Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Topic started by: Nero on February 26, 2010, 08:46:25 PM Return to Full Version
Title: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Nero on February 26, 2010, 08:46:25 PM
Post by: Nero on February 26, 2010, 08:46:25 PM
If you've done this, please advise. Is there any way to do so online or by fax?
(Yes, I've looked it up. Supposedly we can deal with SS online but I can't find whether this applies to gender changes.)
(Yes, I've looked it up. Supposedly we can deal with SS online but I can't find whether this applies to gender changes.)
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Renate on February 26, 2010, 08:54:43 PM
Post by: Renate on February 26, 2010, 08:54:43 PM
I don't know anything about doing it online.
You can do it at any SSA office fairly easy.
You will need a correctly worded letter from a surgeon that you have completed a sex change.
If you have previously changed your name, you might not need to have a new card issued.
Be sure to ask them for a special statement that they have altered your gender marker since it is not usually visible to you.
That's the only way to prove (hopefully only to the SSA) that you have altered your gender marker.
http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf (http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf)
http://www.ssa.gov/locator/ (http://www.ssa.gov/locator/)
You can do it at any SSA office fairly easy.
You will need a correctly worded letter from a surgeon that you have completed a sex change.
If you have previously changed your name, you might not need to have a new card issued.
Be sure to ask them for a special statement that they have altered your gender marker since it is not usually visible to you.
That's the only way to prove (hopefully only to the SSA) that you have altered your gender marker.
http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf (http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf)
http://www.ssa.gov/locator/ (http://www.ssa.gov/locator/)
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Janet_Girl on February 26, 2010, 08:56:06 PM
Post by: Janet_Girl on February 26, 2010, 08:56:06 PM
Hey Little Brother,
I would recommend going in person. And make sure you have a letter from your surgeon with the magic words, "irreversible genitalia surgery" or words to that effect. Ask Myles, he did it too.
I would recommend going in person. And make sure you have a letter from your surgeon with the magic words, "irreversible genitalia surgery" or words to that effect. Ask Myles, he did it too.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: myles on February 26, 2010, 09:07:36 PM
Post by: myles on February 26, 2010, 09:07:36 PM
The only way I know to do it is in person. It was pretty easy. Just make sure you have a letter from your surgeon stating you have had "irreversible surgery". I am not sure you can do it online or through the mail anymore.
Much easier than I thought it would be.
Myles
Much easier than I thought it would be.
Myles
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Arch on February 26, 2010, 09:13:21 PM
Post by: Arch on February 26, 2010, 09:13:21 PM
Quote from: Renate on February 26, 2010, 08:54:43 PM
Be sure to ask them for a special statement that they have altered your gender marker since it is not usually visible to you.
Renate, I wanted documentation of my gender change. The gal at the SSA office wouldn't give me any such proof; she told me to get a NUMIDENT from the main SSA office. She gave me a form and I took it home. Then I went online for more information; I have to pay for this piece of documentation! I didn't see why I should have to pay for the SSA to verify that the change had been made. So I sent an e-mail to them, and guess what? After an interminable length of time, I received a letter stating that I should go to my local SSA office for what I seek. *(&%^%^%$$
Suggestions?
Nero, I don't know of anyone who did it by mail or online, but I'll ask around. Not to be nosy, but is there any particular reason you can't do it in person?
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Nero on February 26, 2010, 10:37:24 PM
Post by: Nero on February 26, 2010, 10:37:24 PM
Quote from: Arch on February 26, 2010, 09:13:21 PM
Nero, I don't know of anyone who did it by mail or online, but I'll ask around. Not to be nosy, but is there any particular reason you can't do it in person?
Just that these gender change situations always make me uncomfortable. Plus the long waits.
Thanks everybody.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Janet_Girl on February 26, 2010, 10:41:19 PM
Post by: Janet_Girl on February 26, 2010, 10:41:19 PM
But it is done in private, it isn't like everyone will know.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: SusanKG on February 26, 2010, 11:53:24 PM
Post by: SusanKG on February 26, 2010, 11:53:24 PM
I don't know yet about the gender change, but I went the local S.S.A. office a month or so ago to get a replacment card and name change. No, not the name change yet, not there yet; when I first signed up years ago, I hated my legal first name so much that I got my card in my nickname. That's probably wouldn't happen now. I though with a better name change sometime in the (hopefully) near future, I'd better get the names on my social security to match birth certificate and other documents to avoid a hassle do the road. I picked a mid-week, mid-afternoon time to do it. I was there about 40 minutes, most of which was waiting for my number to be called. Take earplugs, their PA system apparently was designed for a stadium, not a waiting room! :o
SusanKG
SusanKG
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Christo on February 27, 2010, 12:53:05 AM
Post by: Christo on February 27, 2010, 12:53:05 AM
Quote from: myles on February 26, 2010, 09:07:36 PM
The only way I know to do it is in person. It was pretty easy. Just make sure you have a letter from your surgeon stating you have had "irreversible surgery". I am not sure you can do it online or through the mail anymore.
