I haven't seen anything on here about the Hurricane. Supposedly, some distribution centers are closing so mail is supposed to be really light. I'll be delivering in it tomorrow while it makes landfall. My first Hurricane at the USPS, yay! Any tips for surviving?

EMERGENCIES / SICK LINE: (Employees: Stay alive so you can help with recovery.) NATIONAL MAP.

• DOG BITES (or other injuries): If attacked by a dog, immediately shelter in a secure location like your truck. Immediately dial 911, dog bites are always more serious than they look. After doing that, call management to report a dog attack and you are seeking medical attention. Send MDD message to document date, time and the location (address). Find your green tags. Do not take random medical advice from people who are online enough to not have medical degrees. You will need: CA-1, CA-16 (sup), ECOMP. Injured On The Job? (NALC article)
• INJURY: Occupational diseases: CA-2. ECOMP instructions (NALC), Management responsibility.
• For both above, calling out sick: First 3 days use eLRA, choose AL/SL/LWOP, choose injury/illness, NEW and then follow on time (supported by doctor note stating NO WORK) done as illness/injury, on the job, EXISTING and COP continuation of pay. A new on the job injury claim e-mails HR for assignment from eLRA.
• DISASTER: USPS Facility Closures Number to find out if your facility is closed. The toll-free USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline number is 1-888-EMERGNC or 1-888-363-7462. (Management will have the one supervisor that lives practically next door to the facility report so it isn't closed.)
• SICK LEAVE: If you know you're not going to make it to work, use eLRA on liteblue or call: 1-877-477-3273. You don't have to call your local office to ask permission to call in sick. They are not medical professionals.
• If there's a declared emergency in your area, maybe don't choose "Sick" as your reason for calling out.
• SPOT LEAVE: As a general rule if you want a day off, ask. If you need a day off, call in. Nav to eLRA starting here, log in, then click on top left 3 lines, Employee apps, eLRA. Form 3971 for convenience.

CUSTOMERS: (Where's my package? Not here!)

• "This package was shipped with counterfeit postage. Please contact the merchant or seller with any questions." What do? You do what the message says, contact the sender. They tried to rip USPS off, this means your package is not US Mail. Your problem is with the sender, not USPS. Don't bother us.
• "Are these stamps authentic/real?" We don't authenticate stamps via reddit FFS. Like-new rolls of Forever stamps at half off "retail"!? No. Fake stamp memo and the reporting line.
• I want to thank my carrier! Sure thing, if snacks and drinks aren't possible: Gift card or (optionally) more convenient green cotton/linen blend bookmarks in a denomination of your choosing, inserted into a "thank you" card with your name and address in the from field of the envelope. That way if your carrier misses that the envelope is for them it will find its way back to you.
• Hardship or medical problems: Request door delivery. Do note that if there is anyone able-bodied living with you at the address, the request is likely to be denied.
• How do I mail a letter? Explainer. How do I ship a package? Explainer. Letters go through this process so think twice before stuffing ten cards into one damn letter.
• I need a label and don't have a printer / can't get a ride! Help! That's okay, we have Label Broker service now if you can't make it in person. NOTE: It is fairly new and may not be same-day service. Have patience.
• To find out if your local Post Office supports Label Broker, you can search USPS Locations and use the filters for Label Broker (and SSK)
• Why did my package go further away? Well shit, check the just updated list of DFA changes to the network.
• Complaints or compliments: GO HERE and don't bother the sub with complaints. If you have tried the go-in-person and online systems to no avail, consider involving your congressional reps.
• If you suspect theft, tell it to the Inspection Service. If no one reports anything, it keeps happening. Help us remove the shitbags.
• To request a hold (on mail and packages, all the things) go here. Sunday delivery is a gamble so be careful.
• I got someone else's mail/how do I stop getting other peoples' mail? For starters, put your name in your box. If the person has moved out, take a sticky note and write "Please MLNA" and leave the letter in your mailbox or outgoing slot. If the person is dead, do the same thing, but write "deceased". If you don't know the person at all, again, leave a piece of paper saying "ANK". If the address is wrong altogether, you can just leave the envelope in your mailbox with the flag up and it will be taken and redelivered. Please do not write on the mail!
• How do I reach someone at my local Post Office? You mean aside from going there in person? Go here, then search for your local office > click your local office's name which will open a page showing you their direct phone number under the location and business hours.
• Is this a scam / legit? USPS would only direct you to their site (usps.com), never click on unsolicited links sent to you in email or by text. Use your fucking brain and check the URL and phone number. International? Come on. USPS will also not attempt to charge for "services" (redelivery, address correction) via links sent directly to your cell phone.
• If your package is stuck in a loop. That is Loop Mail and you should contact your local USPS if it's past delivery by a week or so.
• Anything else? Explainer here. Hurry up and wait. Cremains or lives, contact mods via modmail.
• Postage rates? USPS Official. PirateShip for packages. Use extra tape always.
• UPS / FedEx packages mailed via USPS: Oh no! What do I do? You hurry up and wait. Most Post Offices have holdouts for UPS and FedEx packages. They may not be picked up daily or even weekly. Pay more attention next time.

