Methods, systems, and devices for forwarding a code word address are described. A memory subsystem, for example, may configure a code word including user data as a forwarded code word when the code word becomes unreliable or invalid close to or beyond an error recovery capability of the memory subsystem. The memory subsystem may configure the forwarded code word using a forwarded code word format and structure, which may include a bit field in the forwarded code word to indicate a code word condition and to store a quantity of duplicates of a forwarding address. When the memory subsystem receives a code word, the memory system may determine the code word as a forwarded code word such that the memory system may determine a forwarding address (e.g., from the code word). The memory subsystem may then use the forwarding address to access user data.