<> NOTICE <> Everything is now on this one page <> SCROLL Through ALL <>
<> You May Find Some Interesting Links Along The Way <>
{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}

NEW POSTAL SERVICE HEALTH BENEFITS VIDEOS AVAILABLE: copied from www.unitedpma.org
USPS Postal Service Health Benefit Plan informational video series is now available.
Here is a summary and link to the five-part video series that is designed to answer many of your questions about the new plan that will take effect on January 1, 2025 and 
will affect every employee and annuitant.
 
The videos are also available on:
 
For Retirees:https://www.keepingposted.org/pshb-videos.htm
For Employees:
Postal Service Health Benefits - MyHR (usps.gov))

{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}
UPDATE H.R. 82 SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT: Dave Cook, UPMAR Legislative Chairman
U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Garret Graves (R-LA-06) urged the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on 3/4 to take the next step to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) by holding a markup on their bipartisan 
Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82).

HUGE NEWS: SOCIAL SECURITY UPDATE:  from Dave Cook and Michael Silvestri
S.597 Social Security Fairness Act now has 53 Cosponsors. The latest to sign on is Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer D-NY.

{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}
<>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<>
ADDRESS INFORMATION UPDATES:
If you have had a change of mailing address, e-mail address or telephone number change, please send your changes to the National Office at unitedpma.org. They will update your records so that you will continue to receive current communications from the National Office and from your UPMA State Chapter.

If you know you had a change of mailing address, e-mail address or telephone number anytime in the past and know that you did not notify the National Office of your changes, then you should send your current information for updatiing to Dan Heins at the National UPMA Office.
His e-mail address is DHeins@unitedpma.org.
{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}
LEGISLATIVE NEWS UPDATE: from Dave Cook
A new Social Security bill has been introduced in House, H.R. 7084, You Earned It, You Keep It Act-Sponsor Craig D-MN, Cosponsors 7-D, Bill would eliminate all Federal taxes on Social Security Benefits
More info go to: www.house.gov

{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}

ClickHere for Convention Registration
For more Convention Information CLICKHERE

{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}

2024 UPMA FLORIDA Chapter awards scholarships to qualifying students.
The applicant must be the child or grandchild of an Active or Retired Postmaster or Manager
who is a member of UPMA Florida Chapter.

Applicant must be accepted as a FIRST, SECOND, THIRD OR FOURTH YEAR STUDENT
for admission to an accredited college, university or trade school.
The applicant must have a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) overall including a 2.5 average for the last full year of high school
and must provide a transcript of their grades covering the most recent year of school.

If the recipient leaves school for any reason except for sickness or death, the money must be returned to the UPMA Florida Chapter.

The winners will be announced at the Florida Chapter Convention.
Click Here for Scholarship Application

{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}
2024 UPMA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION from Stephen Auffarber, Chairperson
The 2024 UPMA Scholarship Application has been posted on the UPMA Website: www.unitedpma.org. Click on the Retiree tab.

The scholarship is available to all qualifying students.
The winners will be announced at the annual national convention of the United Postmasters and Managers of America.
The applicants who are not chosen to receive a scholarship will not be notified.
If the recipient leaves school for any reason except for sickness or death the money must be returned to the UPMA Retired organization.

To qualify:
The applicant must be the child, stepchild, grandchild or great-grandchild of a member of the UNITED POSTMASTERS AND MANAGERS OF AMERICA.
must be a high school graduate and accepted as a first, second, third, or fourth seat student for admission to an accredited college, university or trade school.
The applicant must have a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) overall for the last full year of high school,
and must provide a transcript of their grades covering the most recent year of school. Here is the UPMAS Scholarship form.
Any questions contact Steve at: saauff23@yahoo.com
Here is the link: https://www.unitedpma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-UPMAS-Scholarship-Application.doc-12.10.23.pdf
or here is the Scholarship Application Form.

