Effective Dates: 12/09/2020 - Present

Identification Number:	GN 03106 TN 15
Intended Audience:	See Transmittal Sheet
Originating Office:	DCBFM OPLM
Title:	Litigation
Type:	POMS Transmittals
Program:	All Programs
Link To Reference:

PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANUAL SYSTEM
Part GN – General
Chapter 031 – Appeals
Subchapter 06 – Litigation
Transmittal No. 15, 12/09/2020

Audience

PSC: BA, CA, CS, DE, DS, ICDS, IES, ISRA, RECONR, SCPS, TSA, TST;

OCO-OEIO: CR, FCR, FDE, PETL, RECONE, RECOVR;

OCO-ODO: BTE, CR, CST, CTE, CTE TE, DE, DEC, DS, PETE, PETL, RCOVTA, RECONE, RECOVR;

ODD-DDS: DHU, REF;

FO/TSC: CS, CS TII, CS TXVI, CSR, CTE, DT, FR, OA, OS, RR, TA, TSC-CSR;

Originating Component

OPL

Effective Date

12/09/2020

Background

This is a Quick Action Transmittal. These revisions do not change or introduce new policy or procedure.

Summary of Changes

GN 03106.020 Service of Process

We corrected the zip code for our Chicago office to 60661-2474.

GN 03106.020 Service of Process

CITATIONS:

42 U.S.C. §205(g);

20 C.F.R. §423

A. Background for service of process

We use the legal term “Service of Process” to explain the process by which defendants are notified of a court action filed against them. The “Commissioner of Social Security” is the only proper defendant in civil actions filed against the Social Security Administration under §205(g) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §405(g). Delivering a copy of the legal documents filed with the court to the party designated to receive service on behalf of the defendant perfects Service of Process.

B. Policy for service of process on the Commissioner of Social Security

In Social Security cases, the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is the component designated by the Commissioner to receive Service of Process. There are different procedures for service of process on the Commissioner depending upon the nature of the case and the nature of the documents being served.

1. Summonses and complaints in cases involving individual claims for benefits

Summonses and complaints are legal documents used to initiate a lawsuit against a defendant. In cases involving individual claims for benefits under Titles II, VIII or XVI of the Social Security Act, send summonses and complaints to the office in the Social Security Administration’s Office of the General Counsel that is responsible for the processing and handling of litigation in the particular court jurisdiction in which the beneficiary filed the complaint.

The OGC office names, addresses, and jurisdictional responsibilities are as follows:

