Effective Dates: 01/18/2024 - Present Previous | Next

TN 17 (01-24)

RM 10212.095 Evidence Required to Process a Name Change on the SSN based on a US Issued Amended or Corrected Birth Certificate (BC)

Evidence of the name change event, the new name, and identity is required to process a name change based on an amended or corrected BC.

A. Evidence of name change event

For acceptable evidence of a name change event based on an amended or corrected BC, see RM 10212.090.

B. Evidence of new name

The new name shown on the BC is evidence of the new name.

C. Evidence of number holder’s identity

An amended or corrected BC is not evidence of identity. Therefore, additional evidence is always required to process the name change.

Due to State law and various practices, BCs bearing a child’s new name may show other data differently for the child (e.g. different parents may be shown for an adopted child). Therefore, the identity document requirements for a name change based on an amended or corrected BC, vary depending on the data shown on the BC.

You must request additional documents to establish identity.

1. If the BC shows the number holder’s new name and does not show the prior name (shown on latest Numident record)

To establish identity accept:

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    One identity document in the prior name. Other identifying data (e.g., date of birth, place of birth) shown on the identity document, BC and Numident must match; or

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    Two documents: one identity document in the new name and evidence of the basis for the name change, such as an acknowledgment of paternity, showing the prior name; or

  • •

    Two documents: one identity document in the new name and the new birth certificate with a Birth Certificate Number (BCN) that is an exact match to the BCN shown on the Numident. All other identifying data on the BC and Numident must match unless the BC also proves a change to the other data per RM 10212.200. EXCEPTION: The only exception to an exact match in the BCN is a difference strictly due to known State formatting requirements in which the BCN shown on the BC and the Numident can still be clearly matched. For example, if the Numident shows the BCN (137091234567) and it is known that BCNs transmitted to the Numident by PA in 2009 start with the same 5 digits (13709) but the BC shows 1234567, consider the BCN on the BC and Numident to match.

2. If the amended BC shows the prior name and new name

To establish identity accept:

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    One identity document in the prior name, or

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    One identity document in the new name.

Use the priority lists of acceptable identity documents when requesting identity documents.

D. Documenting the BCN in the Enumeration system

When the BCN is used to establish evidence of identity:

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    document the BCN in the “Name Change Document 2” field of the legal name change screen;

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    select “Basis for Name Change”; and

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    annotate the “Document Description” field as “BCN XXXX…”

E. Example of name change when prior name not shown on BC

Sarah Anderson applies for a replacement SSN card for a name change for their child Joshua Anderson. Originally, Sarah Anderson requested that SSA assign the child an SSN through the EAB (Enumeration at Birth) process. When SSA assigned him an SSN, it issued him a card showing the name Joshua Anderson. A week after Sarah and their son were released from the hospital, Nelson Moore, Joshua’s father, completed a form acknowledging paternity of Joshua and the State issued an amended BC showing the child's name as Joshua Moore.

Sarah submits evidence of the name change event, the amended BC and Joshua’s medical records in the new name, Joshua Moore. The BC only shows the new name, Joshua Moore. Neither document shows the prior name, Joshua Anderson. Ms. Anderson did not bring the paternity acknowledgement form that would have shown the prior name, Joshua Anderson. However, the BCN on the amended BC matches the BCN field on the Enumeration at Birth (EAB) created Numident record. All other data such as date of birth, place of birth, gender and mother’s name also match. Since evidence of identity in the new name was submitted we can establish evidence of identity.

We can process the name change.

NOTE: The father’s name which is shown on the amended BC is not on the Numident record, since at the time the SSN was assigned through EAB he had not acknowledged paternity. In this case, since acceptable evidence of the father’s name has been submitted the change to the father’s name on the child’s SSN will be processed at the same time as the name change for the child.

F. Example of name change when prior and new name shown on BC

Anthony Campbell applies for a replacement SSN for a name change for their son Michael Campbell. Michael was originally assigned an SSN through EAB. After the SSN was assigned, Michael’s parents changed the name to, Mike Campbell. Mr. Campbell submits evidence of the name change event, Mike’s amended BC. The amended BC shows both the prior name (Michael Campbell) and new name (Mike Campbell). The BC was issued a month prior. In addition, he submits Mike’s health insurance card as evidence of identity in the prior name Michael Campbell. We can process the name change. NOTE: If the evidence of identity were in the new name we could have processed the name change as well.

G. Reference

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    RM 10210.405, Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card

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    RM 10212.090, Evidence of a Name Change on the SSN Based on a US Issued Amended or Corrected Birth Certificate

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212095
RM 10212.095 - Evidence Required to Process a Name Change on the SSN based on a US Issued Amended or Corrected Birth Certificate (BC) - 01/18/2024
Batch run: 01/18/2024
Rev:01/18/2024