(a) Suits involving individual claims arising under title II, VIII, XVI, or XVIII of the Social Security Act. (1) In cases seeking judicial review of final decisions of the Commissioner of Social Security on individual claims for benefits under title II, VIII, or XVI of the Social Security Act, or on individual claims for a Medicare Part D subsidy under title XVIII of the Act, summonses and complaints to be served by mail on the Social Security Administration or the Commissioner of Social Security should be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, Office of Program Litigation, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235.

(2) We also accept electronic service in these cases, as provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

(b) Other suits. In cases that do not involve claims described in paragraph (a) of this section, summonses and complaints to be served by mail on the Social Security Administration or the Commissioner of Social Security should be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235.

Subpoenas and other process (other than summonses and complaints) that are required to be served on the Social Security Administration or the Commissioner of Social Security in the Commissioner's official capacity should be served as follows:

(a) If authorized by law to be served by mail, any mailed process should be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235.

(b) If served by an individual, the process should be delivered to the Office of the General Counsel, via the agency mail room at Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235.

Process to be served on Social Security Administration officials in their individual capacities must be served in compliance with the requirements for service of process on individuals who are not governmental officials. The Office of the General Counsel is authorized but not required to accept process to be served on Social Security Administration officials in their individual capacities if the suit relates to an employee's official duties.

The Social Security Administration will not provide a receipt or other acknowledgment of process received, except for a return receipt associated with certified mail and where otherwise required by law.

The regulations in this part are intended solely to identify Social Security Administration officials who are authorized to accept service of process. Litigants must comply with all requirements pertaining to service of process that are established by statute and court rule even though they are not repeated in this part.