Much easier than I thought it would be.
Myles
yep. u have 2 go in person. take ur letter. pc of cake. No biggie.
Quote from: Nero on February 26, 2010, 10:37:24 PM
Plus the long waits.
Maybe the wait's long but once ur at the window it only takes a minute.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Renate on February 27, 2010, 05:38:54 AM
Post by: Renate on February 27, 2010, 05:38:54 AM
You want a Form SSA-2458, Report of Confidential Social Security Benefit Information.
Box #10, "Other" should be checked and a notation entered that the gender identification in their records was updated.
Box #10, "Other" should be checked and a notation entered that the gender identification in their records was updated.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: sneakersjay on February 27, 2010, 07:02:40 AM
Post by: sneakersjay on February 27, 2010, 07:02:40 AM
They were very nice and professional at the office I went to. Didn't bat an eyelash. And, as luck would have it, I'd even forgotten my driver's license and they put it through anyway.
Fill out the paperwork beforehand, bring all of your documentation (name change, surgeon's letter, etc), bring your DL, and it was a total non-issue.
Jay
Fill out the paperwork beforehand, bring all of your documentation (name change, surgeon's letter, etc), bring your DL, and it was a total non-issue.
Jay
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Arch on February 27, 2010, 01:41:39 PM
Post by: Arch on February 27, 2010, 01:41:39 PM
Quote from: Renate on February 27, 2010, 05:38:54 AM
You want a Form SSA-2458, Report of Confidential Social Security Benefit Information.
Thanks, Renate...but I looked for this form and didn't find it. I don't think it exists anymore, and I couldn't find the same form with a different code. Sigh.
Or is this the name of the report that the SSA issues? Maybe I need a different form to actually apply for this report.
Nero, have you decided what you're going to do?
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Renate on February 27, 2010, 08:43:10 PM
Post by: Renate on February 27, 2010, 08:43:10 PM
The SS-5 is what you fill out for about anything.
The SSA-2458 is not a form that you fill out, they have to fill it out and give it to you.
I just meant that if you have any trouble getting one that citing the form number shows that you mean business.
The SSA-2458 is not a form that you fill out, they have to fill it out and give it to you.
I just meant that if you have any trouble getting one that citing the form number shows that you mean business.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Arch on February 27, 2010, 11:33:42 PM
Post by: Arch on February 27, 2010, 11:33:42 PM
Quote from: Renate on February 27, 2010, 08:43:10 PM
The SSA-2458 is not a form that you fill out, they have to fill it out and give it to you.
I just meant that if you have any trouble getting one that citing the form number shows that you mean business.
Okay, now I get it. Thanks.
I was really peeved that they wouldn't give me verification of my gender change unless I paid for it. One of those WTF moments. And that the central office sent me back to the local office. Round and round and round he goes...
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: mmelny on February 28, 2010, 02:38:31 AM
Post by: mmelny on February 28, 2010, 02:38:31 AM
I haven't gone back to the SSA yet to do my gender change. When I did go in for my name change, about 3 months ago, I had a letter from my SRS surgeon stating that I was scheduled for SRS surgery in January 2010 (used this for my temp passport gender marker change). But, being me, I thought I would produce this letter to attempt the gender change whilst doing the name change to save a later trip ..... It didn't work, they did need what Janet describes, "irreversible genitalia surgery". Even smiling pretty didn't work.
None of that is really helpful or news, but to back Nero's assertion of not liking to do these things in public, I had a bit of an experience at the SSA office in Indianapolis I went to. The clerk was completely baffled and confused by what I was asking for, and it took her 3 trips back and forth with her supervisor, he coming over finally to fulfill my name change request. By then, it pretty much had the attention of the entire waiting area, of about 35 people. So much for privacy. And to top off the situation, at one point, the clerk, when talking to her supervisor, and within my hearing, actually referred to me as "it". So much for sensitivity.
I ended up calling her out on that, asking her directly why she had referred to me as "it", and she apologized profusely, and when I told her she needed sensitivity training in a cold flat voice, she vehemently said she didn't, halfway on her way to tears ... no winners in that situation.
Good luck with the SSA! I'm headed back to the SSA on my next visit to the US in a couple months with my letter for gender change, hoping that it's a bit smoother this time.
