A social security name change is an extremely important event that needs to be reported immediately. Name changes routinely happen in life due to marriage, divorce, and court orders. When this happens, if a name is not reported, there can be a delay in tax refunds and a misrepresentation of earnings on a person's work record, which can affect their future social security benefits. To get a name changed on a Social Security card, you must provide the recently issued document that proves you legally changed your name. This document could be a marriage document, a divorce decree, a Certificate of Naturalization or a court order for a name change. With marriages, divorces and annulments, a proof of identity must also be shown. For adoption naturalization or other name changes, you must provide two identity documents, one with your old name and one with your new name. Once you receive your new card, it will contain your new name with your old card number.