Please send donations to the Scholarship Foundation to:
UPMA Retired National Treasurer Louise S. Nix,
88 Rodney Nix Rd, Cleveland, GA 30528
Phone: (706) 878-6173, e-mail: louisenix@yahoo.com

{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR UPMA NATIONAL PRESIDENT:

With a clean bill of health and the full support of my loving family
I would like to announce that I will be seeking the position of
UPMA National President.
My dedication and desire to serve the members of this great organization has never been stronger.
I look forward to discussing the issues with you and gaining your trust and support.
Sincerely, Anthony Leonardi

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: from Dave Cook, UPMAR Legislative Chairman

HERE IS WHAT WE ARE WATCHING:
WEP/GPO Update
H.R. 82 Social Security Fairness Act has 311 Cosponsors - 205(D) 106(R)
The latest to sign H.R. 82 is Florida Rep. Gimenez (R)
UPDATE H.R. 82 SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT: 3/07/24 - Dave Cook, UPMAR Legislative Chairman
U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Garret Graves (R-LA-06) urged the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on 3/4 to take the next step to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) by holding a markup on their bipartisan 
Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82).


S597 Social Security Fairness Act has 50 Cosponsors 41(D) 9(R) 3(I)
The following Florida Senators have not signed on to S597 - Rubio(R) and Scott(R)

HUGE NEWS: SOCIAL SECURITY UPDATE:  3/07/24 - from Dave Cook and Michael Silvestri
S.597 Social Security Fairness Act now has 52 Cosponsors. The latest to sign on is Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer D-NY.


Other bills to watch regarding WEP/GPO are:
H.R. 4260 Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act has 102 Cosponsors 102(D)
H.R. 4583 Social Security 2100 Act has 179 Cosponsors 179(D)
S-2780 Social Security 2100 Act has 4 Cosponsors 4(D)

We will be attending the Legislative Summit March 17-24, 2024 giving us a great opportunity to meet with our Senators.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE February 12, 2024:  Michael Silvestri- UPMAR Legislative Comm.
Summarized by Dave Cook
We are making the final arrangements to visit our Representatives on Capitol Hill on March 19th. We know that not everyone is available to make the trip to Washington D.C. You can still do your part to carry our message to our Senators and Representatives right from home by contacting them either by an appointment at their local office or by calling or e-mailing them. The issues and talking points will soon be posted on UPMA'S National website. For more information go to: 
www.house.govwww.senate.govwww.unitedpma.org


Legislation to reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) was reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep: Richard Neal, D-MA. The Public Servants Protection Act, H.R. 4260, is the latest iteration of WEB reform and would grant relief to current WEP-affected individuals by providing them with and extra $150 a month and instituting a new WEP formula for future retirees. H.R. 4260 would provide current WEP affected Social Security beneficiaries and those turning 62 before 2025 an extra $150 a month, starting nine months after enactment and continuing for as long as those individuals are eligible to receive Social Security benefits. The relief amount cannot exceed the size of each person's current WEP reduction. Future retirees will be eligible for a new formula, called the Public Servant Protection (PSP) formula. The PSP formula would calculate a benefit amount based on the proportion of lifetime earnings covered by Social Security. The legislation stipulates that future retirees the higher benefit of the two formulas, protecting individuals from being worse off under the new PSP formula. H.R. 4260 also maintains the current WEP exemptions for those who have 30 or more years of Social Security covered employment or if they do not receive any pension from their public employment.

POSTAL REFORM ACT IS NOW LAW! April 6, 2022 From David Cook, National Legislative Chair/Retired
On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, the President signed into law H.R. 3076, the "Postal Service Reform Act of 2022", which establishes the Postal Service Health Benefits Program, repeals the prefunding requirement related to Postal retirement benefits, makes reforms to non-postal and postal services, among other things.
National President Edmund and National Executive Director/Past National President Dan Heins were personally invited to attend the signing to represent work of UPMA members.
  • The law establishes the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, which will provide health insurance to USPS career employees, retirees and their dependents, beginning January 1, 2025.
  • The PSHB program, to be administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, will be structured similarly to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. The employer/employee cost-sharing contributions for premiums will be determined by the Postal Service's collective bargaining and pay consultation processes.
  • USPS employees and retirees can make their PSHB plan selections during the open season benefits period that occurs in November and December 2024.
  • Beginning in January 2025, the new law will require all newly Medicare-eligible USPS annuitants and their Medicare-eligible covered family members to enroll in Medicare Part B to maintain their postal health coverage.

