The FO determines DDS jurisdiction by the claimant’s residence at the time the FO initially transmits/transfers the case to a DDS. Consider an absence from the usual residence expected to last 60 days or less as temporary. For example:

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  The claimant’s permanent residence is in Florida.

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  The claimant is temporarily hospitalized (less than 60 days) in Indiana at the time the FO is transmitting/transferring the disability case to a DDS.

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  The FO transfers the disability case to the appropriate Florida DDS, as the case remains the jurisdiction of the Florida DDS.

Send the case to the DDS in the State where the claimant permanently resides or to the DDS serving the claimant’s last known residence at the time the FO transmitted the case to the DDS if the claimant’s permanent residence is in one State, but he or she is receiving mail at:

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  A servicing post office in another State, or

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  An Army Post Office (APO), or

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  A Fleet Post Office (FPO).