A beneficiary must use a foreign mailing address if he/she will be outside the U.S. for more than 3 months unless the address being used is an APO/FPO address or an address for a representative payee who is remaining within the United States.

If the foreign address provided is in a country to which payments are barred or restricted additional development may be required.

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

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

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

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  will be outside the U.S. for at least 6 months;

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  resides in the U.S. and is entitled to totalization benefits; or,

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  resides in the U.S., is not insured for RSDI benefits but has at least 6 quarters of coverage, and his/her claim for totalization benefits has been denied.

A beneficiary's use of a foreign “in-care-of” mailing address is acceptable if it is the address of a relative or friend with whom he/she lives or intends to live. When a beneficiary outside the U.S. requests that his/her checks be mailed “in-care-of” another person abroad, change the address and secure a Form SSA-795 (Statement of Claimant or Other Person) showing the beneficiary's actual residence address and an explanation of the use of the “in-care-of” address.

If the claimant's explanation justifies Social Security’s use of the “in-care-of” address, then all correspondence and checks will be sent to that address. If the explanation or evidence indicates that the address may be that of a third party or may involve the assignment of benefits, the “in-care-of” address must be disregarded, and all correspondence containing benefit or payment information and checks will be sent to the claimant's own mailing address.

Following is a list of foreign equivalents of the designation “in-care-of”. The word or phrase will appear somewhere within the address of the claimant or beneficiary.

 

 

In rare instances, the Federal Benefits Unit, itself can serve as the mailing address of the beneficiary. This only occurs when all other options are exhausted.

Checks Issued to Beneficiaries Residing in Foreign Countries (GN 02401.065)

Foreign Postal Zone Numbers (GN 02605.915)

Special Payment for Certain SSA-Restricted Countries (RS 02650.040)

Treasury Department Restrictions (RS 02650.001)

Use of FO Address (GN 02401.050)