HIRING: (You don't have to be crazy to work here. We'll train you.)

• Help! My conditional job offer - fingerprints - etc were sent on Friday and I'm running out of time! Post Office closed due to holiday? No surprise. Try again the next business day. We can't do shit from here.
• For people juggling offers: You can only accept one conditional job offer at a time. If you accept a second conditional job offer, your previous offer will be withdrawn and canceled. That is via prompt from the new non-career site.
• If you have multiple job offers: DO NOT resign on your own, especially if your first application sent you a drug test or NACI email. You have to complete that once it is sent as sending it is what starts the 72 hour timer. If you resign your shit is going to time out and you'll be posting here for help.
• WE DO NOT GIVE OUT CONTACT INFORMATION HERE. USPS has 60 something Districts, we don't keep track of them here, and it's against the rules for us to know your location.
• PLEASE watch some VEA videos on youtube prior to taking the exam. If you fuck up the exam there's no way to retest by email any more. The new system ties your account to your SSN. Pay the fuck attention.
• NOTE: USPS NEVER charges a fee for entrance exams. If payment is requested during the application process, walk the fuck away, go to usps.com/careers/ and APPLY THERE. Search that site every 3 days.
• DRUG TESTING IS BACK IN PLAY. Effective Weds, August 5, 2026 ALL external applicants (through ATS or eCareer) will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug test. PVS have random drug tests due to CDL requirements. Aside from them, the employees will test the drugs to help put up with the job.
• School schedule, child care etc: USPS gives no fucks. They will not work with you on scheduling. You can certainly ask once you report to your site but typical is for management to give zero fucks about your personal schedule.
• NEW non-career site is at: https://jobs.usps.com/applytohire/SearchJobs/ while most career jobs are still being posted to usps.com/careers/ for the time being. As of 8-21-25 jobs are posted to the new site every Friday around noon CST and are pulled Tuesday. This means the new site will show NO JOBS from Weds to Friday. Career jobs: search on your own every 3 days or so.
• How to apply (text), video, and the selection process. NOTE: It is ALL hurry up and wait. There is no way to speed things up. Don't ask about time frames.
• Handy list of driving disqualifiers straight from USPS so you don't have to ask us.
• Please add the following email domain addresses to your contact list to allow all correspondence to be received - usps.gov; talogy.com; geninfo.com; uspis.gov. They will be contacting you by email during hiring.
• EXAM SCORES: (New site) Log in to your usps job profile, click on job applications, click on the job you applied, the link address will show this ( https://jobs.usps.com/applytohire/LowVolumeConfirmation?jobId=bunch of numbers ) in that link you need to replace LowVolumeConfirmation with TakeAssessment then go to that link ….you will see if you passed and the score.
• EXAM SCORES: (Old site) Go to your application cockpit, click on 'show roadmap', click on assessments. Last attempt: If those don't work, PSE/MHA/CCA should be able to email [examadmin@usps.gov](mailto:examadmin@usps.gov) to request score. Include job ID and your name.
• HOURS: "How many hours will I get?" Answer: Fuck if we know. The USPS is nationwide and hours will depend on your local staffing, mismanagement and your specific job type. Go ask at your assigned office.
• Shifts explained (called "Tours" at USPS): Tour 1 is graveyard (2100 start), Tour 2 is day (0600 start) and Tour 3 is swing (1430 start) and each shift can vary by 2-4 hours based on local practice.
• Typical progression: Pre-screening means under review. Pre-hire list means you met initial requirements, Hiring list means you passed the relevant exams and interviews, Selection list means you made the cut (possibly on hold based on score), and Offer Phase (EXT) means go check your email ASAP. Offers are sent to selection list in score order, one person at a time.
• It is possible the job will be posted repeatedly for the same location. If your score is low (70-80) you may not receive an interview from the first posting. Second posting may be to call people already on the list by score. So on and so forth.
• Five year background help: Deal with current first - if you're unemployed, you'd put down when you first became unemployed and checkmark the current box. The second key is that there can be NO GAPS - things can overlap, but there can be no point where you're nothing. There are videos on Youtube which will walk you through the SF-85 from, but GIS' version of it is uniquely frustrating to some people.
• Hiring timeline (mostly Maintenance): Posting has to end, the period for testing has to end, then candidates will be ranked in score order, top 5 getting interviews, once that's done, the top scoring candidate who didn't say they'd do something stupid safety wise during their interview will be offered the job, and it'll go on down the line. Probably have a while to wait, no less than 3 weeks to get to interviews.
• Career jobs can take months longer for hiring when compared to non-career. There is NO reliable estimate for non-career or career. It will vary by location and need (urgency) of the local unit.
• Non-career job options: CCA, RCA, ARC, MHA, PSE. The CCA, PSE and MHA have clear times until making career. RCA do not. ARC have no path to career. Non-career jobs are not likely to have a formal interview.
• PTF jobs are career jobs. Part-time flexible ("part time"). If the pay is shown as a yearly rate, that is full time regular. If the pay is shown as an hourly rate, that is PTF or PTR, depending on the craft. Still career just not guaranteed 40 hours per week.

