The Social Security Administration announced it will allow people to self-select their sex on their Social Security Number record.
People who update their sex marker will need to apply for a replacement SSN card, and will need to show a current document to prove their identity. Individuals who choose this option will no longer be able to provide medical or legal documentation of their sex designation now that the policy change is in place.
“The Social Security Administration’s Equity Action Plan includes a commitment to decrease administrative burdens and ensure people who identify as gender diverse or transgender have options in the Social Security Number card application process,” said Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi. “This new policy allows people to self-select their sex in our records without needing to provide documentation of their sex designation.”
The agency said it will accept the applicant’s self-identified sex designation of either male or female, even if it is different from the sex designation shown on identity documents, such as a passport or state-issued driver’s license or identity card.
Social Security Number cards do not include sex markers, and currently, Social Security’s record systems are unable to include a non-binary or unspecified sex designation.
The agency said it is exploring possible future policy and systems updates to support an “X” sex designation for the SSN card application process.
