Many USPS shipping services include built-in insurance coverage, but recovering that money isn’t always straightforward.
Identifying eligible shipments, gathering documentation, filing claims, and tracking status updates takes time that many fulfillment teams simply don’t have.
To help automate the process, EasyPost created the USPS Claims program, which identifies lost or damaged shipments and files claims on the shipper’s behalf. In an Unboxing Logistics episode, Tyler Diestel explained exactly how the program works and how to get started.
What is the EasyPost USPS Claims program?
The USPS Claims program helps EasyPost customers get reimbursed for eligible USPS shipments that are lost or damaged.
Many shippers don’t realize that certain USPS services include insurance coverage in the label price. It’s a nice service, but unfortunately, USPS doesn’t reimburse you automatically—you need to go through a lengthy claims process.
However, with the USPS Claims program, EasyPost uses the shipment data already flowing through its platform to automate much of the manual filing and follow-up work.
As Tyler put it, “USPS Claims … makes it easy for shippers to get money back that is owed to them by carriers.”
USPS services currently covered
The program currently supports:
- USPS Ground Advantage
- USPS Priority Mail®
- USPS Priority Mail Express®
These are some of the most commonly used USPS services for ecommerce fulfillment, meaning there’s a huge opportunity here for businesses to recover lost funds.
How much reimbursement is available?
Eligible USPS services include up to $100 of built-in insurance coverage. If the shipped item’s value is $100 or less, you can recover the full value through the USPS Claims program.
Why use EasyPost instead of filing claims yourself?
Between managing inventory, fulfillment, and customer service, claims filing often becomes a low priority for businesses.
EasyPost removes much of the manual work involved by:
- Identifying lost or damaged packages
- Submitting claims on your behalf
- Providing status updates
- Issuing funds back to your EasyPost account
Instead of reviewing shipments one by one and filing paperwork manually, you can allow the process to run largely in the background.
How do you sign up for USPS Claims?
Getting started only takes a few clicks. In Tyler’s words, “All you have to do … is log into the EasyPost dashboard and accept our terms of service, and you’re enrolled immediately.”
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
- Log in to your EasyPost dashboard.
- Navigate to the Insurance and Claims section.
- Locate the USPS Claims enrollment area.
- Review and accept the terms of service.
- Complete the enrollment prompts.
No contracts, phone calls, or onboarding meetings required!
How does the claims process work?
The USPS Claims program is mostly hands-off for shippers, although the EasyPost team might reach out if they need more information about a package. Tyler walked through the entire process step by step, including the work that goes on behind the scenes.
Step 1: EasyPost identifies eligible shipments
Once you’re enrolled, EasyPost continuously reviews your USPS shipment data to identify claim opportunities. As Tyler noted, “Because we have a treasure trove of data, we can tell when a package is lost or damaged.”
Once the team has identified eligible claims, they verify product values.
Step 2: Product values are verified
For a claim to be filed, EasyPost must know the value of the shipped item. You can provide this information in two ways:
Option 1: Include values when creating labels
The simplest approach is to provide product values when purchasing shipping labels through EasyPost. This allows claims to move through the process automatically.
Option 2: Submit values when requested
If product values weren’t provided originally, someone on the EasyPost team will notify you.
You’ll be able to:
- Download a report from the EasyPost dashboard.
- Review shipments requiring additional information.
- Enter product values.
- Upload the completed file.
Once the information is submitted, EasyPost automatically continues the claims process.
Step 3: EasyPost files the claim
After all required information is available, EasyPost submits the claim directly to USPS.
You don’t need to determine claim eligibility, complete USPS claim forms, track submission deadlines, or follow up with USPS—EasyPost handles those administrative steps for you!
Step 4: Track claim status in the dashboard
Throughout the process, claim status visibility remains available in the EasyPost dashboard.
Within the Carrier Claims section, you can monitor:
- Pending claims
- Submitted claims
- Approved claims
- Denied claims
- Claim status updates
This provides transparency without requiring manual claim management.
Step 5: Receive reimbursement
When USPS approves a claim, funds are credited to your EasyPost wallet, where they can be used to purchase postage through the platform.
How long does the process take?
EasyPost reviews eligible shipments twice a month.
During each review cycle, the platform looks back at the previous 60 days of activity to identify shipments that might qualify for reimbursement.
Claims move through several stages before reimbursement is issued. Generally, reimbursements are paid about three months after the initial shipment.
What happens if a claim is denied?
Denied claims are clearly marked within the EasyPost dashboard.
One of the most common reasons for denial is that the shipper has already filed a claim directly with USPS before EasyPost submitted one on their behalf.
When a claim is denied, the dashboard provides the reason so you can understand the outcome and avoid filing duplicate claims in the future.
Is there an upfront cost?
No, the USPS Claims program does not charge an upfront enrollment fee. Instead, EasyPost keeps a portion of successfully recovered claim funds as an administrative fee and pays the remainder to the shipper.
Let your shipping data work for you
Lost and damaged shipments are an inevitable part of ecommerce fulfillment, but recovering the money tied to those shipments doesn’t have to become another task for your team.
By identifying eligible shipments, filing claims, tracking status updates, and issuing reimbursements automatically, EasyPost’s USPS Claims program helps turn shipping exceptions into recovered revenue—with minimal effort from you.
Already an EasyPost customer? Get more details about the program.
New to EasyPost? Sign up for free to start shipping.
For a deeper look at the program and additional insights from Tyler, be sure to watch the full podcast episode.
Start recovering USPS claim dollars automatically
Learn more about how the USPS Claims program—and EasyPost’s other shipping solutions—help you simplify operations, reduce manual work, and save on shipping.