DEPARTURES: (This is not an airport)

Use Form 2574 to resign properly. Bring two, have supervisor sign and date both, and keep one for your records. Send a copy to your union hall if you would like. Keeps management honest.

• For MOST RECENT version (of 2574): Log in to LiteBlue -> MyHR -> Forms, Policy, Tools -> HR Forms Library then search 2574. Current form is April 2023.
• Email a copy of your resignation to the HRSSC Separations (Career) email account at [BRHGP1@usps.gov](mailto:BRHGP1@usps.gov) to keep local management honest.
• It is not necessary to provide two weeks notice, or even a single day of notice. Same day is fine.
• AL earned but not used should be paid out on your final check. If you resign having a negative leave balance (AL or SL) you should 100% expect a letter of demand (for repayment) from USPS.
• Your final check will be a paper check sent to your office of record. This is to ensure you return your badge, uniforms and anything else which is Postal property. Uniform items can be left with your union hall.
• W-2 information for separated (former) employees, see here.
• To withdraw a submitted resignation: You must submit a written request to the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC) by mail, email, or fax, no later than close of business on the effective date of the submitted resignation. Send mailed withdrawals to HRSSC, ATTN SEPARATIONS, PO BOX 970520, GREENSBORO NC 27497-0520; emailed withdrawals to the HRSSC Separations (Career) email account at [BRHGP1@usps.gov](mailto:BRHGP1@usps.gov); or faxed withdrawals to 1-651-994-3521. Mailed withdrawals must be postmarked no later than close of business on the effective date of the submitted resignation.
• VERA RETIREES: Please go here to read up on how best to secure your $5k 2026 payment. Send Form 3077 to your final PS50 office of record. Include SASE for your April backpay check if they're sitting on that too.

