Special Incentive Offer Deadline: April 25

If you’re thinking about the Special Incentive Offer, there are some important things to keep in mind. The first is the date for letting the Postal Service know you want to take advantage of the offer. Eligible employees should highlight April 25, 2011 on their calendars. That’s the opt-in deadline for the Special Incentive Offer, as described in the Incentive FAQs. Employees who want to leave under the Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) — as well as optionally-eligible employees (those who have reached their minimum retirement age and service requirements) and those who wish to voluntarily resign — must notify the Postal Service of their decision by this deadline. VER-eligible employees should have received an “Annuity Estimate and VER” offer letter in the mail. Employees who have reviewed the letter and who have decided to take advantage of the offer should sign and return the “Acknowledgement of Irrevocability of Voluntary Early Retirement Decision” and also the “Application for Immediate Retirement.” The documents must be received at the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC) no later than 8:30 pm April 25. Employees who are optionally eligible to retire and who also want to take advantage of the Special Incentive Offer must begin the retirement process using eRetire on LiteBlue or contacting the HRSSC before 8:30 pm April 25. If you already have initiated the optional retirement process through the HRSSC, you do not need to use the eRetire app. Signed paperwork is not required from optionally-eligible employees prior to April 25 in order to receive the Special Incentive Offer. Counseling to assist optionally-eligible employees in completing their paperwork can be scheduled up to an employee’s retirement effective date. To take advantage of the Special Incentive Offer through the voluntary resignation process, you must complete and submit to HRSSC Form PS 2574, Resignation from the Postal Service. The HRSSC must receive this form no later than 8:30 pm April 25. For all redesign information — including timelines, FAQs and additional guidance — visit the Organizational Changes website on Blue and LiteBlue.