Without a doubt, claims take a while. People have changing financial situations, a significant other who needs to change states for jobs, or a need to move closer to family at a different state. A common misconception for people who have a claim pending for Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income at the time they move out of state is that they have to re-file their claim in another state. This is simply untrue.
If a claimant moves out of state, or to ANY NEW ADDRESS, nomatter what stage of the process the claimant is at, the claimant needs to update his or her District Office. This can be done by phone call, letter or in person. To find your local district office by zip code, click here. If the claimant initiated the claim at a different District Office, the claim is still at the initial application level, and there has been no other transfer to a different District Office, then the claimant will need to update the District Office they initiated the claim at as to their new address. Updating the current District Office will allow the claim to be transferred to the new local District Office, as needed.
In addition, the claimant will need to update the respective disability determining entity as to the new address, as soon as possible. If the claim is at the Initial Application or Request for Reconsideration phase, the claimant will need to update their respective state’s Disability Determination Services. For a listing of your Disability Determination Service by state, click here. The faster this is done, the better, as DDS often sends out time sensitive mail, or schedules CE’s, failure to respond to which can result in a likely denial. DDS will need to know this, so the claim can get transferred as needed.
If the claim is awaiting a hearing, and the claimant moves to a new address, then the claimant will need to update the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. This is where hearings are located. This office is also responsible for scheduling hearings and assigning the judges. Updating this office will allow the claimant to continue to receive any time sensitive mail at the correct address, and, as needed, have the case transferred to a closer Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. For a listing of your Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, click here (be sure to know what District Office is handling your claim when you try to find your respective ODAR).
If the claim was denied at the hearing, and is pending at the Appeals Council in Virginia, to change address the claimant will need to write to:
Appeals Council
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
It is important to note that Social Security and the respective disability determining entity gets updated as to ANY change in address. Social Security often sends time sensitive mail, and will need to know the correct address to send it to. If a claimant receives a letter denying their claim, they have only 60 days to appeal that denial. If Social Security sends it to the wrong address, because a claimant has moved, and failed to update Social Security accordingly, Social Security may not grant good cause to continue with the appeal, and the claimant may have to file a new claim in that specific event.
The mere act of moving does not require the claimant to file a new claim. It merely requires the claimant to keep Social Security, and its respective Disability Determining entity posted as to the new address.
