|
2006 Program |
Dates |
Election Method |
Comments |
Federal
Employees
Health Benefits
(FEHB) |
Opens: 11/13
Closes: 12/12
at 5 P.M. Central
Time (CT) |
Via PostalEASE
(see instructions on the next
page). |
• OPM requires information about dependents, so you must
enter them if electing a new Self and Family plan.
• Individual plan brochures are available at www.opm.gov/insure or by calling your health plan.
Coming to you in the mail: FEHB guide (plan summary) with
PostalEASE FEHB worksheet. |
|
Federal
Employees
Dental and Vision
Insurance
Program
(FEDVIP) |
Opens: 11/13
Closes: 12/11
at 11:59 P.M.
Eastern Time |
Via OPM BENEFEDS Web
site at
http://www.benefeds.com or
call 877-888-3337 (or
TTY 877-889-5680). |
• If you are eligible to participate in FEHB, you are eligible to
enroll in FEDVIP, even if you are not enrolled in FEHB.
• USPS does not contribute.
• You pay full cost of premiums on a pre-tax basis.
• You may enroll in a dental plan, a vision plan, or both.
• You may enroll in a plan for Self Only, Self Plus One, or Self
and Family coverage.
• Rules for the eligibility of family members in FEDVIP are the
same as those for their eligibility in FEHB.
Coming to you in the mail: FEDVIP guide. |
Flexible
Spending
Accounts
(FSAs) |
Opens: 11/13
Closes: 12/31
at 5 P.M. CT |
Via PostalEASE
(see instructions on the next
page). |
• Health Care FSA maximum is $5,000.
• Dependent Care (day care) FSA maximum is $5,000.
• Over-the-counter medicines and drugs are eligible.
Coming to you in the mail: Post cards, leaflet, and brochure. |
|
Annual Leave
Exchange |
Opens: 11/15
Closes: 12/15
at 11:59 P.M. CT |
Via PostalEASE
(see instructions on the next
page). |
• Career nonbargaining unit employees from Rate Schedule
Codes (RSCs) E, F, S, and U may exchange from 8 to 128
hours in whole-hour increments, if their annual leave balance
is at least 160 hours as of close of business on January 5,
2007.
• Bargaining unit employees from RSCs C, K, M, N, P, T, and Y
may exchange from 8 to 40 hours in whole-hour increments, if
their annual leave balance is at least 440 hours and if they
have used less than 75 hours of sick leave for the leave year
as of close of business on January 5, 2007.
• The lump sum is calculated on salary as of January 6, 2007. It
is included in the January 26, 2007, paycheck and taxable in
2007.
Coming to you in the mail: Letter about annual leave exchange. |
Allotments/
Net-to-Bank |
Anytime |
Via PostalEASE
(see instructions on the next
page). |
• You must provide your financial institution's routing number
and your account number. |
|
Thrift Savings
Plan (TSP)
Regular
Contributions |
Anytime |
Begin or change your TSP
paycheck contribution dollar
or percentage amount via
PostalEASE
(see instructions on the next
page). |
• The IRS maximum for 2007 is $15,500.
• FERS employees who want to maximize contributions while
avoiding the loss of USPS matching contributions should
make a whole dollar contribution of $597 per pay period
($15,500/26 pay periods).
Coming to you in the mail: TSP enrollment information letter
and PostalEASE worksheet. |
|
TSP 50+
Catch-Up
Contributions |
Anytime |
Via PostalEASE
(see instructions below). |
• You may contribute up to an additional $5,000, if you are age
50 or older during 2007.
• Catch-up contribution elections for 2007 will be accepted
beginning at 12:01 P.M. CT on December 21, 2006. You must
certify that regular TSP contributions will reach the IRS
maximum.
Coming to you in the mail: TSP enrollment information
catch-up letter and PostalEASE TSP catch-up worksheet. |
|
TSP Investment
Choices |
Anytime |
Choose your investment
fund or make an interfund
transfer of an existing
balance by:
• Accessing the TSP Web
site at www.tsp.gov.
• Calling ThriftLine toll-free
at 877-968-3778 (or TDD
toll-free at 877-847-4385).
• Mailing Form TSP-50
(available from HRSSC)
to TSP. |
• You must use your TSP PIN (not your USPS PIN).
• You may request a new TSP PIN via www.tsp.gov or
ThriftLine.
• TSP issues quarterly participant statements. |
Using PostalEASE
It is easier to use the PostalEASE Employee Web than to use the telephone to make open season elections.
By Employee Web, access the system in any of these ways:
• On the Internet at https://liteblue.usps.gov. Under "Employee Self Service," select PostalEASE.
• At an employee self-service kiosk.
• On the Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov. Under "Employee Resources," select Employee Self Service and then PostalEASE.
By telephone, call the Employee Service Line at 877-4PS-EASE (877-477-3273, option 1 for PostalEASE).
Finding Your USPS ID and PIN
You must use:
• Your Employee ID - all eight digits, even if the first one is 0 - printed at the top of your earnings statement.
• Your USPS PIN. If you have forgotten your PIN, request a letter:
• On the Employee Web on the Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov.
• At an employee self-service kiosk (follow instructions).
• By telephone (option 1 for PostalEASE; when asked to enter PIN, wait; you will then hear an option to request a letter.
Your PIN is usually mailed to your address of record the next business day. |
