Has the Social Security Administration announced an official name change for Social Security?

1. What people mean — individual name changes vs. renaming the program

Most reporting and SSA material in the results concern how an individual updates their name on their Social Security record or card after marriage, divorce, court order or correction — instructions to request a replacement card, provide identity and name‑change documentation, and sometimes use an online my Social Security account — not any announcement that “Social Security” as a national program is being renamed ^{[1] [4] [2] [3]}.

2. How to change your personal name on SSA records — the simple steps

The SSA directs people who legally change their name to request a replacement Social Security card by completing Form SS‑5, providing original or certified documentation proving identity and the name‑change event, and either starting online or appearing at a local office or card center as required ^{[4] [2] [3]}. The SSA’s own FAQ reiterates that you must show evidence of identity, your new legal name and the legal event that changed it ^[2].

3. Faster options and state data‑sharing caveats

SSA has noted some streamlined paths for newlyweds in states that participate in marriage‑data exchange programs, and in some states applicants can complete parts of the application online and then appear with documents within a set window — but those are operational changes to service delivery, not a renaming of the agency or program ^{[5] [4] [6]}.

4. Legal and regulatory authority to issue corrected cards

By regulation the SSA may issue a replacement card bearing the same Social Security number but a new name when a legal name change is verified; that regulatory text describes how the agency processes individual name corrections and identity updates, again not a rebranding of Social Security itself ^[7].

5. Why confusion about an “official name change” might arise

Public confusion can come from two different facts shown in the sources: (a) SSA frequently updates processes (for example, online options and state data exchanges) and (b) third‑party guides and blogs discuss how to “change your name with Social Security,” language that could be misread as changing the agency’s name rather than an individual’s name on their record ^{[8] [9] [5]}. Available sources do not mention any SSA announcement to rename the agency or the Social Security program itself.

6. What the SSA tells employers and taxpayers — match your name and SSN

The IRS and SSA guidance emphasize that the name on tax forms and the Social Security card must match to avoid delays; the IRS instructs filers to report any change to the SSA and to ensure name/SSN agreement, reinforcing that SSA’s role is updating individual records rather than renaming the system ^[10].

7. Competing viewpoints and limits of available reporting

All provided sources consistently treat name change as an individual administrative process. No source in the set argues that the SSA has—or intends to—change the program’s official name, and no source reports an SSA press release or rulemaking about renaming Social Security. If you’ve seen social posts or headlines claiming otherwise, those materials are not present in the provided sources; available sources do not mention a programwide renaming ^{[1] [2] [5]}.

8. Practical advice if you need a name change on your record

Follow SSA’s instructions: complete Form SS‑5, gather original or certified documents proving identity and the legal name change, start the process online where possible or make an appointment at your local office, and notify employers if you are working so payroll and tax records match the updated SSA record ^{[4] [2] [3]}.

Limitations: this analysis uses only the supplied documents and SSA pages; if an external news release or policy action about renaming the program exists but is not in these search results, it is not reflected here.