As some local residents and businesses remain absent from homes and storefronts across the northeast, they may also be socially distanced from their mailbox.  So what happens to that mail delivery that you put on hold?

The Postal Service’s Hold Mail service is designed for customers who plan on being away from their home or business for up to 30 days.  For many displaced by local conditions, those holds are set to expire, putting weeks of business mail or household correspondence at risk of being returned to the sender.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Postal Service has suspended the 30-day time frame and extended all current Hold Mail requests until May 30, 2020.

Postal officials note that on or before May 30, 2020, returning customers can either pick up accumulated mail at their Post Office with proper identification or request redelivery.

As different states are reopening at different times based on local conditions, officials encourage residents to contact their local Post Office as part of their return to normal plan.  All may not return at the same time and some may need their mail held beyond May 30.  A two-week grace period, beginning June 1, 2020, will allow customers to contact their local Post Office to make arrangements to have their mail held longer.

All customers are encouraged to promptly collect their mail on hold upon return or make arrangements to restart regular delivery of mail, including accumulated mail already on hold. 

On June 15, the Postal Service will revert back to its normal policy that allows for customers to have their mail held for 30 days. Customers with questions regarding Hold Mail requests can contact the Postal Service at 1-800-ASK-USPS (275-8777).

For the latest information on Postal Service service updates, please check about.usps.com/news/service-alerts/

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.