CASS Postal Address Verification & Validation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which USPS publication is the primary reference for address standardization rules used in CASS processing?
- Publication 28 — Postal Addressing Standards (Correct answer)
- Publication 65 — Notice of Address Correction
- Handbook DM-109 — Mail Preparation
- Publication 32 — Glossary of Postal Terms
Correct answer: Publication 28 — Postal Addressing Standards
USPS Publication 28 (Postal Addressing Standards) is the definitive guide for formatting, abbreviating, and standardizing postal addresses.
Question 2: A mailer's list contains addresses in Puerto Rico. Which special consideration applies to CASS processing for these addresses?
- Puerto Rico addresses are excluded from DPV processing
- Urbanization codes may be required as an additional address element (Correct answer)
- Only the ZIP Code is validated, not the street address
- Puerto Rico uses a separate CASS certification test deck
Correct answer: Urbanization codes may be required as an additional address element
Puerto Rico addresses often require an urbanization name as a fifth address line element to distinguish between identical street addresses in different communities.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of the USPS NCOALink process in the context of address quality?
- Validate ZIP+4 accuracy of new constructions
- Update addresses for individuals and businesses that have filed change-of-address orders (Correct answer)
- Assign carrier routes to newly annexed areas
- Correct misspelled city names in bulk mailings
Correct answer: Update addresses for individuals and businesses that have filed change-of-address orders
NCOALink (National Change of Address Link) updates mailing lists with new addresses for movers who have filed USPS change-of-address forms within the past 48 months.
Question 4: When CASS software cannot match an address at all, what DPV Return Code is assigned?
- Y
- S
- D
- N (Correct answer)
Correct answer: N
DPV Return Code 'N' indicates the address could not be confirmed as a valid USPS delivery point.
Question 5: An address reads '456 Oak Street NW Suite 200'. Which element is the postdirectional?
- 456
- NW (Correct answer)
- Suite 200
- Oak Street
Correct answer: NW
The directional 'NW' appears after the street name 'Oak Street', making it a postdirectional in the address structure.
Question 6: Under CASS rules, what is the maximum number of characters allowed in the delivery address line?
- 28 characters
- 40 characters (Correct answer)
- 50 characters
- 64 characters
Correct answer: 40 characters
USPS Publication 28 specifies that the delivery address line must not exceed 40 characters including spaces to ensure OCR and barcode readability.
Question 7: Which CASS output indicates that an address matched to a 'Default' record — a ZIP Code area without detailed street-level data?
- DPV Return Code 'Y'
- DPV Footnote 'GS'
- Record Type 'D' (Correct answer)
- Carrier Route 'D000'
Correct answer: Record Type 'D'
Record Type 'D' (Default) indicates the address matched only to the ZIP Code level because no street-level AMS record exists for that area.
CASS Postal Address Verification & Validation 5
Which USPS publication is the primary reference for address standardization rules used in CASS processing?