Question on transitioning at work.

[Kitty June]

I'm wondering if changing the gender on my driver license is enough to change my gender on my insurance and within the company. The company claims to have s no discrimination policy for gender identity, but I just want to be sure before I put myself out there
I would appreciate any help that anyone can offer.
Thanks in advance everyone.



Ella

[KristinaM]

I would recommend changing it with the Social Security Administration first, since they'll be the one processing your taxes and stuff.

[Kitty June]

I had read somewhere that SS doesn't really matter for gender unless you are receiving disability or other benefits. That they no longer release gender information when proving citizenship for employment and whatnot. I wasn't going to change names yet and just use the feminine short version of my name. A couple of years ago my pharmacy had me as female. Wish I would have been more self aware then, I wouldn't have corrected them lol.
I think I need my DL changed though, if I want to change with SS. I'll have to look into the order of things. I don't think I can afford to do the name change now and I would hate to have to change everything again afterwards. I can do the DL for $17 in Pennsylvania. I'm on a very low budget right now.



Ella

[Kitty June]

No other advice? Really?  Oh well, I guess I'll figure it out.



Ella

[jessical]

My company required my SSN to be updated.  However, my insurance requested my court order (name and gender) as well.  In theory my company should have been able to deal with all the details, but it was not completely hands off and I had to check everything they updated, and in some cases I had to get involved.

I don't know if your insurance would accept a Drivers license alone.  I would think it is unlikely.  Your company, regardless of their policy or intentions, will defer to what the insurance company wants.

[Jessie Ann]

It looks like you can change your gender on your license by submitting an application signed by your doctor attesting to your gender identity will continue for the near future. The fee is $27.50.
Here is the link to the form -
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/dl_forms/DL-32.pdf

I have no idea if that will be sufficent for your company.

[suzifrommd]

I'm wondering if changing the gender on my driver license is enough to change my gender on my insurance and within the company. The company claims to have s no discrimination policy for gender identity, but I just want to be sure before I put myself out there
I would appreciate any help that anyone can offer.
Thanks in advance everyone.



Ella

No.

As Jessica said, most employers report gender to the Social Security system, which will give the  company a warning if the gender doesn't match up. I needed to change my gender in my social security file before my employer would change it.

That proved to be quite difficult. The first SSA office I went to was run by someone who was patronizing and confused. I was there for 45 minutes before they told me the letter I had from my doctor didn't have all the stuff it needed. There are several different pages among the SSA's  massive website that give contradictory information.

Susan's Wiki is a good starting place to find all the requirements.

[Kitty June]

Thank you both for giving me some more insight. I suppose I'll just have to bight the bullet and speak with HR about it. It is a union company and they have definite procedures for everything, so while it may offer protections, it may also have a few hoops I'll be required to jump through.
Oh well, thanks again. Back to lurking on here and real life for now 



Ella

[Darkness Approaching]

Thank you both for giving me some more insight. I suppose I'll just have to bight the bullet and speak with HR about it. It is a union company and they have definite procedures for everything, so while it may offer protections, it may also have a few hoops I'll be required to jump through.
Oh well, thanks again. Back to lurking on here and real life for now 



Ella

It may not be worth the hassle with HR. I've changed my gender for everything including SS. But insurance, from what i understand, works different since my treatment is gender specific. For example, they wouldn't approve a hysterectomy or maybe even testosterone injections for a person with a male gender marker. The diagnosis that supports my t injections and hysto are dependent upon my biological start as female. As far as i know they don't have a FtM marker to explain away the treatment/gender idiosyncrasies.

I pass in person and over the phone, and the most they'll say when you call the company is, "sir, it says the primary policy holder is  female." Once i identity myself and trans*, they politely  move on. One lady even took the time to explain everything i mentioned above about how things get approved.

[Darkness Approaching]

No.

As Jessica said, most employers report gender to the Social Security system, which will give the  company a warning if the gender doesn't match up. I needed to change my gender in my social security file before my employer would change it.

That proved to be quite difficult. The first SSA office I went to was run by someone who was patronizing and confused. I was there for 45 minutes before they told me the letter I had from my doctor didn't have all the stuff it needed. There are several different pages among the SSA's  massive website that give contradictory information.

Susan's Wiki is a good starting place to find all the requirements.

I used the exact format and language they require for passports. The best part is that it doesn't require surgery..just a doctor to confirm active "treatment" which can be any number of things. Specifics can be found here:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/gender.html

Draft a version and have your doctor sign it. Despite the SS rep's clear confusion/ shock, he changed it and i was out in 10min. They send you a new card to confirm the change even though SS cards don't list gender anyway.

Also, if you're in MD as your name suggests [emoji6] i can send you directions on changing your license. Similar process but more paperwork. Bleh.

[iKate]

You should update it with SS just to cover your bases.

I'm not updating mine yet until my name change.

[Tessa James]

Using my name and gender changes as reflected by my drivers License coupled with a letter from my doctor my insurance company here, "State Farm" accommodated my requests.  Other places ask for more docs including that SS card. W-9 and on and on.  It is annoying but we have worthy goals.

[Kitty June]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I'm going to give hormones a chance to work their magic a while before I start with the legal changes. The job I just started doesn't give benefits for a year so I have plenty of time to make all the changes legal before dealing with insurance. If I can afford to keep the job that long, the pay and benefits should be outstanding, it's just getting there that's going to be difficult.
Thanks again.
Hugs



Ella

[Puffery]

The place I worked at the time needed a drivers license to change the gender on the insurance, So I needed my birth certificate changed to get my license changed cause here the license is based 100% of your birth certificate. Within the company they had no problem changing the gender on all my work documentation and pay information without a license. I suppose it all depends on the policy's and procedures or your Province, Territory, State or country

[NikkiJ]

I had my name changed just before my transition at work, and went to the SS office to get a new SS card that matched my new identity. I remember being told at work that they needed to make sure the information they sent to SS for wages, etc., all matched up, and there was no hassle about it. I was fortunate to transition at a university that was very supportive of me. I sent lots of faxes of the name change to credit cards, insurance, etc. to get everything in sync.

I live in VA, and went to DMV around that time to get my license changed. I had heard that they would not change the gender until post-surgery, but I had no problem when I asked for "Name and Gender Change for my Driver's License", and they took a new picture as well. I was dancing with joy in the parking lot after they gave me the license and I saw the gender maker said "F".

[Tessa James]

I was dancing with joy in the parking lot after they gave me the license and I saw the gender maker said "F".

Oh yes!  That is a fine and significant little "F" for us!  Amazing what a difference that tiny little letter can mean to us and the rest of the world......as in "joy to the world" sing it girls