POMS Reference

GN 02605: Processing Change of Address

TN 32 (09-17)

A. Introduction to change of address domestic to foreign

Initiate a change from a domestic address to a foreign address when the beneficiary:

  • informs SSA that he or she is leaving the United States for a period that will exceed 3 months; or

  • has already been outside the United States for more than 3 months.

The 3-month timeframe is necessary to guarantee that SSA is identifying an individual who may become subject to the Alien Nonpayment Provisions once he or she is outside the United States for more than 6 months.

For processing instructions when a beneficiary returns to the United States, see GN 02605.260.

B. Outside the United States

We consider a beneficiary to be outside the United States when he or she is not within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

C. How to process a domestic to foreign change of address

1. Input change of address

Use the Post Entitlement System (POS) Address/Direct Deposit/Phone (PEAD) screen for all post-entitlement changes of address, direct deposit, and telephone information.

The following screens may come into the PEAD path if the beneficiary is not a U.S. citizen:

  • PELF (Alien Tax Update), see MSOM T2PE 003.014;

  • NUSC (Non U.S. Citizen Coding), see MSOM COMMON 005.026; or

  • LEUS (Left U.S./Outside of US), see MSOM COMMON 00 5.024.

  • DPRT (Deportation) if the beneficiary was removed (deported), see MSOM COMMON 005.019.

  • BARD (Barred Country) if the beneficiary moves to a barred or restricted country, see MSOM COMMON 005.006.

Use future POS Address/Direct Deposit/Phone (PEAF) to input future payment address, direct deposit and telephone changes up to three months in the future.

2. Additional requirements for processing a domestic to foreign change of address for a beneficiary who is not a U.S. citizen

  1. Provide the SSA Publication 05-10137, Your Payments While You are Outside the United States.

  2. Secure Form SSA-21, Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States. For information about the SSA-21, see GN 00205.180.

3. Additional requirements for processing a domestic to foreign change of address for a U.S. citizen

  1. Provide SSA Publication 05-10137, Your Payments While You are Outside the United States.

  2. If the beneficiary is under full retirement age, provide Questionnaire About Employment or Self-Employment Outside the United States Form SSA-7163.

  3. Most Medicare benefits cannot be used outside the United States.

    • If the beneficiary is approaching an enrollment period for any Medicare program, provide SSA Publication 05-10043, Medicare, and CMS 11037, Medicare Coverage Outside the United States, available in English and Spanish at www.medicare.gov/publications.

    • If the beneficiary is already enrolled in Medicare, in addition to these publications, provide SMI cancellation Form CMS-2690, Request for Cancellation of Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) under the Social Security Act. You will find a copy of this form in OS 15060.073.

Additional references with information about Medicare benefits outside the United States are listed in GN 02605.200E of this section.

D. Jurisdiction

The Division of International Operations (DIO) has jurisdiction of all claims where at least one beneficiary:

  • uses a foreign mailing address, including an APO/FPO address specific to a foreign country; or

  • resides in a country to which the payment of benefits is barred or restricted; or

  • will be outside the United States for at least 6 months; or

  • resides in the United States and is entitled to totalization benefits; or,

  • resides in the United States, is not insured for RSDI benefits but has at least 6 quarters of coverage, and received a claim denial for totalization benefits.

E. Related References

GN 00205.180 Significance of SSA–21 (Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States)

GN 02401.065 Checks Issued to Beneficiaries Residing in Foreign Countries

GN 02605.001 Change of Address (COA) – In Person, By Telephone, In Writing, or On the Internet

HI 00630.000 Medicare Coverage Outside the U.S.

HI 00805.005 Eligibility for SMI

HI 00805.007 SMI Eligibility for Foreign Residents

HI 00805.050 When Deemed Enrollment Does Not Apply

HI 00805.120 Enrolling Beneficiaries in SMI who Reside in a Foreign Country

HI 00805.125 Description of CMS Medicare Initial Enrollment Period Package Information Sent to Beneficiaries

HI 00805.370 Processing Requests for SMI and/or Premium - HI Termination

OS 15060.073 CMS-2960, Request for Cancellation of Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) Under the Social Security Act.

RS 02635.001 Effect of Removal (Deportation) on Retirement or Disability Beneficiaries

RS 02650.040 Special Payment Policy and Procedure for SSA Restricted Countries

RS 02650.001 Treasury Department Restrictions

MSOM T2PE 003.002 POS Address/Direct Deposit/Phone (PEAD)

MSOM T2PE003.010 Future POS Address/Direct Deposit/ Phone (PEAF)