CASS Postal Address Verification & Validation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which USPS file is primarily used by CASS-certified software to verify ZIP+4 codes for a given street address?
- City State file
- Zone Chart file
- Address Management System (AMS) file (Correct answer)
- Delivery Sequence File (DSF2)
Correct answer: Address Management System (AMS) file
The Address Management System (AMS) file contains the authoritative ZIP+4 data that CASS-certified software queries to validate and assign ZIP+4 codes.
Question 2: What does a DPV 'Vacant' flag on an address indicate?
- The address has never received mail delivery
- The address is deliverable but currently not receiving mail (Correct answer)
- The address does not exist in USPS records
- The address is a PO Box that is unoccupied
Correct answer: The address is deliverable but currently not receiving mail
A DPV Vacant flag means the address is a valid, deliverable point but USPS has flagged it as currently not receiving mail.
Question 3: When CASS software encounters a secondary address element (e.g., apartment number) that cannot be confirmed, what DPV return code is assigned?
- Y
- S (Correct answer)
- D
- N
Correct answer: S
DPV return code 'S' indicates the primary address matched but the secondary address (apartment/suite) could not be confirmed.
Question 4: Which CASS output field indicates whether a structure is a residential or business location?
- DPV Footnote
- Record Type Code
- Residential Delivery Indicator (RDI) (Correct answer)
- Carrier Route Type
Correct answer: Residential Delivery Indicator (RDI)
The Residential Delivery Indicator (RDI) is a CASS output field that classifies an address as residential or business/commercial.
Question 5: What is the maximum elapsed time between a CASS certification cycle's start date and the date a mailer must reprocess a mailing list to maintain currency?
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 180 days (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 180 days
USPS requires that address lists be processed through CASS-certified software within 180 days of the mailing date to qualify for automation discounts.
Question 6: Which of the following is a valid standardized abbreviation for 'Boulevard' under USPS Publication 28?
- BLVD (Correct answer)
- BOUL
- BVD
- BLD
Correct answer: BLVD
USPS Publication 28 designates 'BLVD' as the standard suffix abbreviation for Boulevard.
Question 7: A mailer's CASS Form 3553 shows a 90% ZIP+4 match rate. What is the minimum match rate required by USPS to qualify for 5-digit basic automation rates?
- 90%
- 95% (Correct answer)
- 97%
- 100%
Correct answer: 95%
USPS requires a minimum 95% ZIP+4 coding accuracy to qualify for 5-digit basic automation postage discounts.
CASS Postal Address Verification & Validation 2
Which USPS file is primarily used by CASS-certified software to verify ZIP+4 codes for a given street address?