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Transition Docs. |
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Please find below some links to the documentation which you may find useful for the transition. The list is not exhaustive but hopefully will provide you with a start point. |
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Name Change It isn't necessary to change your name, however many do alter their original first name to the feminised of masculinised name, whilst others decide to alter both the first and last name. The choice is entirely personal, although the alteration of the original name seems to produce quicker results. It is recommended that any change be legally recorded, although, again, in Scotland, this is not a requirement. That recommendation suggests that the record be done by Statutory Declaration ( N.B. A deed poll is an English legal document that is recognised by the Scottish Courts), and I would suggest the following link for the basic document . Statutory Declaration of Name Change In response to a request following a recent event, I would urge anyone to note that the document we are linking to, is, in it’s present format, acceptable to agencies such as the passport office. Any minor variance to this layout shouldn’t affect it’s validity. We would strongly urge you to not accept any statutory declaration which is advised by some, as this will be based on the “modified” format and will not be accepted by some government agencies
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UK Passport One of the most important documents you can acquire is to have a passport in your preferred gender. When submitting the application, you should ensure that the following additional documentation (original copies only ) is submitted. 1– Statutory Declaration showing the correct name 2 - The letter from your Gender Consultant When submitting the application, use the special postage service available. The passport office will NOT re-imburse any costs or assist in the replacement of any documentation lost in the post unless you use the special postage service. This link will direct you to the start of the application process and you can select the required type of passport. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/index.htm |
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Driving License The link in here will direct you to the instructions for changing your UK driving License. However, this only deals with straightforward changes, and will not amend your driving license number, which indicates the gender of the holder. If you have successfully amended your passport, this can be linked to the driving license details, otherwise you have to follow the procedures. To amend the driving license number, this has to go to a specific department, and I would also recommend that you enclose a copy of the Statutory Declaration and the Gender Consultant letter along with a letter advising them of the required changes. This will take approx 3-6 weeks to be changed, so it may be advisable to take a copy of the original license before sending it to the DVLA for amendment. Send the envelope to : The Manager , Input 13, D 11, DVLA, Swansea SA6 7JL |
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National Insurance Number At present, according to the DWP, there is no requirement to amend the National Insurance number as there are no indicators as to gender. However, by changing your name and designation, a new card with these amended details can be issued. |
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Health Board Insurance Number ( CHI) The easiest way to amend your health board insurance number is via your GP, who can amend your record, which, in turn will generate the necessary paperwork and authorisation for the changes to be verified. It is normal procedure, when changing your gender, to be advised that you will now be placed on certain check lists associated with the preferred gender. e.g. ....m > f will now be put on the breast screening programme and f > m will be put on prostate cancer checks. The local health authority has difficulty in eliminating or suppressing these lists so be prepared for the appropriate screening paperwork to be sent. It seems that there area number of anomalies in the Health Board computerised system which appears to work as follows :- The centralised data system can be amended by the above procedure, but will only apply to any new files and the information obtainable by the GP. This in effect means that any files opened in any other institution, e.g. Hospital records, will have the amended details recorded. However any existing records prior to the amendment will still show the old details, as each institution creates its own unique record. There is no way of making blanket changes to these old records, and they have to be done on an individual basis, institution by institution. Unfortunately this means that you have to contact the records office and possibly write to each one with the required amendment. These are the current health boards in Scotland :- Argyll & Clyde Ayrshire & Arran Borders Dumfries & Galloway Fife Forth Valley Grampian Greater Glasgow Highland Lanarkshire Lothian Orkney Shetland Tayside Western Isles |
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General checklist Just to help, we list some of the companies etc. that have to be, or should be, advised DVLA—ownership of a vehicle Vehicle Insurance –especially helpful to prevent being stopped by the police as the ownership and driving license will all match Life Insurance, Local rates office, Electoral role, Department of Work & Pensions, Utilities Companies, Pension companies Universities, Colleges or places of education where you have been awarded any certificates
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If you have any suggestions or find the above information incorrect, please advise and we shall correct the problem..
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Gender Recognition Certificate This link is to enable you to download the application , the guidance notes and the notes for practitioners. Please read this very carefully and ensure that you have met all the criteria, or the documentation will be returned, and you may have to go through everything from scratch. guidance application form.htm The Gender Recognition Panel website is a source of valuable information when submitting your application, Site link : http://www.grp.gov.uk/index.htm Information as to the dates the panel sits . http://www.gires.org.uk/grpdates09.php and the number of applications awaiting clearance http://www.gires.org.uk/grp.php#pending |
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Gender Declaration It is normal practice for your gender consultant to issue a letter stating :- A) that you are Transsexual and B) living in the preferred gender on a full time basis. When you receive this letter, I would suggest you make a number of copies for various organisations which may require a copy for their files |
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HM Revenue & Customs ( Inland Revenue) You can complete an online form to advise the tax offices of your name change HMRC Name change Any name changed due to the Gender Recognition Certificate can be amended when this has been issued, and undertaken by the Gender Recognition panel.
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Birth Certificates In Scotland, it is possible to change the name on the original birth certificate but NOT the gender. That can only be done by award of a Gender Recognition Certificate. (G.R.C.) The link to Form 24 is www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/regscot/change-of-name.html however, you must be aware that the new certificate will show the former name(s) and may be in the later format instead of the original format. The only current method of suppressing those details is by the award of a GRC . |
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Supporting the Transgender Community in Glasgow and the West of Scotland |
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Crosslynx. Transgender Group |
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Insurance This area seems fraught with problems, and I’ll try and simplify my, and others , experiences with various insurance companies. Car Insurance There doesn’t appear to be any problems changing your name on the car insurance documents. You may have to prove the change of name, by sending a copy of the statutory declaration, especially when maintaining the No Claims Bonus as the insurance company needs proof of identity. If this isn’t a factor, then you can simply just take out a new policy. House Insurance Again, this isn’t a problem, and as No Claims Bonus’s aren’t an issue, and the policy is renewable at the end of each year. Pension and Death Benefits Policies These areas cause the most concern as they are linked to age and gender, when the risk factors were calculated. It would appear that most insurance companies will easily change the name and designation, when a statutory declaration has been verified by them. (Please note that you have to advise the insurance company of each and every policy or they will only make the changes to the ones you notify them about ) When it comes to a gender change, it seems that insurance companies want sight of a Gender Recognition Certificate and I have advise the companies I deal with, that under Section 22 of the Gender Recognition Act, they may be committing an offense. In reality, what should be provided is a birth certificate in the acquired gender. You may also have to provide documentation to prove that the person on the birth certificate, and the person on the policy are the same. Check with your insurance company as to what documents they require. Until you have the GRC or a birth certificate in the acquired gender, then the insurance company is under no obligation to change the policy details in respect of your gender. The reason they do not change the information on this matter is due to the risk factor tables they use when creating policies, and any medical or surgical treatment undertaken during transition, could have a bearing on these risk factors Prior to sending off any original documents, check if the insurance company will accept copies instead of the originals. If you have to send originals, I would suggest that these are sent by registered letter, addressed to a specific individual in the organisation, and enclose a list of the documents enclosed. If the documents are lost, then you will have proof of dispatch and receipt, which will render the insurance company liable to replace the documents, or compensate you for their replacement.
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