A tracking question, a move and a job application lead to different parts of the Postal Service. Start with the task below. For a missing item, keep the mailing date and service name close at hand: they help determine which request you can make and when.
Choose the service that matches your task
| Your task | Start here | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Locate a mailed item | USPS Tracking | Tracking number and mailing receipt or order record |
| Arrange mail during a trip or move | Receive Mail & Packages: choose Hold Mail or forwarding/change of address | Addresses and the dates you need the service |
| Respond to an attempted delivery | Use the Redelivery option on the mail-management page | Tracking number or the delivery notice |
| Find a Post Office or its hours | USPS location finder | ZIP Code and the particular service you need |
| Apply for a postal job | Official USPS Careers | Location, job title and a record of your experience |
Hold Mail keeps mail at the Post Office while you are away; forwarding directs eligible mail to another address. Read the current identity-verification, eligibility and fee instructions before submitting a request. Save the confirmation so you can check the dates and address you entered. USPS also offers Informed Delivery previews, which should be read alongside the actual delivery record. Compare the receiving services.
Work through a delivery problem
- Read the actual tracking record. Note the latest event, its place and time, and the service used. Copy the number from the receipt or seller's order record to avoid a typing error.
- Describe the problem precisely. “No new scan since Tuesday,” “delivery was attempted,” and “marked delivered but not located” are different reports. Check the address on the order and follow the help associated with the tracking status.
- Use the official help route. For a question requiring assistance, start at USPS Contact Us. Keep the case number and the next step you are given.
- Request a search when eligible. USPS's Missing Mail instructions, checked October 7, 2026, say search requests can begin seven days after mailing. Prepare both addresses, mailing details, a description of the packaging and contents, and identifying pictures if available. Follow the current instructions for the item you sent.
A Missing Mail request asks USPS to locate the item. The confirmation and later updates give you a record of that search; recovery remains uncertain. Keep the sender involved, since the sender may hold the receipt, insurance evidence or fuller description needed for the next step.
Choose between a search, an insurance claim and a refund
For insured domestic mail, a USPS indemnity claim concerns loss, damage or missing contents. Eligibility and filing periods depend on the service and problem. Either sender or recipient may file, with the required mailing receipt and evidence. Coordinate who is handling it and check the official filing-period table promptly.
Keep proof of value, insurance and damage. Retain the package and contents, including damaged material, until the claim is settled; USPS may request an inspection. For international shipments, use the international instructions linked from the claims page.
A postage or service refund is a separate request, with its own eligibility rules. A search confirmation is useful documentation, but it does not establish claim eligibility or replace a filing deadline.
Example: an insured parcel has stopped moving
This is a hypothetical workflow. The recipient saves the last tracking event and asks the sender for the mailing date and exact service. They check the search instructions, then separately check that service's claim window. They agree who will submit any claim and save the receipt and proof of value. This avoids waiting for a search update while a separate claim deadline passes.
Reach the official job application
Start at USPS How to Apply. USPS is transitioning between application systems, so follow the route specified for the position instead of relying on an old saved application link. A profile in the legacy system may need to be recreated in the newer system.
- Find a position and read its location, duties, schedule, employment requirements and closing date.
- Save the posting identifier and explain your relevant experience in the requested fields.
- After submitting, check the account and email, including spam, for an assessment invitation or further instructions.
- If an assessment is required, follow its invitation deadline and accommodation instructions. Save the submission and assessment confirmations.
USPS charges no fee for employment information, applications or exams. Required assessments are identified through the official hiring process. Use the USPS exam guidance to check preparation materials and next steps.
Keep one usable case record
Download the postal case record (plain text). Record the service, mailing date, last tracking event, help/search reference, applicable claim or refund deadline, and next action. Keep receipts and personal addresses privately with your own copy. Update the record after each contact so another person can understand what has already happened.
For more practical and civic resources, return to the United States library.
Sources and updates
Official USPS service, Missing Mail, claims and hiring pages are linked beside the relevant instructions. Service eligibility, filing windows, identity checks and hiring systems can change. Check the official page at the point of action; this guide was reviewed October 7, 2026.