To Jen: You go girl! I just got my VER Approval and will be gone in 30 days or less-depending on how ill, I feel. I am just starting my final rural mail count--and in one day-compared the volume of mail for the same day-last month and also last Feb.Nowhere near the past volume. The USPS is cutting the noses off of their faces--when the rates go up. I can't tell you how many folks are already telling me that they will indeed go to the internet to pay bills, in May. Between the daily logs, scans, reports and "training"-we as low level PM's have had it. Mr. Potter may have entered his PMG's position with good intention-but the $$$$$ signs to his own pockets-got in the way. I was in need of an ink jet for my computer printer-and it was denied and was told to resubmit in Feb. On Feb. 1st. I did resubmit--and my justification was: Printer flashing: OUT OF INK! It was finally approved. After 23 yrs.-I never thought I would hate going to work, as much as I do now. God Bless and Take Care.

You are going to love being gone. I am going into my second year of being out from under the slave drivers and it couldn't be better. I did during my first year have to remember that other people that I met are not postal workers of any sort. They might just not be out to screw a person over just because the can.
Good luck

Thanks! I know there are good people out there-but the PO has put a sour taste in everyones' mouth. I truly feel sorry for those that might have been able to go-but had to stay due to insurance issues, and the bad economy. I can't wait, and although it might mean a change in our lifestyle-a little- I am prepared. Good Luck

 i know i will start to see things differently i have been gone now for 7 weeks it will get better good people do exsist thank you all for your encouragement

I am 4 years gone, and don't regret leaving. It is too bad that the sorry economy is going to prevent many people from taking what they have been waiting for. I started a 2nd carrer when I left the PO and it is a world of difference. The only problem I have is the actual getting up for work and the 20 mn commutes back and forth. Other than that I enjoy the stimulation of the job and I am building a 2nd retirement. I retired at 57 with almost 40 years, and I wasn't ready to quit working, but I had to get away from the insanity that is the PO. Today, at 61, I am so much more relaxed that I have hopefully added years to my life by getting out of the madness. A guy I work with asked me at what age I mellowed out and I told him it was the day I retired from the PO.

I will be retired under the VER in less than 27 days and can not wait. We had a teleconference for Level 15s and above. We are to cut at least 2 clerk hours a week-or the PO will probably not be able to make its' payroll by June or July of this year. I also received an e-mail telling me that my office will now "accept" pkgs. from my customers for UPS's new "Parcel Return Service" Contract with the Postal Service. We must maintain logs, and safely secure these pkgs, until the UPS driver comes for them. The Postal Service is giving our jobs away. With the shortpaid labels that come in on the click N Ship pkgs, along with the UPS contract-forget revenue, forget it all and lets give Potter another raise!

I have 8 years of military time in the airforce before i got hired with the postal service. I now have about 23 years postal service time. I never did buy back my militay time. Does anyone have any advice on my situation. Should i buy back my time or not. I never did have the money to buy my time back. If I did buy my time back will it boost my retirment pay. I was never explained fully about this. I just got offered Early retirment 816 dollars a month. I am under fers. After I pay my bills with 816 dollars a month,i won't be able to buy any toliet paper,lol
    Left in the dark
     Nick

Jetpostman: Don't know about Military time-my guess is to buy it back. But under FERS-are you at your Minimum Retirement Age? If so, You will be eligible for a supplemental pay, each month, until you reach age 62 and begin to collect social security. I retired on March 31st. I will be getting close to 850.00/after taxes and insurance, plus a supplemental pay because I am at my MRA, which will last for 6 yrs. And I took a monthly allotment of 500.00 out of my TSP, just to make sure we would be okay. Think long and hard--the postal service isn't getting any better, and now with the short staff and management changes-it is ripe for privatization, major RIFs, or layoffs.

Future Retiree
    i am 50 years old. What is the mimimum retirement age.
  Nick

jetpostman /m1179 -- after 23 years you don't know when you can retire? Jeez. Opm.gov, click on retirement, start reading.

Edited by author 04-12-2009 08:01 AM
jetpostman /m1179 -- BTW, for you it is 56.

Egark
  I can take the VER early out. But i won't this time because $816 a month won't be enough for me. Would have to get another job. I was wondering though how much more money would i get a month if I buy back my 8 years of military time. I never brought back my military time before because I was always struggling from paycheck to paycheck.

jetpostman,
Try calling HR they should be able to tell you how much for how long. I bought mine back when I first started and it cost me 900.00. The HR person at the time did not know how to enter a check for that amount, so I had to have $15.00 a pay period for 3 years taken out. That amount was for 5 and 1/2 years of military time. The amount if you are eligible might be based on you base pay now. The bad news is that I'm not sure if there was a time limit on when you are eligible to put this in to action. Hope this helps a little.
orncollect

Future retiree,
If I take VER at age 50, can I get any of my TSP now? I thought there would be a penalty. I noticed you said you were taking some of yours...

zippy17: If you retire before the year that you reach agee 55, any amount that you withdraw before your reach age 59 1/2 is subjet to a early with-drawal penalty of ten percent. (unless you roll it over annuity or rollover to an IRA. I am just turning 56 in a few weeks, so, I will submit my paperwork for a withdrawal and a monthly allotment.

Anyone born from 1953-1964-their MRA(Minimum Retirement Age) is 56----Must be in the FERS retirement system.