Cover Story

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.

Allotments/

Net-to-Bank (Direct Deposit)

Any time

Processed at

3:00 p.m. CT,

second Wednesday of pay period

Prepare PostalEASE Net-to-Bank Worksheet.

Use PostalEASE.

n You must provide your financial institution's routing number and your account number.

Thrift Savings Plan

Regular Contributions

Any time

Processed at

3:00 p.m. CT,

second Wednesday of pay period

https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tspbk08.pdf

Prepare PostalEASE TSP Worksheet.

Use PostalEASE.

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.

TSP 50+ Catch-Up Contributions

Any time

Processed at

3:00 p.m. CT,

second Wednesday of pay period

https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tspbk08.pdf

Prepare PostalEASE TSP 50+ Catch Up Worksheet.

Use PostalEASE.

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.

TSP Investment Choices

Any time

https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tspbk08.pdf

Use www.tsp.gov.

Have TSP acct. no. or Custom User ID.

(available from HRSSC)

to TSP.

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.

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)

You may apply any time — underwriting required

www.ltcfeds.com/usps

Find category of eligibility.

Click Information Kit.

Use www.ltcfeds.com/usps.

Find category of eligibility.

Click Application.

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.

Commuter Program

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.)