Effective Dates: 12/09/2020 - Present Previous | Next

TN 15 (12-20)

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

See the Office of General Counsel website for telephone numbers:

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)

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0203106020
GN 03106.020 - Service of Process - 12/09/2020
Batch run: 03/01/2021
Rev:12/09/2020