Benefit
Program
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Note the deadlines . . .
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Find out about eligibility and options . .
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Prepare for and make your elections . . .
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Comments
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Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
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Opens: 11/12
Closes: 12/11
5:00 p.m. CT
or
Qualifying Life Event (through HRSSC)
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Guides to Benefits
Updates coming soon.
n APWU, NRLCA Career Employees
n Non-APWU, Non-NRLCA Career Employees
n PCES Employees
n Postal Inspectors and OIG Employees
n IT/ASC Employees
n Non-career Employees
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Prepare PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet.
Use PostalEASE.
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n You must enter dependents if electing a new Self and Family plan.
n Individual plan brochures are available at www.opm.gov/insure
Coming to you in the mail: Guide to Benefits (program summary) with PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet.
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Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
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Opens: 11/12
Closes: 12/10
11:59 p.m. ET
or
Qualifying Life Event (through BENEFEDS, not HRSSC)
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Guide to Dental and Vision Insurance Program
Update coming soon
n All Employees
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Use www.benefeds.com.
877-888-3337
TTY: 877-889-5680
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n If you are eligible to participate in FEHB, you are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP, even if you are not enrolled in FEHB.
n USPS® does not contribute.
n You pay full cost of premiums on a pre-tax basis.
n You may enroll in a dental plan, a vision plan, or both.
n You may enroll in a plan for Self Only, Self Plus One, or Self and Family coverage.
Coming to you in the mail: FEDVIP Guide.
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Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
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Opens: 11/12
Closes: 12/23
5:00 p.m. CT
or
Qualifying Life Event (through HRSSC)
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FSA Brochure
Update coming soon
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Prepare PostalEASE FSA Worksheet.
Use PostalEASE.
FSA Customer Service Center: 800-842-2026
Employees who are deaf/hard of hearing call via 711 (TRS).
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n Health Care FSA maximum is changed to $2,500.
n Dependent Care (day care) FSA maximum is $5,000.
Coming to you in the mail: Post cards, leaflet, and brochure.
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Annual Leave Exchange (ALE)
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Opens: 11/15
Closes: 12/15
11:59 p.m. CT
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Letter mailed to eligible employees
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Prepare PostalEASE ALE Worksheet (mailed
to eligible employees).
Use PostalEASE.
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n Most career non-bargaining unit employees from Rate Schedule Codes (RSCs) D, E, F, S, U, V, and Z 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 11, 2013.
n Bargaining unit employees from RSCs C, K, and P, and for employees from RSCs G, M, N, T, and Y only as provided for in pending successor agreements to current agreements, 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 11, 2013.
n For non-bargaining unit and bargaining unit employees, the lump sum is calculated on salary as of January 12, 2013, and included in the February 1, 2013, paycheck.
n These lump sum payments are taxable in 2013.
Coming only to eligible employees in the mail: Letter about annual leave exchange.
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Allotments/
Net-to-Bank (Direct Deposit)
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Any time
Processed at
3:00 p.m. CT,
second Wednesday of pay period
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Prepare PostalEASE Net-to-Bank Worksheet.
Use PostalEASE.
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n You must provide your financial institution's routing number and your account number.
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Thrift Savings Plan
Regular Contributions
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Any time
Processed at
3:00 p.m. CT,
second Wednesday of pay period
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https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tspbk08.pdf
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Prepare PostalEASE TSP Worksheet.
Use PostalEASE.
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n The IRS annual limit on elective deferrals for 2013 is increasing to $17,500. FERS employees who want to maximize contributions while avoiding the loss of USPS matching contributions should make a whole dollar contribution per pay period equal to the announced maximum divided by 26.
n Contribution elections for 2013 will be accepted beginning at 3:30 p.m. CT on December 12, 2012.
Coming to you in the mail: TSP enrollment information letter and PostalEASE TSP Worksheet.
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TSP 50+ Catch-Up Contributions
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Any time
Processed at
3:00 p.m. CT,
second Wednesday of pay period
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https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tspbk08.pdf
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Prepare PostalEASE TSP 50+ Catch Up Worksheet.
Use PostalEASE.
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n The IRS annual limit remains $5,500 for those age 50 or older during 2013.
n Catch-up contribution elections for 2013 will be accepted beginning at 3:30 p.m. CT on December 12, 2012. You must certify that your regular TSP contributions will reach the IRS maximum.
Coming only to eligible employees in the mail: TSP enrollment information catch-up letter and PostalEASE TSP Catch-Up Worksheet.
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TSP Investment Choices
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Any time
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https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tspbk08.pdf
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Use www.tsp.gov.
Have TSP acct. no. or Custom User ID.
Have Web password.
877-968-3778
TDD: 877-847-4385
Have TSP acct. no.
Have TSP PIN.
Mail Form TSP-50
(available from HRSSC)
to TSP.
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n Via the ThriftLine you may request:
n A new TSP PIN.
n A new 8-character Web password.
n A copy of your TSP account number.
n Quarterly participant statements.
n Via www.tsp.gov, you may request:
n A new 8-character Web password.
n A copy of your TSP account number.
n Create a Custom User ID
n Printable views of quarterly participant statements.
n Cancellation of request to have quarterly participant statements mailed.
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Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)
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You may apply any time — underwriting required
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www.ltcfeds.com/usps
Find category of eligibility.
Click Information Kit.
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Use www.ltcfeds.com/usps.
Find category of eligibility
Click Application.
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n New and newly eligible employees may enroll with the abbreviated application within the first 60 days of becoming eligible.
n You may download the information kit and the application or have them mailed to you.
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Commuter Program
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Any time
Monthly election deadline for payroll deduction amount is 15th of the month, 11:59 p.m. ET, 1 month ahead of payroll deduction month. Funds are added to your card or account each pay day.
Order Deadline — Additional deadline if you have Transit Pass or Parking Plan. Cutoff for placing, changing, or canceling order is the 10th of the month, 11:59 p.m. ET, 1 month ahead of commuting month. (For Long Island Rail Road or Metro-North Railroad, the cutoff is the 4th.)
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www.wageworks.com
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Use www.wageworks.com
877-924-3967
TTY: 866-361-8017
M–F 8 A.M.–8 p.m. ET
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n New career employees receive a brochure in the mail and must allow up to 30 days for information to be entered in the Wageworks system.
n Other employees can enroll at any time.
n Elections, changes, and cancellation for Commuter Program take effect 1 month after monthly election and/or order deadlines.
n 2013 IRS monthly limits are not confirmed but may remain at $125 for mass transit, and $240 for parking.
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