Melan
None of that is really helpful or news, but to back Nero's assertion of not liking to do these things in public, I had a bit of an experience at the SSA office in Indianapolis I went to. The clerk was completely baffled and confused by what I was asking for, and it took her 3 trips back and forth with her supervisor, he coming over finally to fulfill my name change request. By then, it pretty much had the attention of the entire waiting area, of about 35 people. So much for privacy. And to top off the situation, at one point, the clerk, when talking to her supervisor, and within my hearing, actually referred to me as "it". So much for sensitivity.
I ended up calling her out on that, asking her directly why she had referred to me as "it", and she apologized profusely, and when I told her she needed sensitivity training in a cold flat voice, she vehemently said she didn't, halfway on her way to tears ... no winners in that situation.
Good luck with the SSA! I'm headed back to the SSA on my next visit to the US in a couple months with my letter for gender change, hoping that it's a bit smoother this time.
Melan
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Adio on March 03, 2010, 12:01:24 AM
Post by: Adio on March 03, 2010, 12:01:24 AM
So does it have to be "irreversible genitalia surgery" or just "irreversible surgery"? And I've also heard of some people getting their gender marker changed without surgery. Can "irreversible changes" work do you think? That's what my letter for my DL and BC will say. I won't be able to have surgery until I graduate (summer 2011) and would really like to have the majority of the paperwork done as soon as I can.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Nero on March 03, 2010, 12:21:51 AM
Post by: Nero on March 03, 2010, 12:21:51 AM
Went in today. Everything went smoothly. Thanks for the suggestions everybody!
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: mmelny on March 03, 2010, 01:36:37 AM
Post by: mmelny on March 03, 2010, 01:36:37 AM
Quote from: Nero on March 03, 2010, 12:21:51 AM
Went in today. Everything went smoothly. Thanks for the suggestions everybody!
Congrats Nero!!!!
======
Quote from: Adio on March 03, 2010, 12:01:24 AM
So does it have to be "irreversible genitalia surgery" or just "irreversible surgery"? And I've also heard of some people getting their gender marker changed without surgery. Can "irreversible changes" work do you think? That's what my letter for my DL and BC will say. I won't be able to have surgery until I graduate (summer 2011) and would really like to have the majority of the paperwork done as soon as I can.
I will note an appendum to my above account, that I did present evidence (a Dr's note) of Facial Feminization Surgery, but they would not take that for making the gender marker change for me. Thus I have to go back with my documentation of SRS to get my gender marker change at the SSA.
Ohhh, and I presented a passport, driver's license with "F" gender markers on them, to no avail. I found the SSA to be pretty unyielding in their documentation requirements.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Arch on March 03, 2010, 02:34:26 AM
Post by: Arch on March 03, 2010, 02:34:26 AM
Great news, Nero! I'm glad it went smoothly.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Janet_Girl on March 03, 2010, 09:11:51 AM
Post by: Janet_Girl on March 03, 2010, 09:11:51 AM
Great news Nero. You must be on cloud nine.
Hugs,
Janet
Hugs,
Janet
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Virginia87106 on March 03, 2010, 10:36:58 AM
Post by: Virginia87106 on March 03, 2010, 10:36:58 AM
Nero- Well done and congratulations.
Some further comments:
1. I have a SS# with the gender marker as female, as a result of my name change order having one of the points that "This person shall be known for identification purposes as female". I have NOT had GRS. The judge signed the order without reading it. When I took it to SS I showed them that part and they changed the gender. This was in 2001 and I have heard that they now require a letter stating "irreversible sex resassignment surgery".
2. Some physicians will assign top surgery as "irreversible sex resassignment surgery". I have known several FtMs who have the gender SS# as male because of top surgery.
Some further comments:
1. I have a SS# with the gender marker as female, as a result of my name change order having one of the points that "This person shall be known for identification purposes as female". I have NOT had GRS. The judge signed the order without reading it. When I took it to SS I showed them that part and they changed the gender. This was in 2001 and I have heard that they now require a letter stating "irreversible sex resassignment surgery".
2. Some physicians will assign top surgery as "irreversible sex resassignment surgery". I have known several FtMs who have the gender SS# as male because of top surgery.
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: Adio on March 03, 2010, 12:37:14 PM
Post by: Adio on March 03, 2010, 12:37:14 PM
So I guess "surgery" is the magic word, not just "changes" as it is in my state. Thanks Virginia and Melan. :)
Title: Re: How do I go about changing my gender with SSA?
Post by: pamshaw on March 04, 2010, 11:38:17 AM
Post by: pamshaw on March 04, 2010, 11:38:17 AM
I have researched this carefully and talked to social security. They want a letter saying you have had irreversible genital surgery. I am having an orci soon with Dr Bowers and her letter states that you have had irreversible genital surgery and are now female. An orci is irreversible. With your DL changed and SS changed it is is much easier to complete transition.
Pam
Pam