If your senior moved to a new address in 2009 you may not have thought it necessary to tell Social Security about the move if their monthly check continued to be direct deposited to the same bank account. But even if their banking information didn't change, it's important to change your senior's mailing address with Social Security for several reasons:

Social Security mails important information to the address they have on record. Post Office change of address and forwarding information is only effective for a short time. Once automatic forwarding has expired, your elder won't receive any important Social Security notifications. This can include updates about income increases and Medicare and Advantage plan premium information - information that everyone needs in advance to avoid surprises.

The annual Social Security "Proof of Income" letter is also mailed to all beneficiaries early every year. Your elder may need this statement for income tax purposes, and will certainly need it for any upcoming benefits applications or recertifications.

If your elder ever needs replacement Social Security or Medicare cards, they will be sent to the address Social Security has on record. Waiting to change the address on record until you need something urgently will simply delay your receipt of whatever it is you need in a hurry.

So, keeping Social Security apprised of your elder's location is important. It's easy enough to do, and you can now do it online.

Just go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov and click on the "What You Can Do Online" link in the upper left corner.

Then click on the 4th item on the list: "If you get benefits..."

Then select "Change Your Address or Telephone Number."

If you don't have a Social Security password don't worry - you won't need one to register a change of address.

If more than one person needs to notify Social Secirity about an address change, you will have to go through the change exercise twice (or more).

If you prefer not to make changes electronically you can also update an address by calling
1-800-772-1213. The automated telephone service is available 24 hours a day.

You can also speak to an actual Social Security representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Be prepared to spend some time on "Hold" on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons and at at the end of a month, when the phone lines are often extremely busy. If you do plan on making an address change with a live Social Security representative, plan to have your senior available to speak on the telephone unless you have Representative Payee status.

In order to change a Social Security recipient's mailing address without a password, electronically or by telephone, the recipient will need:

Social Security number
The new address, including ZIP code
Full name
Date of Birth
Place of birth
Mother's maiden name
The amount, in whole dollars, of the last payment received from Social Security

If you will be speaking with a representative on the telephone and your elder is forgetful or easily flustered, write this information down in large, easy-to-read print before you make the call.