A new ruling (FIN-2009-R003) by the United States Department of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network or Fin CEN, issued on November 3, 2009, allows financial institutions to use another address designated by the Safe at Home program instead of the confidential residence address of the Safe at Home participant. For more information on this ruling, please refer to the Department of Treasury Memo at www.fincen.gov/statutes_regs/guidance/pdf/fin-2009-r003.pdf.

Suggested Procedures:

The financial institution representative should complete the following steps:

  • The participant must present his or her Safe at Home Authorization ID card.
  • Before you call Safe at Home for the address information, the participant must indicate that he or she wants to use the address provided by Safe at Home in lieu of his or her confidential residence address.
  • Verify that the participant has an "active" status in the program by contacting Safe at Home at (877) 322-5227 (weekdays 8 am to 5 pm).
  • For security reasons, Safe at Home staff will ask to speak to the participant before the address is provided.

Additional information:

  • How to use the address provided by Safe at Home in lieu of the participant's confidential residence address and the participant's designated Safe at Home mailing address:
    • The address provided by Safe at Home can only be used by financial institutions in lieu of the participant's confidential residence address. It should not be used as a mailing address.
    • The participant's designated Safe at Home mailing address, including the participant's Safe at Home four- digit Authorization ID number (as seen on the participant's Authorization ID card), should be used to send mail to the participant.
  • A participant's active status is required:
    • Only Active participants can use the designated Safe at Home mailing address or the address provided by Safe at Home in lieu of his or her confidential residence address.
    • If a participant is no longer enrolled in the program, he or she is not eligible for Safe at Home program services and the Secretary of State will not receive service of process or mail on his or her behalf.
  • Safe at Home's mail delivery procedures:
    • Mail that is sent to the participant’s designated Safe at Home mailing address is forwarded to the participant’s confidential address.
    • If a participant’s mail is returned to Safe at Home, staff will contact the participant by phone to verify any address change or problems with their mail delivery.