Name Change Form

[Frida314]

How have people generally answered the question on your reason for a name change? One friend thought she wrote “For personal reasons”.  Would “To be true to myself, I want to have a name congruent with the gender identity of the woman l am.” be way too personals? The less said on any form seems to be the best policy. Any ideas please?  I am in Washington state.

 

In applying for a new Social Security card, I do not see any request for gender identity. If one was applying for their first Social Security account, there is a check box for sex. I have not been able to verify what I am understanding.

[Susan R]

I simply wrote..."To reflect my new gender" on mine.  It was the truth.  I had a doctor's letter   If the needed some kind of proof but they don't care....at least in Snohomish County they don't.  I think the truth is always ok.  I figured if I'm there presenting as a woman, who are they to really question it?...it's only a name change after all.

[Frida314]

Thank you so much. It can be hard communicating and not knowing when to stop. 

Hugs

[Susan R]

Just now, Frida314 said:

In applying for a new Social Security card, I do not see any request for gender identity. If one was applying for their first Social Security account, there is a check box for sex. I have not been able to verify what I am understanding.

I drove up to Mt. Vernon because I've heard nightmares about the long 3 hour wait times in the Everett (Snohomish County) Social Security Office.  It was a tiny office and I was in and out in 30-40 mins.  I would bring all you paperwork which must include Doctor's Letter and a certified Court Order for Name Change.

 

I made the small mistake of getting my 'non-federally enhanced' WA Driver's License before going to a SS office.  This wasn't really an issue but when the DL representative processed my DL she said that Social Security is now instantly linked and because my gender and name are differen in their system, I'll automatically receive a warning letter stating my new DL will be suspended if Social Security information isn't updated within 30 days.  She said don't worry and just ignore this warning letter but do be sure you go to a Social Security office sometime in the next week and take care of it.  She was kind enough to tell me about this smaller SS office in Mt. Vernon too.  She was very nice.  That SS warning letter never came.  Maybe because I went straight to the Mt Vernon office and changed all my info immediately.

 

The only thing that was odd was that the lady at the Mt. Vernon SS office had to check to make sure that I could change my gender in the system. Without surgery being completed.  She went to an online resource on her computer and verified surgery was no longer a requirement to having your gender marker changed in the SS system.  I thought it was odd because earlier in our short conversation she said she had. Only done a half dozen of these gender marker changes all year. Maybe she thought the law had been reversed recently but I thought it was odd she didn't know this.

 

I hope this info helps with your process.  My advice if you live in a big metro area...go to a smaller SS branch near you.

 

Good. LUck,

Susan R?

[Carolyn Marie]

Here are links to two resources, one of which is Social Security Admin:

 

https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-01453

 

https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/kyr/SSAResource_June2013.pdf

 

Carolyn Marie

[Susan R]

Interesting fact:  the SSA website states the following regarding changing your gender marker within their system...

 

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• Gender

  We’ll need to see a

• • Full-validity, 10-year U.S. passport showing the new gender; 
  • State-issued amended birth certificate showing the new gender; 
  • Court order directing legal recognition of change of gender; or 
  • Medical certification of appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition in the form of an original letter from a licensed physician. 

The document must have enough biographical data (e.g., name and date of birth) to clearly identify you.

------------------------------------------------------------

What's funny is that I only needed to provide them with my recently renewed 10 year passport which was in my male 'dead name' along with my name change court order, my birth certificate with my male dead name and a letter from my Doctor stating the I had received the appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition.  That was it.  They printed out a copy of the changes made within their system. I signed a form and that was that.  

[reyindium]

I was straight forward about my name change being about my gender identity. I didn't want to lie and wasn't sure if I was vague on the form if that would be helpful or not.

My petition is in the system being processed now. But I have no doctor's note and other than my appearance and who I've come out to, have no "proof" to back what I'm saying. I'm pre-T without surgeries. I'm freaking out because if the judge denies my name change, I'll be trapped with this name forever, just like I'm stuck in this body.

 

As for social security, I would call the office to ask the questions directly if you can't find enough clarity here. I called the Clerk of the Court half a dozen times during my name change petition process...

Good luck!