6 Big Changes Coming to the Post Office in 2024

Before you head out to the post office, here’s what you’ll find that is new

Donna Fuscaldo,

AARP

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En español

Published January 12, 2024

/ Updated July 15, 2024

Ian Dewar / Alamy Stock Photo

Through snow, rain, heat and gloom of night, the U.S. Postal Service has delivered mail to Americans for nearly 250 years. Although that core task remains the same, that doesn’t mean everything else stays the same in 2024.

From the price of stamps to procedures for forwarding mail, here are six things that will be different at USPS this year.

1. Stamp prices are going up

Like other businesses, the post office is passing along its increased costs to its customers. Effective July 14, the price of first-class Forever stamps increased 5 cents, to 73 cents. A first-class stamp covers the cost to mail a 1-ounce letter; the cost of an additional ounce rose from 24 cents to 28 cents.

2. ID is required for forwarding mail

Aiming to clamp down on identity theft and protect customers’ information, USPS is beefing up its procedures to verify your identity when you request a change of address. Now you must either show ID in person at your local post office or verify your identity online. A change of address request, or COA, has to be submitted 90 days before the date of your move or up to 30 days after your move.

If you are doing it in person …

Bring one of the following to your local post office:

State issued driver’s license or nondriver’s license identification card (name and address must match the old or new address on your request)
Uniformed Services Identification Card (requires a secondary form of identification)
U.S. passport (requires a secondary form of identification)

Secondary forms of identification

Lease, mortgage or deed of trust
Voter or vehicle registration card
Home or vehicle insurance policy or card
The name and address on any secondary ID must match the old or new address on your change of address request

If you are doing it online ...

An email address is required for online COA submission
A onetime passcode or verification link will be texted to your cellphone
A $1.10 credit card identity verification fee will be charged to your credit card
The billing address on the credit card must match either the old or the new address used in the COA request. Prepaid cards and gift cards are not accepted
If the online verification fails, you’ll have to visit the post office

3. Several new stamps are being released, with more to come

In a nod to iconic games, legendary coaches, endearing entertainers, influential artists, the nation’s protectors and American pastimes, USPS has a series of new stamps planned for 2024 that includes:

Alex Trebek As the host of Jeopardy!, one of the most popular game shows on TV, Trebek graced the television screens of millions of homes for more than three-decades. Trebek passed away in 2020, but he will forever be remembered. The grid of 20 identical stamps resembles the array of video monitors that form the Jeopardy! game board.
Thank You Healthcare Community To pay tribute to the health care workers who dedicate their lives to protecting our health, safety and well-being, often at great personal risk, USPS is launching a new Forever stamp. The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp, which will be issued in panes of 20, consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “thank you” against a white background.
Dungeons & Dragons The stamp release marks the 50th anniversary of one of America’s most famous role-playing board games. The pane of 20 stamps features 10 different designs highlighting characters, creatures and other elements of the game.
John Wooden Considered in many circles to be one of America’s greatest coaches, John Wooden (1910–2010) led the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins to a record-setting 10 Division I men’s basketball national championships. The stamp features a portrait of Wooden.
Carnival nights From roller coasters to hot dogs, carnivals are a staple of summertime fun for many Americans. Ten new stamps in a pane of 20 feature photographs capturing the energy and lights of a summer carnival at night.
Ansel Adams Showcasing the American landscape through photographs, Ansel Adams is among the most influential artists of the 20th century. To honor his art and contributions, USPS is releasing 16 stamps featuring some of Adams’ most famous images.

4. Mail volume will decline and losses will grow

USPS expected to lose $4.5 billion in fiscal 2023 but actually reported a net loss of $6.5 billion, thanks in part to declining mail volume, residual effects from previous pricing strategies and inflation. For 2024, USPS projects another net loss of $6.3 billion. Meanwhile, total mail and package volume is projected to be 107.2 billion pieces, down 7.7 percent year over year.

While first-class mail will be down, USPS foresees an increase in package delivery as it aggressively tries to grow its market share in that area. Last summer it launched USPS Ground Advantage, which is a cheaper way to ship packages in two to five business days across the United States.

5. Better service and speedier delivery are expected

As part of its Delivering for America plan, USPS is consolidating its 19,000 delivery centers into new, larger and more centrally located sorting and delivery centers. So far, six facilities are operational. USPS is evaluating over 100 new locations across the country this year and says the actions will enable it to expand same-day/next-day shipping and improve on-time performance. No post offices will be closed or services impacted by the shake-up.

6. Dog bites were up last year

The number of dog attacks on USPS employees reached more than 5,800 last year. Los Angeles led the cities with the most dog bites, followed by Houston and Chicago. Rounding out the top five, according to USPS, were St. Louis, Missouri, and Cleveland. To keep letter carriers safe, USPS urges homeowners to keep dogs inside the house or behind a fence, away from the door or on a leash when a letter carrier arrives at their home.

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Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.