Changing your address with SS

GCarpenter · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 139 Location: Fairmont, WV

Has anyone had the experience of trying to get your address changed at Social Security for all of your existing clients? I am worried that my fee checks are not going to be forwarded. I have asked my local office where the address needs to be changed so that when the checks are mailed, it pulls the correct address, but no one really seems to know what database the payment center pulls the address from. Anyone have any tips to make my move as smooth as possible?

LoopLaw · Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Missouri

It is very different if you are moving to a new entity (a new EIN). That involves filing a new form SSA-1699 online, then submitting a new Form 1695 on EVERY case to the appropriate local SSA office - welcome to hours and hours of faxing and verifying. You cannot delete an old entity, even if you are moving every case to the new one. Instead, both will be listed and you need to get every client's case linked to the new EIN.

If you are only changing your address, doing the online 1699 should get most of your checks routed to the new address. In my experience, that works for most of them, but you will still get checks and other mail at the old address for years.

Enjoy!

ken_karlock · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 128

As Alice Cooper said...Welcome To My Nightmare!

I relocated my practice two years ago and have been struggling with this issue ever since. My ODAR office was able to change my address on all pending cases in their database with one entry but this doesn't transfer over to SSA's. You literally need to send a notice on every single case to the appropriate field office iand then just hope that the field offices devote the time to updating each and every one. Thankfully I have been able to have a relationship with the individuals at my old address which allows me to obtain mail that continues to be misdirected there.

You will also need to be alert even on future acquired cases of SSA having an incorrect address for you. They seem to draw from old rolodex type files in the DOs and getting them to remove your old address to avoid this problem can be difficult.

cookie · Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 8

The other thing I would strongly recommend is filing the change of address notice with the post office every 6 months or so. I've had checks get mailed to an old PO box four years after I closed out the box - that was a nightmare that involved me driving two hours since I could not get anyone on that old post office on the phone. At the moment I have two post office boxes from moving my practice to a new town - the old address is still floating around in SSA's system despite my best efforts and the closing of my oldest cases. I have to check the old box once or twice a week, but the expense and aggravation beats the expense and aggravation of having a check misdelivered or returned. And every once in a while, there sits a check or a decision or something else that makes me glad I've kept it up.

GCarpenter · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 139 Location: Fairmont, WV

Thank you very much for the pointers. I am hoping for the best!