Life goes on during the six to eight months it generally takes to process your application for disability benefits. For instance, the name you put on the application may not match the name you now use.
A name change caused by marriage, divorce, or any other reason must be reported to the Social Security Administration. Updating Social Security after name change is required whether you have an active application pending for benefits or already receive monthly benefit payments through the Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income programs.
How Does Name Change Affect Disability Claim?
You must be disabled and unable to work to be approved for disability benefits. Your medical records are essential to documenting the medical condition causing you to be disabled and its severity.
A difference between the name on your disability claim and the one on your medical records could delay the processing of your application by delaying the delivery of medical documentation needed to prove that you are disabled. For example, a doctor’s office may not recognize the name on the request for records sent by the Social Security Administration if you received treatment after the name change.
If you already receive disability benefits, Social Security periodically reviews your claim to verify that you continue to meet the medical criteria for eligibility. It uses your medical records to accomplish the review, but a review of disability claims after name change could result in delays when your Social Security and medical records are under different names.
Name Change And Your Disability Benefits Payments
Another reason for notifying Social Security that you use a different name is to avoid problems with monthly benefit payments. The Social Security Administration pays disability and other benefits electronically through direct deposit using your name as it appears in its records.
The impact of a name change on disability payments is that the name on the payment will not match the name on the bank account or the Direct Express Debit Mastercard, depending on which of the direct deposit options you’ve chosen. If you qualify for paper checks, the name on the check will not match the name on your identification, making it difficult or impossible for you to cash it or deposit it into a bank account.
Name changes affect more than just your disability benefits. If you file a federal income tax return without reporting a name change to the Social Security Administration, the name on your tax return will not match the name associated with your Social Security number. This could create problems for you with the Internal Revenue Service.
Reporting A Name Change To The Social Security Administration
You report a name change by following the procedure for replacing a Social Security card. You may be able to notify the Social Security Administration of the change online or at a local office.
Before starting the process, gather the documents you’ll need to prove your identity and your new legal name. If you are a U.S. citizen, you’ll need a passport or other documentation proving it unless Social Security already has proof of citizenship on record.
Documents To Prove That You Legally Changed Your Name Include The Following:
- Marriage certificate.
- Divorce judgment or decree.
- Naturalization certificate.
- Court order approving a name change.
You Can Use The Following Documents To Prove Your Identity:
- State-issued driver’s license.
- State-issued non-driver identification card.
- U.S. passport
- U.S. military identification card.
Documents To Prove That You Are A U.S. Citizen Include The Following:
- U.S. passport.
- Certificate of naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
- U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
Any document you intend to use to prove your identity or that you are a U.S. citizen must be unexpired and currently valid. All documents must be originals or copies certified by the court or government agency that issued them. Social Security does not accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
The purpose for a name change is not important to the Social Security Administration provided it is not done for fraudulent or unlawful reasons. All that matters is that your name changes and disability benefits records match.
Do not assume that another government agency or a court will notify Social Security of the change. The responsibility for updating Social Security after name change is on you.
Getting Help From A Disability Lawyer
The Northern California disability law firm of Sackett and Associates has devoted decades to helping people in need of assistance with Social Security disability benefits. If you need help with a disability application, an appeal of a denial of benefits, or have questions about a name change and disability benefits, contact Sackett Law for a free consultation. Learn why people in Northern California and throughout the country have come to trust and rely upon our disability professionals when they need advice and skilled representation.
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