USPS Is Making These New Changes to Your Mail, Starting May 19

Changes are nothing new for the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, the agency is actively updating policies as part of the 10-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan, first introduced in 2021. The initiative is intended to help the USPS achieve financial stability—which includes regularly raising prices—but price hikes aren't the only changes on the docket. Read on to learn more about what's next for the Postal Service.

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On April 10, the USPS caused quite a stir when it announced that price increases would go into effect this summer. According to a press release from the Postal Service, it'll soon cost you 5.4 percent more to send five different types of First-Class Mail.

With the price hike, the price of the Forever Stamp will rise from 63 cents to 66 cents. In addition, the price to send 1-ounce metered mail will rise from 60 cents to 63 cents; domestic postcards will rise from 48 cents to 51 cents; and postcards and 1-ounce letters sent internationally will rise from $1.45 to $1.50.

In the April 10 release, the USPS noted that the proposed changes are intended to address inflation.

"As operating expenses fueled by inflation continue to rise and the effects of a previously defective pricing model are still being felt, these price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan," the USPS wrote.

If favorably reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Committee (PRC), the new pricing structure will take effect on July 9. But before then, the USPS has some more welcome upgrades in store.

You may be disappointed to learn that you'll be shelling out more for a book of Forever Stamps—but would you be willing to pay higher rates for friendly animal faces?

The USPS is rolling out a pane of stamps that feature 20 photos of different endangered animals that live within or near U.S. borders, the agency announced in an April 19 press release. The new book is in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in Dec. 1973.

According to the press release, the ESA is aimed at conserving and protecting endangered and threatened species in the U.S. and in other countries.

Photos for the stamps were taken by photographer Joel Sartore, and are part of his "Photo Ark" project with National Geographic, the USPS said.

In the release, the agency confirmed that stamps will be available to buy on Friday, May 19, at 11 a.m. Mountain Time (MT). You can order the stamps online, by mail, over the phone, or at your local post office.

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Other commemorative stamps were also introduced to honor Chief Standing Bear, the USPS previously announced.

The stamps honor the chief for winning a "landmark civil rights case" in 1879 that "determined a Native American was a person under the law with an inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." They feature a portrait of the chief by illustrator Thomas Blackshear II, and go on sale on May 12.

Late author Toni Morrison was also honored with a new stamp collection on March 7, while spring-ready Tulip Blossom Stamps were introduced a month later on April 5.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

In addition to the impending price adjustments, the USPS is also introducing new standards for mailing currency. At the end of this month, you'll now be required to use the agency's Registered Mail Service when sending any commercial cash deposits over $500, according to the Federal Register.

On the same day that the price structure is anticipated to be official, mailing standards are also being revised. Come July 9, mailers and publishers will not be able to request and submit hard-copy forms to correct addresses when mail is undeliverable.

In addition, the USPS is introducing a new singular shipping offering, USPS Advantage. The "consolidated ground package offering" will replace the agency's First-Class Package Service (FCPS) effectively combining Retail Ground, Parcel Select Ground, and First-Class Package Service.