Has the U.S. Social Security program officially changed its name?

1. What the official documents say: SSA still calls it “Social Security”

The SSA’s own webpages and publications that explain how to change the name on your Social Security record and card consistently use the term “Social Security” and describe procedural steps — applying for a corrected card, required documents, and timelines — rather than announcing any rebranding of the agency or the program ^{[1] [2] [6] [7]}.

2. Tax and government guidance: coordination, not renaming

IRS guidance tells taxpayers to report name changes to the Social Security Administration so IRS records and refunds match SSA records, but this is operational coordination about individual name updates, not evidence the program itself has been renamed ^[4]. USA.gov’s name‑change checklist similarly instructs people to notify the SSA among other agencies when they legally change their name ^[5].

3. Media and consumer guides reiterate procedures, not a name change

Multiple consumer‑facing guides and news items from 2024–2025 explain practical steps for getting a corrected Social Security card after marriage, divorce or court order and note online or in‑person options, processing times, and documentation; none present a claim that the Social Security program’s official name was changed ^{[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]}.

4. Where confusion can arise: program vs. individual name records

Reporting largely focuses on how individuals update the name printed on their Social Security card and SSA record — for instance, using Form SS‑5, presenting a marriage certificate or court order, and timelines for receiving an updated card — which can be misread as a systemwide rename if context is lost. The SSA explicitly frames the issue as correcting an individual’s record and issuing a replacement card, not altering the agency’s name ^{[7] [2] [6]}.

5. What available sources do not mention

Available sources do not mention any official federal action, press release, law, or SSA policy that changes the name of the Social Security program itself; they also do not report Congressional or executive decisions renaming the program (not found in current reporting). If a headline or social post claims “Social Security was officially renamed,” those claims are not supported by the SSA webpages, IRS guidance, USA.gov materials, or the cited consumer stories ^{[1] [2] [4] [5]}.

6. How to verify any future claims

To verify whether the program’s name has been changed, consult primary sources: the SSA’s official website and published FAQs or press releases, the U.S. Government Publishing Office for any enacted legislation, and official federal announcements. Current SSA FAQs and publications about name correction remain the authoritative references for any change to individual records ^{[3] [2] [1]}.

7. Practical takeaway for individuals

If you legally change your name, follow SSA procedures to update your record and request a corrected Social Security card — via the SSA’s online tools or by submitting Form SS‑5 with original or certified documents — because failing to update your name can affect taxes, employment records, and benefits; these are the issues covered in the SSA and IRS guidance ^{[6] [7] [4]}.

Notes on sources and limitations: This analysis uses only the provided SSA pages, IRS and USA.gov guidance, and consumer guides included in your search results; those documents consistently treat “Social Security” as the program name and focus on individual name‑change procedures ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}. If you have a specific post or headline asserting a rename, share it and I will compare it directly to these agency sources.