How to update your name with Centrelink

Changing your legal name with us

To update your legal name you’ll need to bring your supporting documents to a service centre.

You can use any of the following documents issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages:

• an Australian marriage certificate
• a Certificate of name change
• a Birth certificate with your child’s legal name, if you’re changing their name
• a reissued birth certificate in your new name.

We don’t accept ceremonial marriage certificates as a supporting document for a legal name change.

If you changed your name overseas, you’ll need to provide us with original evidence from the Department of Home Affairs.

In some circumstances, you can call us to update your legal name. This includes when you’re either:

• changing your legal married name back to your former birth or maiden name that you’ve provided to us before
• requesting simple corrections, such as a spelling error or your name has been recorded in an incorrect order.

Telling us your preferred name

We’ll use your preferred name when we talk to you. We may need to use your legal name when we write to you.

How to tell us your preferred name

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov you can update your preferred name online.

To do this:

1. Sign in to myGov
2. Select My Details, then Update personal and interpreter details
3. Follow the prompts to add, remove or edit existing preferred names.

Sign in to myGov

If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account, you’ll need to create them.

You can also tell us the name you prefer to use next time you’re calling us or visiting a service centre. We don’t need supporting documents to update your preferred name.

Updating your title with us

If you use a title such as Miss, Mr, Mrs or Mx you can update your title with us. You can also choose not to use a title.

We don’t need supporting documents to change, add or remove a title from your preferred name.

If you currently have a title recorded against your legal name, you’ll need to contact us to change or remove it.

How to update your preferred title

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can change, add or remove a title from your preferred name online.

To do this:

1. Sign into myGov
2. Select My Details, then Update personal and interpreter details
3. Follow the prompts to add, remove or edit existing preferred titles.

Sign in to myGov

If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account, you’ll need to create them.