HO jurisdiction is determined by the claimant’s residence address. The HO that services
the claimant’s residence address has jurisdiction even if the claimant has a representative
whose office is in another HO’s service area.
If the claimant wants a hearing in an HO other than their servicing HO, the field
office (FO) should obtain a signed statement that states the reason(s), attach it
to the HA-501-U5, and forward both requests to the servicing HO per the instructions
in GN 03103.080C. Advise the claimant that the agency will consider the request and notify them as
to whether the case will be transferred to the requested HO.