To update your citizenship status with the Social Security Administration (SSA) after naturalization, you must present original or certified copies of proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. Passport—and a completed Form SS-5 to a local SSA office. Wait at least 10 days after your ceremony to allow records to update.
Update your Record with the Social Security Administration
You will need to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to update your records to indicate that you are a U.S. citizen.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): You should update your driver's license or identification card with your new citizenship information. This will usually require providing the necessary documentation and visiting a DMV office.
Form N-400 – Application for Naturalization
If you are applying for U.S. Naturalization using USCIS' Form N-400, you can also request a replacement SSN card. You may also request to update your citizenship status or name on SSA's records. Using this process, you will not have to visit a Social Security field office.
If you filed an immigration application or petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you can check the progress of your case's status online or by phone. And learn how long it may take to process it.
Our toll-free number is 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) and we answer live calls and chats Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Eastern.
How long does it take to process changes to my Social Security Record? Changes typically take a few weeks to process. You will receive your updated Social Security card by mail.
That option has now been removed. With the current version of Form I-765: You can no longer request a Social Security number through USCIS. Approval of a work permit no longer triggers automatic issuance of an SSN.
Naturalization and Citizenship Applications
The current median processing time stands at 5.5 months—the fastest recorded since 2016 [3]. Citizenship applications (N-400) usually take 8–14 months, depending on the location of the applicant.
Drivers licenses generally have no inherent tie to citizenship. RealID shows proof of lawful presence (could be students etc). There are EDLs (enhanced drivers license) issued by some states which do show citizenship but these are not mandatory.
The COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025. Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).
Just because the physical card doesn't say anything, your status is still in the system. An employer verifying your eligibility will use your SSN, so ensuring it's up to date will alleviate potential issues there. It will also streamline other benefits, should you ever need to apply for them.
Yes, you absolutely need to update your citizenship status with the Social Security Administration (SSA) after becoming a U.S. citizen to ensure your records are accurate, which helps prevent issues with work, benefits, and future federal interactions; you can do this by applying for a new card with your Naturalization Certificate (or U.S. passport) at a local SSA office, or by applying through the N-400 process if you naturalized recently and consented to share info.
Renouncing your US citizenship does not automatically disqualify you from receiving Social Security benefits, but it can complicate the process. Your eligibility to continue receiving these benefits depends on whether the US has a totalization agreement with the country where you reside.
The extra $144 added to Social Security usually comes from the Medicare Part B Giveback benefit, offered by some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, which pays back some or all your Part B premium, showing up as extra money in your check if it's deducted from your Social Security. To qualify, you need Original Medicare (Parts A & B), pay your own Part B premium, live in a plan's service area, and enroll in a specific Medicare Advantage plan that offers this "rebate," with the amount varying by plan and location.
To change the information on your Social Security number record (i.e., a name or citizenship change, or corrected date of birth), you must provide documents to prove your identity, support the requested change, and establish the reason for the change.
The Social Security Administration recalculates your retirement benefit each year after getting your income information from tax documents. (If you have a job, employers submit your W-2s to Social Security; if you are self-employed, the earnings data comes from your tax return.)
If you are a alien in the United States, you must report any change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. This reporting requirement does not apply to A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors. We strongly encourage you to submit your change of address through a USCIS online account.
SAVE is an online service for registered federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local government agencies to verify immigration status and U.S. citizenship of applicants seeking benefits or licenses. SAVE does not determine an applicant's eligibility for a specific benefit or license.
Benefit requestors who are not able to request an appointment online may call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY: 1-800-767-1833) for additional assistance.