Social Security Office told us DHS has to do name change?

[Rick&Maeve 8]

We went to the Social Security Office today so that my wife can change her name on her social security card. The clerk told us she can't change her name because we didn't first change her name with DHS? She stated that there is no way for Social Security to change her name until DHS has the new name in the system.

Is this correct? I'm confused because I thought the Social Security Office is the only place where you can do a name change?

Edited July 22, 2014 by Rick & Mavis

[Rick&Maeve 8]

After a second visit to the social security office and speaking to a supervisor, we were told that a name change can not be issued until it has first been changed in the immigration system database. So what we will do is file for AOS in her new married name instead of maiden name which will be validated with marriage certificate submitted with application. Then go back to the social security office once the AOS has been filed and processed in the database with her married name.

[Curry and Cherry 1]

We went through the same thing. So we have applied for the AOS together with the ED with the hope that after we get the ED I can go back there and change my name because they gave me the same story at the ssn office about informing DHS first.

[Dave&Roza 748]

We went to the Social Security Office today so that my wife can change her name on her social security card. The clerk told us she can't change her name because we didn't first change her name with DHS? She stated that there is no way for Social Security to change her name until DHS has the new name in the system.

Is this correct? I'm confused because I thought the Social Security Office is the only place where you can do a name change?

Please do me a favor and e-mail the main SSA office and ask them about what is needed to change your name on a SSC. Maybe they have changed the rules lately, but typically they only required an official document that shows the old and new names or a Marriage Certificate. This is their manual on an official name:

RM 10205.120 How the Number Holder’s Name is Shown on SSN Card

https://secure.ssa.g.../lnx/0110205120

Notice it says "document" as in Marriage Certificate and there is nothing about having to match your DHS records. If the main office states that your DHS records must match the name on the SSC, please come back and let us know as that is a recent change in the way the SSA does things.

Good luck,

Dave