NEW POSTAL SERVICE HEALTH BENEFITS:  copied from www.keepingposted.org

PSHB is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and will be administered by OPM. Coverage under the PSHB Program will be effective January 1, 2025. You are required to select a health insurance plan in the PSHB Program during the 2024 open season period, which will run from November 11, 2024, to December 9, 2024. If you do not actively select a PSHB plan, you will be automatically enrolled in a comparable PSHB plan. PSHB plan options and premium information will be available in fall 2024. Information on how and where to enroll will be available as we approach the 2024 open season.
Learn more in this month’s issue.

AND OTHER PSHB INSURANCE INFO: President Charley

   For those who have questions on PSHB, the Postal Service has set up a help line at Postal Headquarters. The Help Line number is 1-833-712-PSHB (7742). Callers will receive several prompts to select information on various topics, and they will be able to reach a live person on the 9th floor of USPS Headquarters, who will help answer their questions.

   USPS launched a PSHB seminar series on January 25 and some were unable to join due to the event reaching capacity, but they are working to increase the capacity for future seminars. If you would like to receive a notice so you can join the next seminar on PSHB, Text "seminar" to 36369. You can also text "PSHBP" to 36369, in order to receive updates and zoom links for seminar meetings and other alerts. A recording of the seminars will be put up on KeepingPosted.org and Lite Blue after they are finalized-likely within 2 weeks. KeepingPosted.org is for Annuitants and LiteBlue.usps.gov is for Active employees. You can sign up for a free subscription to KeepingPosted at
www.keepingposted.org. You will also see a link for Keeping Posted on Facebook that you can join.


   If you at some point decide you want to try or enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan outside of FEHB, SUSPEND your FEHB coverage, DO NOT cancel your FEHB coverage. If you suspend coverage, retirees can always re-enroll in a FEHB plan. If you cancel, you can never get your FEHB coverage back. PSHB is or will be a Plan within FEHB. PSHBP (Postal Service Health Benefit Plan). If an individual has suspended their FEHB coverage as of the implementation date for PSHB, the suspension will carry over to PSHB automatically.

   Some individuals have received correspondence from SSA about Medicare premiums, informing them that they will be subject to IRMAA. Individuals can apply for a waiver of the IRMAA, but there is no guarantee it will be granted.

   For clarification, we (PSHB Task Force Team) have asked Postal Headquarters to clarify Medicare Advantage-Part C, including the commercially available plans versus the plans available under the PSHB. 

   If you have an unanswered question on PSHB that you are concerned about, send it to me and I will refer it to Postal Headquarters for a response. 

Have a great day!

Charles Peters, UPMA Retired National President


When does the PSHB Program Begin?: Info from OPM.Gov

The first opportunity to select a Postal Service Health Benefit plan will take place during Open Season in late 2024, and coverage under the PSHB health benefits program coverage will begin January 2025.


Is there anything Postal Service employees or annuitants need to do right now to keep their health insurance coverage?
Not immediately. Employees, annuitants, and eligible family members may continue to participate in the FEHB Program for the 2024 plan year. Their current FEHB enrollment will continue unless they make any changes prior to January 2025. OPM and the Postal Service will continue to provide updates leading up to the 2024 PSHB Open Season to help ensure a smooth transition for all eligible employees and annuitants.

Does the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (PSRA) allow Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members to remain in a Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan in 2025?
While Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members will remain in the FEHB Program, for coverage effective January 1, 2025, they will no longer be able to remain in an FEHB plan. During Open Season in 2024, eligible individuals must enroll or will be automatically enrolled in a Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) plan, within the FEHB Program, in order to receive health insurance based upon their active employment with or retirement from the Postal Service.

Will the PSHB Program affect enrollment in any other benefits?
Enrollment in a PSHB plan will not disrupt enrollment in other insurance and benefits programs, including:
---Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
---Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)
---Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), or
---Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)

Does the implementation of the PSHB Program affect eligibility for continuing enrollment in health benefits after retirement?
Yes. Subject to limited exceptions, Postal Service annuitants and their family members who are entitled to Medicare Part A must enroll in Medicare Part B to be eligible to continue PSHB coverage.

