New USPS Address Change Policy: All You Need To Know

New USPS Address Change Policy: Safeguarding your mail is one aspect of preventing identity theft. It might occasionally take a few days for your mail to arrive after a relocation. The United States Postal Service has implemented new identity verification techniques to strengthen security standards surrounding its change of address (COA) service. The USPS implemented these improvements to better safeguard consumer data and address the issue of identity theft on a worldwide scale. Either visit your local Post Office or complete the change of address service online at USPS.com.

Since they are also victims of identity theft, the Postal Service takes the problem of identity theft extremely seriously. Robberies of letter carriers and mail theft are on the rise, according to the Postal Service. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service received approximately 300,000 complaints of mail theft from March 2020 to February 2021—more than 160% higher than the same time the previous year.

New USPS Address Change Policy

The principles involved in submitting a change of address form to the USPS remain the same. To confirm your identification, the USPS has, however, added a step to the procedure. The method you used to file your COA will determine how you authenticate yourself. Furthermore, your ID must be validated before your COA is enabled.

You won’t be able to initiate a USPS change of address if you can’t authenticate yourself online or in person. If so, the USPS advises you to inform your creditors and other organisations immediately of the address change. Any important or sensitive identifying information is something you don’t want to forget.

Online filers must provide a working mobile phone number and pay a $1.10 fee. It is advisable to bring a second form of identification with your old and new addresses on it when changing your address in person. You will need a valid picture ID.

In the new year, USPS will charge a different rate for mailing a letter

Confirming your identity while submitting online

You will begin the identity verification procedure after completing your personal details. To get a verification code or link on your mobile device, you can voluntarily opt-in online. A $1.10 identity verification charge must be paid, and the credit card’s billing address must correspond with your current address or your previous one.

The USPS will email you a confirmation number if your online identification verification is successful. Remember this code, and take care not to misplace it. If you need to change or withdraw your request, you can do so using this code.

Failure of online identity verification Should your online identification verification fail, you will have to go to a post office in person to finish the process of changing your address. An email including details and a barcode for in-person identification verification at a post office will be sent to you. The same form of identification that you would need if you submitted in person will apply.

How to confirm ID at post office?

Remember to bring two forms of identification if you choose to apply for a change of address form in person at a post office. It is required that you produce one of the following valid and up-to-date picture IDs:

• A driver’s licence or identity card issued by the state; the name and address on the card must match the old or new address that you seek.
• The United States Passport (needs a backup form of identity)
• The Uniformed Services Identification Card, which needs an additional form of identity.

If you use a passport or Uniformed Services Identification Card, you’ll need to produce a second form of ID that contains your name and an address. Keep in mind that your request for a change of address must include the same name and address as the old or new address on any secondary identification.