CHANGE YOUR NAME!: Social Security Administration clarifies rules on gay marriage in Florida

image via slate.com

Ever since the big ruling on same-sex marriage and the subsequent marriage ceremonies on Jan. 6, there has been a lot of confusion befalling couples who have taken the big leap into matrimony. The biggest complaint we’ve heard, really, has been that Social Security Administration offices were not allowing name changes for same-sex married partners, even when presented with documentation of the validity of their nuptials. Nope, no discrimination going on here. However, two days after the big day, on Jan. 8, Congressman Alan Grayson shot out another missive in favor of equality, putting voice to the concerns of people faced with this problem. (You might recall that it was Grayson, in part, who led the fight to clarify the ruling that allowed gays to marry statewide). 

“Too many Floridians have waited too long to become a family recognized by their own government,” he wrote to Carolyn Colvin, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration. “They should not have to wait one more minute to have their love acknowledged.”

Well, they did wait a few more minutes, but today comes the news that the SSA has updated its guidelines to include Florida couples married after Jan. 5 for name changes should they want them. 

“I was informed this morning that the processing instructions for name change requests involving same-sex marriages in Florida has been updated. I have attached our policy link below. As a result of this update, the local SSA field offices in Florida should now be able to begin processing any applications that they were previously holding,” and SSA official wrote. Here’s the link to the new rules. 

And here is Grayson’s letter to the SSA in full.