State	District Court	OGC Office Address
Alabama	U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Alabama U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Alabama U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Alabama	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IV Social Security Administration Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street S.W., Suite 20T45 Atlanta, GA 30303-8910
Alaska	U.S. District Court -- Alaska	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region X Social Security Administration 701 Fifth Avenue Suite 2900 M/S 221A Seattle, WA 98104-7075
Arizona	U.S. District Court -- Arizona	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX Social Security Administration 160 Spear Street, Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94105-1545
Arkansas	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Arkansas U.S. District Court -- Western District of Arkansas	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
California	U.S. District Court -- Central District of California U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of California U.S. District Court -- Northern District of California U.S. District Court -- Southern District of California	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX Social Security Administration 160 Spear Street, Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94105-1545
Colorado	U.S. District Court – Colorado	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VIII Social Security Administration 1961 Stout Street, Suite 4169 Denver, CO 80294-4003
Connecticut	U.S. District Court – Connecticut	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VII Social Security Administration Richard Bolling Federal Building 601 E. 12th Street, Room 965 Kansas City, MO 64106-2898
Delaware	U.S. District Court – Delaware	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III Social Security Administration 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932
District of Columbia	U.S. District Court -- District of Columbia	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III Social Security Administration 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932
Florida	U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Florida U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Florida U.S. District Court--Southern District of Florida	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IV Social Security Administration Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street S.W., Suite 20T45 Atlanta, GA 30303-8910
Georgia	U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Georgia U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Georgia U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Georgia	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IV Social Security Administration Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street S.W., Suite 20T45 Atlanta, GA 30303-8910
Guam	U.S. District Court – Guam	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX Social Security Administration 160 Spear Street, Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94105-1545
Hawaii	U.S. District Court – Hawaii	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX Social Security Administration 160 Spear Street, Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94105-1545
Idaho	U.S. District Court – Idaho	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region X Social Security Administration 701 Fifth Avenue Suite 2900 M/S 221A Seattle, WA 98104-7075
Illinois	U.S. District Court -- Central District of Illinois U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Illinois U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Illinois	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region V Social Security Administration Harold Washington Social Security Center 600 West Madison Street, 6th Floor Chicago, IL 60661-2474
Indiana	U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Indiana	Office of Program Law Office of the General Counsel Social Security Administration 6401 Security Boulevard Altmeyer Building, Room 617 Baltimore, MD 21235-6401
	U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Indiana	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region V Social Security Administration Harold Washington Social Security Center 600 West Madison Street, 6th Floor Chicago, IL 60661-2474
Iowa	U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Iowa U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Iowa	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
Kansas	U.S. District Court – Kansas	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VIII Social Security Administration 1961 Stout Street, Suite 4169 Denver, CO 80294-4003
Kentucky	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Kentucky	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VIII Social Security Administration 1961 Stout Street, Suite 4169 Denver, CO 80294-4003
	U.S. District Court -- Western District of Kentucky	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region V Social Security Administration Harold Washington Social Security Center 600 West Madison Street, 6th Floor Chicago, IL 60661-2474
Louisiana	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Louisiana U.S. District Court -- Western District of Louisiana	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
Maine	U.S. District Court – Maine	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region I Social Security Administration JFK Federal Building, Room 625 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203-0002
Maryland	U.S. District Court – Maryland	Office of Program Law Office of the General Counsel Social Security Administration 6401 Security Boulevard Altmeyer Building, Room 617 Baltimore, MD 21235-6401
Massachusetts	U.S. District Court – Massachusetts	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region I Social Security Administration JFK Federal Building, Room 625 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203-0002
Michigan	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Michigan	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region I Social Security Administration JFK Federal Building, Room 625 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203-0002
	U.S. District Court -- Western District of Michigan	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VII Social Security Administration Richard Bolling Federal Building 601 E. 12th Street, Room 965 Kansas City, MO 64106-2898
Minnesota	U.S. District Court – Minnesota	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
Mississippi	U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Mississippi U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Mississippi	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
Missouri	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Missouri U.S. District Court -- Western District of Missouri	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VII Social Security Administration Richard Bolling Federal Building 601 E. 12th Street, Room 965 Kansas City, MO 64106-2898
Montana	U.S. District Court – Montana	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region X Social Security Administration 701 Fifth Avenue Suite 2900 M/S 221A Seattle, WA 98104-7075
Nebraska	U.S. District Court – Nebraska	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
Nevada	U.S. District Court – Nevada	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX Social Security Administration 160 Spear Street, Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94105-1545
New Hampshire	U.S. District Court -- New Hampshire	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region I Social Security Administration JFK Federal Building, Room 625 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203-0002
New Jersey	U.S. District Court -- New Jersey	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III Social Security Administration 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932
New Mexico	U.S. District Court -- New Mexico	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VIII Social Security Administration 1961 Stout Street, Suite 4169 Denver, CO 80294-4003
New York	U.S. District Court -- Southern District of New York U.S. District Court -- Western District of New York	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region II Social Security Administration 26 Federal Plaza, Room 3904 New York, NY 10278-0004
	U.S. District Court -- Northern District of New York	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region I Social Security Administration JFK Federal Building, Room 625 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203-0002
	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of New York	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VII Social Security Administration Richard Bolling Federal Building 601 E. 12th Street, Room 965 Kansas City, MO 64106-2898
North Carolina	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of North Carolina	Office of Program Law Office of the General Counsel Social Security Administration 6401 Security Boulevard Altmeyer Building, Room 617 Baltimore, MD 21235-6401
	U.S. District Court -- Middle District of North Carolina	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III Social Security Administration 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932
	U.S. District Court -- Western District of North Carolina	Office of Program Law Office of the General Counsel Social Security Administration 6401 Security Boulevard Altmeyer Building, Room 617 Baltimore, MD 21235-6401
North Dakota	U.S. District Court -- North Dakota	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
Northern Mariana Islands	U.S. District Court -- Northern Mariana Islands	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX Social Security Administration 160 Spear Street, Suite 800 San Francisco, CA 94105-1545
Ohio	U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Ohio U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Ohio	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region V Social Security Administration Harold Washington Social Security Center 600 West Madison Street, 6th Floor Chicago, IL 60661-2474
Oklahoma	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Oklahoma U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Oklahoma U.S. District Court -- Western District of Oklahoma	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VIII Social Security Administration 1961 Stout Street, Suite 4169 Denver, CO 80294-4003
Oregon	U.S. District Court – Oregon	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region X Social Security Administration 701 Fifth Avenue Suite 2900 M/S 221A Seattle, WA 98104-7075
Pennsylvania	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Pennsylvania U.S. District Court -- Western District of Pennsylvania	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III Social Security Administration 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932
Puerto Rico	U.S. District Court -- Puerto Rico	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region II Social Security Administration 26 Federal Plaza, Room 3904 New York, NY 10278-0004
Rhode Island	U.S. District Court -- Rhode Island	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region I Social Security Administration JFK Federal Building, Room 625 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203-0002
South Carolina	U.S. District Court -- South Carolina	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III Social Security Administration 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932
South Dakota	U.S. District Court -- South Dakota	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
Tennessee	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Tennessee U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Tennessee U.S. District Court -- Western District of Tennessee	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VII Social Security Administration Richard Bolling Federal Building 601 E. 12th Street, Room 965 Kansas City, MO 64106-2898
Texas	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Texas U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Texas U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Texas U.S. District Court -- Western District of Texas	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI Social Security Administration Mailroom 104 1301 Young Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75202-5433
Utah	U.S. District Court – Utah	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VIII Social Security Administration 1961 Stout Street, Suite 4169 Denver, CO 80294-4003
Vermont	U.S. District Court – Vermont	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region I Social Security Administration JFK Federal Building, Room 625 15 New Sudbury Street Boston, MA 02203-0002
Virgin Islands	U.S. District Court -- Virgin Islands	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region II Social Security Administration 26 Federal Plaza, Room 3904 New York, NY 10278-0004
Virginia	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Virginia U.S. District Court -- Western District of Virginia	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III Social Security Administration 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932
Washington	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Washington U.S. District Court -- Western District of Washington	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region X Social Security Administration 701 Fifth Avenue Suite 2900 M/S 221A Seattle, WA 98104-7075
West Virginia	U.S. District Court -- Northern District of West Virginia U.S. District Court -- Southern District of West Virginia	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III Social Security Administration 300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932
Wisconsin	U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Wisconsin U.S. District Court -- Western District of Wisconsin	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region V Social Security Administration Harold Washington Social Security Center 600 West Madison Street, 6th Floor Chicago, IL 60661-2474
Wyoming	U.S. District Court – Wyoming	Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VIII Social Security Administration 1961 Stout Street, Suite 4169 Denver, CO 80294-4003

