Finding a doctor to help with Social Security gender change

[Vality]

Hi folks, so I'm stuck in something of a predicament. I've been on hormones for several years and am preparing for bottom surgery soon. However I have hit a snag trying to change my gender on my social security record.
When I went to the office to ask about changing it they told me they can only accept a letter from an MD stating I have received transgender related treatment.

However my hormones are overseen by a local nurse practitioner (who is experienced and very supportive with trans patients. And my only other regular appointments are with my therapist. I have no MD who I can ask about this.

So I am searching for an MD who can help me get a letter following Social Security's requirements to change my gender, ideally one who will work with an online consult and fee without a lot of additional hoops. Does anyone know where I could look for a doctor to help with this? I live in North East Colorado if it is relevant.

[Northern Star Girl]

Hi folks, so I'm stuck in something of a predicament. I've been on hormones for several years and am preparing for bottom surgery soon. However I have hit a snag trying to change my gender on my social security record.
When I went to the office to ask about changing it they told me they can only accept a letter from an MD stating I have received transgender related treatment.

However my hormones are overseen by a local nurse practitioner (who is experienced and very supportive with trans patients. And my only other regular appointments are with my therapist. I have no MD who I can ask about this.

So I am searching for an MD who can help me get a letter following Social Security's requirements to change my gender, ideally one who will work with an online consult and fee without a lot of additional hoops. Does anyone know where I could look for a doctor to help with this? I live in North East Colorado if it is relevant.

@Vality
Dear Vality:
     I am so very glad that you have become a member here and that you found the Susan's Place Forums.
     
    As you continue to post on the forums you will be able to exchange thoughts and comments with others that are experiencing many of the same things that you are.   I expect that you will be getting many members offering their thoughts and suggestions as you continue to post here. 

   
     For sure this is the right place for you to be to find out what others may have to say that may have been in your circumstances and with your questions and concerns.
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[Northern Star Girl]

@Vality
Oh, and another thing Vality...
If you can, please plan to write a brief introduction
in the Introductions Forum so that other members will be aware of your arrival... therefore you will be able to share your thoughts with more members here.
     
Thank you again for joining Susan's Place and being involved in the Forums here.
Best wishes to you,
Danielle
NOTE: Now after all of this Greeting Stuff I will let everyone have this thread back so that the exchange of conversation can continue.
Other members here will certainly be along to give you their comments and suggestions that you may be seeking

[KathyLauren]

Hi folks, so I'm stuck in something of a predicament. I've been on hormones for several years and am preparing for bottom surgery soon. However I have hit a snag trying to change my gender on my social security record.
When I went to the office to ask about changing it they told me they can only accept a letter from an MD stating I have received transgender related treatment.

However my hormones are overseen by a local nurse practitioner (who is experienced and very supportive with trans patients. And my only other regular appointments are with my therapist. I have no MD who I can ask about this.

So I am searching for an MD who can help me get a letter following Social Security's requirements to change my gender, ideally one who will work with an online consult and fee without a lot of additional hoops. Does anyone know where I could look for a doctor to help with this? I live in North East Colorado if it is relevant.

Hi, Vality.

Check with your nurse practitioner.  She probably has a working relationship with at least one MD.  And, because she prescribes your hormones,  she knows your case well enough to explain your situation to a doctor.  At the very least, she can probably recommend a doctor to talk to.

[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. When you receive bottom surgery, the doctor will provide you with one or more letters that you can show to Social Security in order to update their records. You will need to give the courts an original letter in order to update your birth certificate so a second copy is handy incase you should need it latter on. The normal procedure is to update everything other than your birth certificate first and then update you birth certificate last. This way you could get by with only one copy.

[KimOct]

As the saying goes there are 'many ways to skin a cat'.  No harm to the kitties please.

The way I did my SSA was to give them a copy of my revised birth certificate.  It was easy peasey.   I did have to go to the local office to do it.  I had my revised SSA card in less than 2 weeks.

Of course the birth cert issue varies from state to state.  Mine was issued in Illinois.  They require an affidavit signed and notarized by the MD that performed GCS.  My orchie qualified as GCS.

So to put it in a nutshell - if you can get your birth cert changed SSA will be no problem.

I am sure there are other work arounds but it may take some effort to find them.

[jkredman]

Hi Vality:

Welcome to the community.

Your NP should have a physician or a Physicians practice that she is affiliated with.

Start there and ask if the NP can help with a referral to a physician for the Physicians letter.

(I know.  One of my daughters is an NP and she works very closely with the Physicians that employ her.)

Kate



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[Vality]

Hi, Vality.

Check with your nurse practitioner.  She probably has a working relationship with at least one MD.  And, because she prescribes your hormones,  she knows your case well enough to explain your situation to a doctor.  At the very least, she can probably recommend a doctor to talk to.

Thank you so much for this advice. You were spot on. I had a conversation with my nurse practitioner and she said she works closely with a doctor and is happy to work with them to co-author a letter for me.

I really appreciate the help and advice, I suspect I would never have thought of that idea otherwise.

[Vality]

@Vality
Oh, and another thing Vality...
If you can, please plan to write a brief introduction
in the Introductions Forum so that other members will be aware of your arrival... therefore you will be able to share your thoughts with more members here.
     
Thank you again for joining Susan's Place and being involved in the Forums here.
Best wishes to you,
Danielle
NOTE: Now after all of this Greeting Stuff I will let everyone have this thread back so that the exchange of conversation can continue.
Other members here will certainly be along to give you their comments and suggestions that you may be seeking

Thank you for the kind greetings! I will draft up a proper introduction shortly and post it to the introduction forum as soon as its ready. Thank you again.

[Rachel]

Hi, when I had GCS I received a certificate stating I had genital surgery and am female. This was used for social security. I had previously had my name and drivers ID changed. When I went to get my 10 year passport I needed a very specific form filled out. I printed it out from social security and the doctor that did my GCS filled it out.

You may want to provide this form and have it filled out by the doctor after the GCS surgery.

It is very important to have all documents match when traveling outside the country. There was a woman in group that went to Mexico and her drivers license did not match her passport and she was in jail for 10 day. At least this is what she said in group. I did not want to find out the hard way.

Rachel