Secret Social Security Law?

Posted on Fri 03/03/06 in My So Called Blog

*Last Update: 3/3/06

The following was sent to me from a friend of mine of nearly twenty years. I would like to hear from you if you’ve had a related experience. Laraine was happy to let me post this on this glorious website.

Hello Everyone,

Below you can read what happened to me last week in my letter to Clark Howard (consumer/bargain/travel guru in Atlanta). WSB-TV is interviewing me at Rhodes Hall tomorrow, February 17 (coincidentally they’re working on a story about inefficiency in government agencies). I will probably be wiredtapped by “W” now that I’m exposing national secrets but I think it’s worth it. Please feel free forward to anyone you know that would be interested in this.
—Laraine

Dear Clark Howard,

When a woman decides to legally take her husband’s name the first step in this process is a visit to your local Social Security Card Center. Yesterday, I left my office early to change my name at the Social Security Card Center on MLK Jr. Blvd. in Atlanta. Before my husband and I made the trip down to the center (he needed a new card too) we thoroughly read all of the information on their website: http://www.ssa.gov. According to the website AND the official application that I printed and filled out before I went to the center, I had all of the information required to change my name: proof of identity and U.S. citizenship (driver’s license and US Passport) and a marriage document (original marriage certificate issued by Fulton County). I was divorced in 2003 so I even brought a certified copy of the divorce degree issued by the court, just in case there was any question of my previous identity.

We arrived at the office and eventually figured out that we needed to go up to a kiosk and receive an automated number and then wait for our turn (apparently signage is against the rules at SS—I will address this later). I was able to find one empty seat and my husband stood next to me. To our surprise, our number was called within 30 minutes of arriving at the center! I walked up to the young man sitting behind the bullet proof glass and proceeded to tell him why I was visiting the center. He sighed, and without even making eye contact with me, said, “Six weeks ago, the Office of Homeland Security told us that we must also see a notarized copy of the MARRIAGE APPLICATION in order to process a woman’s name change. I’m sorry your marriage document is not acceptable. You need to go the courthouse and ask for a copy of your marriage application.” Then I said, “Excuse me? Why isn’t that on your website? Why isn’t there a sign anywhere in this building explaining a rule that is six weeks new?” He said, “Ma’am, it’s a secret rule issued by Homeland Security and we cannot tell you about it until you come into the office.” Clark, I saw red. I had never been so angry. Normally my husband is the hot-headed one in the partnership, but I honestly thought I was going to explode for several reasons:

1. I had done all of my homework. As stated above, I brought all of the required information to change my name.
2. The social security employee could not show me this “secret” new law in writing.
3. It would have taken less than five minutes to update this information on the government’s website or create a sign to post in the local office. But, it is a secret, so I guess this point is moot.
4. What if I had gone to the office during a peak time and waited one to four hours to speak to an employee? I guess I was “lucky” it only took 30 minutes to “service” me.
5. I had taken a half day off from work to accomplish this name change on my card. The office is only open M – F 8:30 am – 3:30 pm.

I think I went into shock because I could no longer speak, so my husband politely asked the young man if we could speak to a supervisor since there was an issue of identification with him and he could not receive his replacement card. The supervisor was very apologetic and told us that she hears the same frustration every day from new brides trying to change their names. I eventually managed to ask her why she could not simply post a sign up in her office since our government is too lazy to update the website…oh wait, I forgot it was a secret. She then told me they were not allowed to post signs in the office (which explains the lack of instructions to customers when they first arrive to the office). We left the office without accomplishing any of our tasks. Next stop: the Fulton County Probate Court’s marriage licensing office.

The employee at the court’s marriage licensing division was also very sympathetic to our complaint and at the time we understood that it was a Social Security issue. She revealed to us that she also sees this problem every day and she claimed that ALL THAT SOCIAL SECURITY NEEDS TO DO IS GIVE THEM OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THIS LAW AND THEY WILL MAIL THE APPLICATION ALONG WITH THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE to the recently betrothed. She even told us that recently someone called from Social Security regarding another issue and she reminded them that they still need “official notice” of requiring the application along with the certificate so that they can inform their customers of this new law. She claims the Social Security representative told her this was an issue for “corporate” and she was not authorized to send such notice. All of this bureaucracy started to make my head spin. We paid our $5.00 certified copy fee and were on our way. As we walked back to our car, I told my husband that if I were an employee of the Fulton County Probate Court I would take the initiative to tell people about this new requirement from Social Security. Heck, if I worked there I would simply write it down on a Post-it note and stick it on my service counter for all that want to change their name to see! But, I guess they are afraid of relaying secret Homeland Security information that they have not seen in writing. Fittingly, a parking ticket was on my car as we left. In our rampage to get to the marriage licensing office before it closed, my husband did not see the sign stating that meter parking was prohibited in that particular area by the courthouse between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. It was 4:15 p.m. and we just had to laugh.

I have decided to channel all of this frustration and anger into a public service campaign to all new brides. As you may have already noticed below, I am the Special Events Coordinator at the historic house museum, Rhodes Hall (across the street from WSB!). The majority of my clientele are brides and grooms and I will definitely share this information with everyone I meet. If you would like to speak to me further about my experience you can always reach me at 404-XXX-XXXX. Otherwise, I will see you tomorrow as my husband and I volunteer with your Habitat for Humanity crew.

Best regards,

Laraine

Laraine Evans (trying to become Laraine Lind!) Special Events Coordinator Rhodes Hall The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation 1516 Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30309 (404) 885-7800 (404) 875-2205, fax

*Update 3/3/06: View the news story and its effect.