Addresses of OGC offices

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region I
Social Security Administration
JFK Federal Building, Room 625
15 New Sudbury Street
Boston, MA 02203-0002

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region II
Social Security Administration
26 Federal Plaza, Room 3904
New York, NY 10278-0004

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region III
Social Security Administration
300 Spring Garden Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19123-2932

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IV
Social Security Administration
Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street S.W., Suite 20T45
Atlanta, GA 30303-8910

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region V
Social Security Administration
Harold Washington Social Security Center
600 West Madison Street, 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661-2474

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VI
Social Security Administration
Mailroom 104
1301 Young Street, Suite 350
Dallas, TX 75202-5433

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VII
Social Security Administration
Richard Bolling Federal Building
601 E. 12th Street, Room 965
Kansas City, MO 64106-2898

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region VIII
Social Security Administration
1961 Stout Street, Suite 4169
Denver, CO 80294-4003

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX
Social Security Administration
160 Spear Street, Suite 800
San Francisco, CA 94105-1545

Office of the Regional Chief Counsel, Region X
Social Security Administration
701 Fifth Avenue
Suite 2900 M/S 221A
Seattle, WA 98104-7075

Office of Program Law
Office of the General Counsel
Social Security Administration
6401 Security Boulevard
Altmeyer Building, Room 617
Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

2. Summonses and complaints in cases not involving individual claims for benefits

Summonses and complaints are legal documents used to initiate a lawsuit against a defendant. In cases that do not involve individual claims for benefits under Titles II, VIII, or XVI of the Social Security Act, send summonses and complaints to the following address:

The General Counsel
Social Security Administration
Room 617, Altmeyer Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

3. Subpoenas

Subpoenas are legal documents used to compel testimony or the production of documents from either a party or a non-party to a particular case. Depending upon the applicable legal requirements, some states require subpoenas to be delivered in person, or some may be delivered by mail.

When a subpoena is directed to either the Commissioner or the Social Security Administration, it must be delivered to the following address regardless of the nature of the case:

The General Counsel
Social Security Administration
Room 617, Altmeyer Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

Delivering a copy of the subpoena to any Deputy General Counsel or secretary to any Deputy General Counsel can also perfect service of the subpoena. (See 20 C.F.R. §423.3)

GN 03106 TN 15 - Litigation - 12/09/2020

POMS Recent Change

GN 03106.020 Service of Process

A. Background for service of process

B. Policy for service of process on the Commissioner of Social Security

1. Summonses and complaints in cases involving individual claims for benefits

2. Summonses and complaints in cases not involving individual claims for benefits

3. Subpoenas