Friday, November 28, 2025
Flexible spending accounts have multiple benefits
This option is available to USPS employees during open season
A flexible spending account may be a good option for Postal Service employees who wear eyeglasses, visit the dentist more than twice a year, or have other needs.
These accounts, also known as FSAs, allow employees to set aside money on a pretax basis to pay for health care and dependent care expenses.
USPS employees can enroll in an FSA during this year’s open season, which is underway through Monday, Dec. 8.
Inspira Financial is the administrator of the Postal Service’s FSA program.
For out-of-pocket expenses, employees may:
• Pay themselves back with FSA funds when they use cash, check or personal credit card for eligible expenses;
• Pay a provider directly from their FSA account; or
• Use an Inspira debit card.
To learn more about FSAs, go to the FSA page on the MyHR website’s FSA page
Employees with questions can contact Inspira Financial at 833-419-0305, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central.
People
A special treat
Employees spend Halloween at the White House and ‘Jeopardy!’ salutes USPS
Postmaster General David Steiner and several USPS employees participated in a Halloween celebration at the White House last month.
During the event, children from the Washington, DC, area and children of active duty servicemembers trick-or-treated at the South Portico, where they were greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
The participating children and their parents could also visit booths, including a USPS station where the kids could write and mail letters and postcards and receive toy LLVs.
“The Postal Service was delighted to be part of the White House’s Halloween celebration,” Steiner said. “It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the important role we play in connecting our country and help teach children about the enduring value of letter writing and mail.”
In a category by itself
The Nov. 17 episode of the “Jeopardy!” quiz show featured a tip of the hat to the Postal Service — an entire category titled “Happy 250th Anniversary, USPS.”
The category’s five clues covered the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries and touched on Benjamin Franklin as first postmaster general, Pocahontas as first named Native American on a stamp, the introduction of Forever stamps, mail by sled dog in Alaska, and the fact that 10 African American letter carriers served as pallbearers at Frederick Douglass’s funeral.
All five clues were answered correctly, and each of the contestants answered at least one of them right.
Last year, USPS released a stamp honoring longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, who died in 2020.
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
Making wishes come true
How much do you know about USPS Operation Santa?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. What is the deadline for USPS Operation Santa letter adopters to send their gifts?
a) Saturday, Dec. 13
b) Monday, Dec. 15
c) Tuesday, Dec. 16
d) Wednesday, Dec. 17
2. What should Postal Service employees do before they organize an event to promote the Combined Federal Campaign?
a) Collaborate with a CFC coordinator and seek approval from the USPS Ethics Office.
b) Ensure that at least half of the office employees will attend.
c) Limit the event to two hours.
d) Make sure the highest local manager will be in attendance.
3. How many pounds of illegal narcotics did U.S. border agents recently seize from a uniformed mail carrier entering the country in San Ysidro, CA?
a) 97
b) 119
c) 136
d) 152
4. At what Pittsburgh television station was “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” taped?
a) WPKD
b) WPXI
c) WQED
d) WTAE
5. What entity is the administrator of the Postal Service’s flexible spending account program?
a) Inspira Financial
b) U.S. Department of Labor
c) U.S. Office of Management and Budget
d) USPS Human Resources
Answers: 1) a. 2) a. 3) c. 4) c. 5) a.
Central Area, Michigan 2 District lead in scanning
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.06 percent during the week ending Nov. 21, down 0.09 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected Nov. 26.
Central led the four areas with a rating of 97.29 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with a 96.88 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, Michigan 2, part of Central Area, ranked first with a 98.56 percent rating, while Alaska, part of WestPac Area, ranked last with a 94.1 percent rating.
Scanning data allows customers to track their mail and packages, which helps USPS deliver excellent service, boost loyalty and drive revenue.
To see the latest data, go to the Informed Visibility website and select “Customer Experience,” followed by “DES 2 Scan Performance.” Postal Service employees must request Informed Visibility access through eAccess.
Postal Bulletin highlights hazmat awareness
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Nov. 27, focuses on the Postal Service’s procedures for safeguarding, identifying, handling and delivering hazardous materials.
Updates to the organization’s policies, procedures and forms are also included.
Employees can go to usps.com to read and download the latest Postal Bulletin, along with past issues.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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Flexible spending accounts have multiple benefits
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People
A special treat
Employees spend Halloween at the White House and ‘Jeopardy!’ salutes USPS
-
News Quiz
Making wishes come true
How much do you know about USPS Operation Santa?
-
Brief
Central Area, Michigan 2 District lead in scanning
-
Brief
Postal Bulletin highlights hazmat awareness