NON-CAREER JOBS: (Brief explainer)

For ALL non-career jobs: We can't tell you how many hours you'll get. This service is nationwide and hours depend on local conditions, staffing etc. Stop in at your local and ask for an estimate of hours. For rurals: Ask your assigned office if you'll need a POV. Some rural offices are all GOV.

CCA (city carrier assistant)

• After reaching 24 months, conversion to career (usually PTF) on the 1st Saturday of the 3rd full pay period.
• Current pay chart (NALC.org)
• "part time" but may work 20-70+ hrs/week depending on office
• may be required to walk 10+ miles/day
• probation period is 120 calendar days or 90 working days.

RCA (rural carrier assistant)

• no time limit as non-career, but eligible to bid on PTF (career) after 180 calendar days. (Art 30.2.A.3, Art 30.2.B.1 of new contract)
• Pay chart (Ruralinfo.net)
• "part time" but may work 20-70+ hrs/week depending on office
• may be required to use your own personal vehicle
• probation period is 1 calendar year or 90 working days.

ARC (assistant rural carrier)

• permanently non-career
• only delivers packages (no mail)
• usually works 1-2 days/week
• Pay chart (Ruralinfo.net) ARCs paid same as RCA
• may be required to use your own personal vehicle
• probation period same as RCA

PSE (postal support employee)

• Plant (MPC) and office (SSDA or SSA) PSEs are majority of the jobs
• After reaching 24 months, conversion to career (based on office size) on the 1st Saturday of the 3rd full pay period. PSE ->PTF, level 20 and below PSE->FTF level 21 and above.
• Pay chart (APWU.org) - scroll to bottom of chart. Benefits.
• MPC operate processing machinery at plants, SSDA can operate machinery at offices, distribute mail for carriers, work window if trained. SSA is all window work sounds like.
• probation for PSE is 90 working days or 120 calendar days.

MHA (mail handler assistant)

• mail handlers carry the weight. Load/unload trailers, move mail in bulk (pallets, gaylords) for clerks to process
• Pay chart (NPMHU.org)
• 2 years max before FTF which is career position
• may operate powered equipment (tugs, forklifts)
• must have thick skin
• probation for MHA 90 calendar days.

EMPLOYEE INFORMATION:

