form SSA-11 requesting that ________________________ be appointed as representative payee is included with this notification. Please advise as to the change in benefits, if any, or if any additional information is required. You may contact me if you have any questions or require additional information. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, ________________________
Social Security Change in Information
FAQs/Related Questions
Yes, you must notify Social Security of changes in your information. It is essential to keep the SSA updated so that they know how to contact you and where to send any Social Security retirement, disability, survivor, or Medicare benefits you may be receiving. Also, if you have legally changed your name through a divorce, court order, or for some other reason, you must notify Social Security to receive an updated Social Security card. Failure to do so could stop your benefits from being sent to you, prevent your wages from being assigned to your earnings record, or delay the processing of future income tax refunds.Do I have to notify Social Security of changes in my information?
There are several ways you can report changes to Social Security. You can call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 or go online to your my Social Security Account and update your information. You can also download and complete our Social Security Change in Information form and mail it to your local Social Security office.How do I report changes to Social Security?