Effective Dates: 12/27/2023 - Present Previous | Next

TN 44 (12-23)

GN 02605.200 Change of Address (COA) – Domestic to Foreign

A. Definition of outside the United States

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

B. Policy for change of address from domestic to foreign

Change a domestic address to a foreign address when the beneficiary:

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    Tells us they are leaving the United States (U.S.) for more than 3 months; or

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

We use the 3-month timeframe to identify individuals who may become subject to suspension under the Alien Nonpayment Provisions (ANP) if outside the United States for more than 6 months. For more information about the ANP, see RS 02610.001.

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

C. Procedure for change of address from domestic to foreign

1. Instructions for entering the change of address from domestic to foreign

Use the Post Entitlement System (POS) Address/Direct Deposit/Phone (PEAD) screen for current post-entitlement (PE) 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:

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    PELF (Alien Tax Update) - MS 06303.014;

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    NUSC (Non U.S. Citizen Coding) - MS 00705.026;

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    LEUS (Left U.S./Outside of US) - MS 00705.024;

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    DPRT (Deportation) if the beneficiary was removed (deported) - MS 00705.019;

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    BARD (Barred Country) if the beneficiary moves to a barred or restricted country - MS 00705.006.

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

2. Instructions for providing publications and collecting forms for change of address from domestic to foreign for a beneficiary who is not a U.S. citizen

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

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

3. Instructions for providing publications and collecting forms for change of address from domestic to foreign for a beneficiary who is a U.S. citizen

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

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

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    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 at www.medicare.gov/publications.

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    If the beneficiary is already enrolled in Medicare, provide SMI cancellation Form CMS-1763, Request for Cancellation of Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). For the form see HI 00820.901C.

For additional references with information about Medicare benefits outside the United States see GN 02605.200E.

Note: 

Beneficiaries cannot use most Medicare benefits outside the United States.

D. Policy on jurisdiction over foreign claims

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

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    Resides outside the United States, including beneficiaries who:

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      use a foreign mailing address; or

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

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      use an APO/FPO address specific to a foreign country; or

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      use a U.S. address because their representative payee lives in the United States as described in GN 02605.220.

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    Resides in the United States but is:

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      entitled to Totalization benefits; or

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      is not insured for RSDI benefits but has at least six quarters of coverage and received a claim denial for Totalization benefits.

E. References

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

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    GN 02401.065 Checks Issued to Beneficiaries Residing in Foreign Countries

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

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    HI 00630.000 Medicare Coverage Outside the United States

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    HI 00805.005 Eligibility for SMI

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    HI 00805.007 SMI Eligibility for Foreign Residents

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    HI 00805.050 When Deemed Enrollment Does Not Apply

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

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

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

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    MS 06303.002 POS Address/Direct Deposit/Phone (PEAD)

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    MS 06303.010 Future POS Address/Direct Deposit/ Phone (PEAF)

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

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    RS 02650.001 Treasury Department Restrictions

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    RS 02650.040 Special Payment Policy and Procedure for SSA Restricted Countries

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202605200
GN 02605.200 - Change of Address (COA) – Domestic to Foreign - 12/27/2023
Batch run: 09/23/2024
Rev:12/27/2023