Senior Moving
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Direct links to transfer Medicare, utilities, Social Security, VA benefits, and San Diego senior services when you move. Bookmark this page.
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Mail, DMV and Water in the First Ten Days
The USPS change of address can be filed online, and the Postal Service charges a $1.25 identity verification fee to a credit or debit card whose billing address matches either the home you are leaving or the one you are moving to. If you would rather not verify online, USPS emails you instructions and a barcode, and you bring that email and acceptable photo ID to a Post Office to finish the request in person. That path suits a senior whose card statements go to a family member or whose phone is not set up to receive verification codes.
California law requires you to notify the DMV within 10 days of changing your address, and the DMV online Change of Address System handles a driver license or ID card and your vehicles in one submission, with an option to register to vote if you are eligible. The DMV says the update takes about three business days to reach its records and that no new card is issued; if you want the new address printed on the license, request a replacement after the change is confirmed.
Inside San Diego city limits, water and wastewater are billed by the City, and the Start Service request can take up to 10 business days to turn into a new account. Once you have submitted the request, the City keeps the water on while the account is processed. You can ask to close the old account up to 30 days ahead of your move-out date, and starting service at the new address is included in that stop request. If you are on a City payment plan and the new home is also served by the City, the remaining balance transfers to the new account.
SDG&E CARE Discount at the New Address
SDG&E's CARE program takes 30 percent or more off the monthly bill. You qualify either by already participating in certain public assistance programs or, if you do not, by household size and total current household income. The application is online, SDG&E says no documentation is needed to apply, and the same application automatically checks you for the FERA discount if you fall outside the CARE limits. Submit it when you set up service at the new address rather than waiting for the first full bill to arrive.
Once approved, the discount runs for two years before SDG&E asks you to renew. A move is a sensible moment to recount the household: a senior leaving a house shared with family for a one-bedroom apartment alone is now a one-person household, and the income limit that applies is the one for that size. If you already had CARE at the old address, confirm on the first bill at the new one that the discount actually carried over instead of assuming it did.
MTS Reduced Fare for Riders 65 and Over
Riders 65 and older qualify for the MTS reduced fare, which is a different program from the MTS Access paratransit service listed above. You can apply online, at the MTS Transit Store, at an NCTD customer service center, or by phone with PRONTO Support at 619-595-5636. Proof is a government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth, such as a driver license, senior ID card, permanent resident card or passport. The picture PRONTO card itself costs $7 at the Transit Store, and you add fare to it whenever you want.
Senior reduced fare status never expires. The card may display an expiration date far in the future, and MTS says its PRONTO Support Team extends expiring senior accounts automatically, so there is nothing to renew because you changed addresses. What does change is which bus and trolley routes serve the new home, so it is worth looking that up before move day if you rely on transit for appointments, groceries or visits rather than discovering the nearest stop after the truck has left.
Questions People Ask
Does the DMV mail a new license after I change my address?
No. The California DMV does not issue new documents when you change your address; the change is recorded in its files and takes about three business days to appear. If you want your new address printed on the license or ID card, request a replacement after you confirm the change went through. State law requires the address change itself within 10 days of moving, and it can be done online without visiting an office.
How much is the USPS change of address fee and why does it need a card?
The online USPS change of address carries a $1.25 identity verification fee, charged to a credit or debit card whose billing address matches your old or new address. The card is how USPS confirms you are who you say you are. If you cannot verify online, USPS emails you a barcode and you complete the request at a Post Office with acceptable photo ID.
How much does the SDG&E CARE discount save and how long does it last?
CARE takes 30 percent or more off your monthly SDG&E bill. Once approved, the discount lasts two years before you must renew. Qualification is based on participation in certain public assistance programs or on household size and income. The application is online with no documentation required, and it also checks you for FERA if you do not qualify for CARE.
Do I need to renew my senior PRONTO reduced fare after moving?
No. MTS senior reduced fare status never expires, and the PRONTO Support Team automatically extends senior accounts that show an approaching expiration date. If you are 65 or older and do not have one yet, you can apply online, at the MTS Transit Store, at an NCTD customer service center, or by calling PRONTO Support at 619-595-5636 with a government-issued photo ID that shows your birth date. The picture card costs $7.
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