Will there be an opportunity to enroll in Medicare Part B without a late enrollment penalty?

Yes. Most Postal Service annuitants and their eligible family members who are entitled to Medicare Part A will be eligible to enroll in Medicare Part B during a six-month special enrollment period (SEP). Individuals who qualify for the SEP will receive a separate notification prior to April 1, 2024, in accordance with the PSRA.
<><><> Welcome <><><>
~~~ New FLORIDA Members 2024 (16) ~~~
FLORIDA CITIES
<> Beautiful, Interesting and Fun Places to Visit <>


There are 195 State Parks in Florida to learn more - Click Here

<> NOTICE <> Everything is now on this one page <> SCROLL Through ALL <>
<> You May Find Some Interesting Links Along The Way <>
{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}
PMG DEJOY’S VISION
Source: USPS Retiree E-Newsletter
In his keynote address at this year’s National Postal Forum (May 15-18, 2022), Postmaster General Louis DeJoy shared his strategic vision for the future of the Postal Service. “We see a proud Postal Service organization, operating with precision, covering its costs and planning its future as the laws passed by Congress require us to,” DeJoy said during the May 16 presentation. “We see not only the most trusted organization, but the most used organization. And when you are the most used, you are thereby the most relevant and most needed organization in America.”

    DeJoy said he, the Postal Service management team and the USPS Board of Governors are not just focused on this year or next year, but are committed to establishing a positive trajectory for decades. DeJoy said the Postal Service’s vision for the future includes becoming the preferred delivery provider in the nation by delivering mail and packages to each American household and business six and seven days a week in a reliable and affordable manner; establishing easily accessible USPS retail centers in every community; and being a preferred employer with a stable and vibrant workforce with established career paths.

It has been two and a half years since we published the Delivering for America plan. We have made strong progress on many fronts, brought greater definition to many of our key strategies and begun the transformation of our processing, transportation and delivery network. While much remains to be done to fully bring to our plan to life, I'm proud of our collective accomplishments and of the discipline with which we are following the path to service excellence and financial sustainability.

Bird's eye view
Check our The Eagle magazine for the 'how' and 'why' of postal initiatives.
Issues are available on about.usps.com
Federal Employees may now receive paid time off to vote !
Click here to read more

May 9, 2022

Past issues of UPMA Leader are posted on the web, Click Here, click on Resources, then Publications.
Note: You will need your member number to log in.


94% of first Class Mail Delivered on time for 3rd consecutive week ! ! !
Click Here to read more. . .

Postal Service Announces "Mail Delivery Time 2.7 Days Across the Nation" ! ! !

Click Here to read more...
{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}

Deliver Mail Everywhere with Johnny Cash!
Click Herefor a quick view!


Delivering to over 160 million addresses across the country,
the United States Postal Service hasn't just been everywhere - we're going everywhere.
With our advanced technology and equipment, we're delivering fast and affordable 6 and often 7 days a week.
And our next-gen trucks are designed to carry even more packages all across the USA.
Just some of the many ways the USPS is delivering for America.


The USPS has revealed its new "NexGen" mail truck.
The new truck will be built by Wisconsin based defense contractor Oshkosh
and can be fitted with both gasoline and electric drivetrains.
Estimated to appear on Carrier Routes in 2023 ! !

CLICK Here to read more (News Release from USPS)

{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}















Interesting and Important Information for Employees Considering Retirement

Bill Would Give Equal COLA to Both FERS and CSRS Federal Retirees
If passed, the Equal COLA Act would give federal retirees in both FERS and CSRS the same annual cost of living adjustment each year
4 Benefits of Working Past Age 65 Federal Employees Should Consider

Edward A. Surndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Best Dates to Retire for FERS and CSRS: 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025
Choosing the the best day of the month and year to retire may present a financial challenge.
Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, outlines the strategy for choosing the best date analyzing several factors
New IRS Life Expectancy Tables Will Impact Many Federal Employees and Retirees on January 1, 2022
Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses the impacts of new life expectancy tables for calculating
required minimum distributions (RMDs) for IRAs, the Thrift Savings Plan and other retirement plans
What Employees Retiring in December and Receiving Social Security Early Next Year Need to Know
Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses how some retiring federal employees —
that plan to continue working immediately after retiring — may lose some or all of those Social Security retirement benefits due to excess wage earnings
Why 62 Is the Magic Age for FERS Employees to Retire
Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, outlines three potentially significant incentives for FERS employees to wait until the age of 62 to retire —
plus some natural by-products of waiting longer to retire
Pursuant to Title 39 U.S. Code § 1004 (e) the Postal Service’s decision for changes in pay policies, schedules and fringe benefits
for Postmasters through May 20, 2023 Click Here


10 Biggest Mistakes Federal Employees Make When Planning for Retirement
(and How to Avoid Them)
copied from My Federal Retirement

UPMA has specialized training available a mouse click away! You will need your membership number.
Click on the link below, supply the information necessary, then click on Resources and learn how to be a better Postal Manager!
Postmaster and Postal Manager Training Courses

10-year plan for Postal Service
(OPENS IN NEW WINDOW)

Click Here for the current
Local Time in the United States
Click Here to get
Local Weather

SCAM ALERTS
Please be aware that there are fraudsters trying to impersonate Signature Federal Federal Credit Union representatives.
Please do not provide ANY personal information to anyone that calls you from our phone number.
Our Visa fraud center will try to contact you to verify charges by text or email first if there are charges that look out of
the ordinary for you.

If you are ever in doubt that you are not speaking with the Credit Union or the actual fraud center,
please hang up and call us directly.

Thank You,
Signature Federal Credit Union
Be aware of scammers calling and trying to get personal information. This information could potentially be used to redirect annuity payments and direct deposits to a different account.

Please be aware OPM will NEVER call you and request your retirement claim number, or any other information, UNLESS you have recently contacted them and are responding to your inquiry.


The Social Security Administration will never threaten, scare, or pressure you to take an immediate action.
If you receive a call, text, or email that...
  • Threatens to suspend your Social Security number, even if they have part or all of your Social Security number
  • Warns of arrest or legal action
  • Demands or requests immediate payment
  • Requires payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, internet currency, or by mailing cash
  • Pressures you for personal information
  • Request secrecy
  • Threatens to seize you bank account
  • Promises to increase your Social Security benefit
  • Tries to gain your trust by providing fake "documentation", false "evidence", or the name of a real government official
...it is a SCAM!
Do NOT give Scammers Money or Information. Ignore Them!


Protect yourself from Scams & Scammers
Awesome deal here! You owe us money! Great job for you! These are attention-getting opening lines, but unfortunately, are also warning signs of an online scam. And the cases are mounting. In just nine months of 2021, there were over 2.1 million reports of fraud. The scams are often sophisticated, but you can protect yourself from the most common ones.
Do NOT give Scammers Money or Information.
IGNORE THEM!


FLORIDA UPMA exists to assist, mentor and guide all Postmasters, Managers, Supervisors and other EAS Professionals - as well as anyone aspiring to these positions - toward achieving their professional goals.

As an organization, we strive to improve the conditions under which our members work and the compensation they receive. Our organization's leadership consults regularly with Postal Service management on policies affecting the welfare, happiness and morale of our members. Our leaders at the Chapter and National levels are current USPS employees.

By using the links found throughout this page you will be able to access great information about UPMA, USPS and more.
To become a UPMA member, visit "Join UPMA" tab under the UPMA National Menu or click on the link in the message below.
Check out the information about our upcoming Conventions and Events in "Dates to Remember".
We welcome all ideas, comments and suggestions.
Please Note: to Print a copy of:
"By-Laws" Click Here ~ "Fiscal Policy" Click Here
~ "Expense Voucher" ~ (Excel)
{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}
Link to Florida Chapter Bylaws 2023.docx (Microsoft Word Document)

{}<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>{}
SCROLL TO VIEW




Bylaws & Fiscal Policy of the UPMA Retirees Florida Chapter


Click Here: for Facts and figures about the U.S. Postal Service






Click Here to "Find a Grave" World's largest gravesite collection

Click Here
to view other
State chapter websites.
Click Here
to find a Postmaster
or a Post Office


What's New in 2022? (Postal Service 2022 Stamps Reveal)


The Christian Counter