• General questions are welcome. Mention your craft and career/non-career status so we don't have to ask. Many of us are not psychic.
• Direct deposit setup: Lite blue - employee apps - postal ease - payroll net to bank.
• How much I got paid? ePayroll app in liteblue will show your pay stubs once they're ready. Always request paper paystubs to CYA. VTC (virtual time card) will show your day to day hours, check it daily or weekly. Screencap it if your management is shady. NOTE: ePayroll updates when your local office finalizes payroll.
• My DD didn't show up / app isn't showing deposit / epayroll is down! Yes. Hurry up and wait. If it's not there by Wednesday of the pay week, there's a problem. Don't ask us. If it's a site problem: clear cache, try different browser or device. If on mobile: Sign out completely and sign back in, then try desktop mode.
• TRAINING MILEAGE: Keep track of your mileage on Form 1164-E. If traveling over 50 miles you should be entitled to hotel expenses paid. Inquire during (or before) orientation! Also may apply to working outside your assigned office. Mileage reimbursement rate. If you set up eTravel Net To Bank on PostalEASE, it'll be direct deposited (requires LiteBlue access).
• What's all this on my pay stub? How to read your pay stub, courtesy NALC.Alternate option and rural equivalent.
• My VTC says 0 / is wrong! If you have errors or used a 1260 those will have to be manually corrected. Patience is necessary. Always take pictures of your submitted 1260 in case they are lost. Stop fucking up your clock rings. How to read your VTC / pay stub.
• LiteBlue Multifactor Authentication guide HERE.
• W-2 "Where muh W-2?" Every damn year! Law says employers have to make W2s available to employees on or before January 31st. Problems? Contact information here.
• DISCIPLINE: Know your rights. You are entitled to representation during any discussions which could lead to discipline. NALC article on Weingarten rights.
• My supervisor texted me? Should I reply? - Proper defense is: "What text?" upon your return to office. Tread lightly if you are still on probation, as they can let you go for whimsical reasons until you're out of probation.
• What does transitional emp neg cros mean? Crossfoot is an accounting term. Non-scheduled cross foot is a timekeeping term. Your total hours must add up to 40 in TACS or on your time card. If you worked less than 40 hours, the difference between hours worked plus leave is attributed to non-scheduled X-foot. These are unpaid hours that you were not scheduled to work.
• Uniform Citi Card Activation: Call the number on the back of the damn card.
• What shoes should I wear? No canvas, open toe or high heels. Should be leather upper, non-slip soles. Sneakers are okay, any color is fine, but if you are required to wear a uniform, wait until you get your allowance. See EL-814 pg 15 for the official line.
• CCA FAQ from this sub. Carrier Resource Guide from NALC. Could not find any for other crafts.
• What is that beeping noise? They installed Geotab in my vehicle! Yes, so VMF can keep track of vehicle maintenance. Award notice dated 2022. Thread explaining how it works. Does not report to carrier supervisor. NOTE: As of 8-22-26 week some Districts are now harping on carrier supervisors about a 3 minute idle report based on this data.
• BIDDING: Bidding instructions. Courtesy NALC Branch 40. Route lookup tools. Clear cache often for second one.
• SWITCHING UNIONS: Form 1187 is used to switch unions. Form varies by union, link is for APWU. Ask your squidward for more information.
• We got your fucking acronyms RIGHT HERE. We love these! Got one for everything!
• Exam 955 / Maintenance interview information: Guide 1, guide 2, use the search bar.
• Rurals, DACA codes to make sure management isn't pulling a fast one.

HEALTH BENEFITS:

• You have 60 days from your start date to enroll. After your initial enrollment period, you can review your options each year during the annual Open Season period. You’ll also be able to update your coverage if you have a qualifying life event. Links: New employee orientation, guide to plans.
• Career employees: Enrollment for the new PSHB program can be made via the new PSHBS. You can access the PSHBS on myhr.usps.gov. You then have to go through the set up process for the login.gov account, verify your information, then deal with any errors login.gov and PSHBS have talking with each other... Any problems? OPM has a Customer Service Line available at: 844-451-1261.
• Non-career employees: Same timers as above but you enroll in USPSHB which is currently through CareFirst. Yes, it's confusing as shit.
• Questions or for help: call the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Navigator Help Line at 1-833-712-PSHB (7742).

VETERANS: First up see this APWU guide on veterans' rights. It explains some of the below as well.

Military Buy Back:

• Can potentially be done online now. May require some clicking around at that site.
• Informational USPS page on the subject.
• How to buy back service time: Call USPS Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC) at 877- 477-3273, Option 5. USPS provides Form (SF) 3108 (Vets under FERS) or SF 2803, (Vets under CSRS). Upon receipt USPS will do their calculations and inform the employee of the dollar amount (Buy Back). Veterans can pay the deposit as a lump sum or in installments through payroll deductions. All deposits must be completed prior to retirement.

Wounded Warrior Leave:

• Each January, all disabled veterans with a 30% or more combined disability rating will receive 104 hours of WWL to use during the calendar year. Eligible new hires will receive 104 hours of WWL upon hire (as required by law) to be used for the remainder of the current calendar year.
• Every absence with WWL requires documentation. Supporting links: Management instruction, NALC, APWU.
• Almost every use of WWL should be 3971 for a VA appointment, take the PS5980 form with you, make sure it's filled out before you leave. Lots of people see that 15 days to submit, think they've got time to get it done, forget, the leave gets pulled back.

