Postal VER

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Postal VER

News and Information about Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) for USPS Employees

3/24/2009 - Source: USPS LiteBlue

ALL EMPLOYEES except Electronic Technicians (ET); Maintenance Mechanics, Mail Processing Equipment (MPE); Part-time Postmasters.

The Postal Service recently received approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer voluntary early retirement to eligible employees nationwide.

Automation and technological advances coupled with mail volume reductions has the Postal Service continuing to look for ways to voluntarily reduce its workforce while maintaining excellent customer service.

This offer is open to employees in those positions who meet the OPM conditions, and who are at least 50 years of age with 20 years of creditable federal service or any age with 25 years of creditable federal service.

Please Note: The age and years of service criteria must be met by the effective retirement date of this VERA: July 31, 2009. If you don’t meet the criteria by July 31, 2009, you are not eligible for voluntary early retirement.

For your convenience, a timeline of activity related to this VERA can be found below. Read through this timeline carefully and consider your retirement options. It’s important to note that May 15, 2009 is the date when an employee's voluntary choice to retire becomes irrevocable (cannot be withdrawn) under this VERA.

As a reminder, a voluntary early retirement is just that - voluntary. But if retirement is part of a near-future plan for you, make sure to navigate through all the information on this website and get all the information you need to make an informed decision.

VER Information Sessions

While Local Services won’t have any additional information regarding VER eligibility lists, HQ and HRSSC will work together to coordinate and set up information sessions to provide opportunities for Q&A dialogue. VER Information Sessions include reviews of eligibility requirements, the pre-established timeline and the Retirement Seminar DVD. Watch for local announcements within your District on times and locations.

National VER Steps At-a-Glance

This National Voluntary Early Retirement offer, which ends on July 31, 2009; has three effective dates. All VER applications for any of the three effective dates are subject to Area approval. Those effective dates are:

May 31, 2009,

June 30, 2009, or

July 31, 2009.

Note that July 31, 2009 is the final effective date under this National VERA; there are no extensions at this time.

VER is not a complicated process, but it does require some careful thinking on the part of eligible employees. To help you make an informed decision, please review the following quick steps and important dates. Use this summary of the instructions spelled out in the Offer Letter in conjunction with the annuity estimate and any other forms in the Offer Packet to make an informed decision.

Important Items:

Dates	What Happens	What Should You Do?
March 20, 2009	Postal Service announces 2009 VERA for All VER-eligible employees except Electronic Technicians (ET); Maintenance Mechanics, Mail Processing Equipment (MPE); Part-time Postmasters.	Don’t panic! If you are VER-eligible, you will receive all assistance needed. Make sure your address of record is accurate.
April 6, 2009 to April 10, 2009	Annuity Estimates are mailed out to all VER-eligible employees.	Study the estimate carefully and start considering your retirement options.
April 6, 2009 to April 10, 2009	VER Offer Packet mailed out to all VER-eligible employees.	Read through the information provided and in conjunction with the annuity estimate, make a decision whether voluntary early retirement is the best option for you.
April 10, 2009 to May 15, 2009	VER-eligible employees must decide whether to apply for retirement during this period.	Complete all required forms, and send to the HRSSC (Human Resources Shared Service Center) per instructions provided. After your Acknowledgement of Irrevocability and Application for Immediate Retirement forms are received at the HRSSC (postmarked no later than May 15, 2009) you will be mailed additional forms required to complete the retirement process and information needed to schedule your retirement information session.
May 15, 2009	Required documents must be postmarked by this date and received at the HRSSC to take advantage of VER offer.	DON’T MISS THIS DEADLINE!
May 15, 2009	Sent in your retirement application and changed your mind? SUBMIT REQUEST TO WITHDRAW BEFORE THIS TIME.	If you REALLY want to withdraw your application, pay close attention to this deadline!
May 31, 2009, June 30, 2009, or July 31, 2009	Effective retirement date(s) for All VER-eligible employees except Electronic Technicians (ET); Maintenance Mechanics, Mail Processing Equipment (MPE); Part-time Postmasters. Specific effective retirement date (one of three listed) depends on the selection made by the VER-eligible career employee.	If you applied for retirement and your application was approved, have a wonderful retirement!