POSTAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Postal employees receive the same general benefits provided to federal
employees for the most part. However, USPS employees pay considerably less for
their health care bi-weekly premiums than the competitive Civil Service does.
Vacation & Sick Leave
All employees receive: 10 paid holidays, 13 days of vacation for the first three
years, twenty days of vacation with three to fifteen years service and after
fifteen years twenty-six days. Additionally, 13 sick days are accrued each year
regardless of length of service. Military time counts toward benefits. If you
have three years of military service, you begin with four weeks paid vacation
and three years toward retirement.
Health Benefits & Life Insurance
Medical health plans and the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
programs are available to all employees. The medical plan is an
employee-employer contribution system and includes HMO and Blue Cross and Blue
Shield programs. There are hundreds of plans to choose from. The FEGLI program
offers low cost term life insurance for the employee and basic coverage for the
family. FEGLI offers up to five times the employee’s salary in death benefits.
One of the primary benefits of Postal Service employment is the satisfaction you
experience from working in a challenging and rewarding position. Positions are
available with the level of responsibility and authority that you desire.
Retirement
The Postal Service retirement system was significantly changed for individuals
hired after January 1, 1984. Social Security is withheld and a new employee
contribution system is fashioned after a 401k defined contribution plan. You can
elect to contribute into a THRIFT savings 401k plan. The government will match
your contribution up to 5 percent. This is effectively a 5 percent pay increase.
Your contributions are tax deferred and reduce your taxable income by the amount
contributed. The retirement benefit is determined by the amount that has
accumulated during the employee’s career. This includes the interest earned and
capital gains realized from the retirement fund.
There are many withdrawal options including lump sum and various fixed term
annuities. The contribution plan payout is in addition to the social security
benefits that you will be eligible for at retirement. Postal workers pay
considerably less for their health benefits than competitive federal civil
service employees due to their negotiated union contracts.
For more information on Post Office Jobs purchase a copy of
"Post Office Jobs" by Dennis V. Damp
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