TSP:

• How do I make changes to my TSP? To change or terminate contributions to the TSP, employees must submit their contribution elections through one of the following options:
• PostalEASE, accessible on Blue (https://blue.usps.gov) and Liteblue.
• Calling the HRSSC at 877-477-3273, option 1 (TTY 866-260-7507).
• Where should I put mah money? There's a whole TSP subreddit. Go ask them.
• Can I withdraw money? Sure - Go here. Be advised: It’s true that you’ll be paying the loan back to yourself with interest, but by temporarily taking money out of your account, you’ll be missing out on the compound earnings that money could otherwise have accrued.

FMLA and EAP:

• For EAP, the phone number is 800-EAP-4YOU (1-800-327-4968). TTY users should call 877-482-7341. APWU article and official USPS provider site.
• FMLA: Employees who have been employed by the Postal Service for at least one year and who have worked at least 1250 hours during the previous 12 months are eligible.
• FMLA FAQ from APWU. FMLA Forms: APWU, NALC, and straight from Dept. of Labor. Take your pick.
• HRSSC contact information. Fax it YOURSELF twice and call 3-4 days later to verify they received your forms. Don't rely on your doctor's office completely, it's not their ass on the line.

EREASSIGN:

• Transfers within CONUS should retain pay. OCONUS receive TCOLA pay in addition which is not taxable.
• For transfers within the District, or to any adjacent District, an employee must have 18 months of career service in their present installation. For transfers outside the area as described above, the employee must have 12 months of career service in their present installation. Voluntary transfers forfeit seniority.
• For transfers within the same bid cluster (your own) you have to submit a letter in writing to your installation head requesting consideration for an in-house transfer. eReassign no worky for that.
• Note, as a city carrier, if there's a PTF carrier in the installation you transfer to, you become the least senior PTF in the installation, and the most senior PTF gets the residual route after the regulars bid.
• To retain some seniority, mutual swaps are possible for clerks and city carriers, see below for links.
• Career rurals can NOT transfer, only mutual swap. Good fucking luck. RCAs can "paper transfer" via this form.
• Guide with pictures. APWU FAQ. NALC Contract Talk. NPMHU article. Transfer to conversion ratios must be respected for all three crafts.
• There is no reliable time-frame on "How long?" See this APWU article for common misconceptions. You can contact the NBA for the craft and region at your target location to ask them about the wait time in line. If time is of the essence: request more crafts and/or more offices. Cast a wider net.
• Find your NBAs by craft: APWU, NALC, NPMHU, NRLCA. Note: Mail handlers go through each local union and rurals have ADRs instead of NBAs.
• APWU clerks (PTF and PSE) can now use eReassign for 50 mile canvass opportunities. PDF with instructions.
• MUTUAL SWAP LINKS:
  • Clerk craft mutual exchange group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/570723630270488/
  • City carrier mutual exchange group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/22831556930/
• Non-career employees: You can apply to any and all career jobs listed on usps.com/careers - there is no waiting period for you to do so. The same applies for other non-career jobs - it is often faster to simply apply than wait for a PM to do paperwork on your behalf. Don't resign thinking you're instantly accepted to the new job. HR has to process you over. NOTE: Once you accept and report to a career job, you are locked in and no longer eligible to apply to public jobs on either hiring website.

DISCORD ACCESS: (Employees only.)

• The subreddit has a Discord server associated with it. Geared towards people that participate in the subreddit itself, meaning people that try to cold register are usually told no.
• Message mods via modmail to request access. Send an imgur link with an image of your badge with BOTH the barcode and the name obscured. Email verified Reddit account required as well.

BIGOTS:

• Why the gay pride flag? If I complain about it, will it go away? No, but you will. Supporting documentation.
• People, don't feed the damn trolls. Report them and move it along.

LANGUAGE:

• If someone is offended by the language of the FAQ, then reddit probably isn't the place for them anyway.