Letter Carriers to Receive Back Pay: A Comprehensive Guide

On Friday, August 29, 2025, letter carriers across the United States will receive a significant financial boost as back pay secured in the Nolan Award is distributed. This back pay is a result of the collective bargaining efforts that have been ongoing since the implementation of the 2023-2026 National Agreement. The back pay includes several key wage increases and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that were secured through the interest arbitration award issued by Arbitrator Dennis R. Nolan on March 21, 2025.

When Will I Receive Back Pay?

The back pay will be included in the paychecks for the pay period ending on August 22, 2025, and will be distributed on Friday, August 29, 2025. This means that all eligible letter carriers will receive their back pay in a single lump sum, ensuring that they are compensated for the period during which the unjustified or unwarranted personnel actions were in effect.

What Timeframes Are Included in Back Pay?

The back pay periods covered are as follows:

For career city carriers in Tables 1 and 2:

1. First COLA—$978 at Step P: 8/26/23 to 4/18/25

2. First General Increase—1.3 percent: 11/18/23 to 4/18/25

3. Second COLA—$353 at Step P: 3/9/24 to 4/18/25

4. Third COLA—$978 at Step P: 9/7/24 to 4/18/25

5. Second General Increase—1.4 percent: 11/16/24 to 4/18/25

6. Fourth COLA—$416 at Step P: 3/8/25 to 4/18/25

For CCAs in Table 3:

1. First General Increase—2.3 percent: 11/18/23 to 4/18/25

2. Second General Increase—2.4 percent: 11/16/24 to 4/18/25

What’s Included in Back Pay?

All paid work hours, including straight-time, overtime, and penalty overtime rates, as well as paid leave hours, are included in the back pay. This ensures that letter carriers are compensated for all the hours they would have worked during the back pay period, regardless of whether they were on the job or on leave.

What if I Retired, Switched Crafts, or Left the Postal Service During the Back Pay Period?

Back pay checks for letter carriers who have left the Postal Service will be sent to their last employing office. These individuals should contact the office to make arrangements to pick up their check. This process ensures that all eligible individuals receive their payments, even if they are no longer employed by the Postal Service.

Will Back Pay Be Paid All at Once?

Yes, the back pay will be included in the August 29 paycheck. This means that letter carriers will receive their back pay in a single lump sum, ensuring that they are compensated for the period during which the unjustified or unwarranted personnel actions were in effect.

How Is My Back Pay Calculated? What Do I Do if I Suspect It Is Not Accurate?

Letter carriers will receive back pay for all paid work and leave hours during the back pay period. This includes work at the straight-time, overtime, and penalty overtime rates. Letter carriers who believe the back pay they receive is not accurate should ask their shop steward to investigate the issue. The shop steward will review the calculations and ensure that the back pay is accurate.

How Do I View My Back Pay Amount in ePayroll?

You can find out how much back pay you received by reviewing your earnings statement for Pay Period 18 of 2025, which will be paid on August 29. To see your earnings statement, log onto the ePayroll system on LiteBlue. Remember to always type the website for LiteBlue in your browser and never rely on a search engine to find the site. Once you log into LiteBlue, click on ePayroll under Employee Apps and then click on Enter Application. From there, click “Sign In” and then click on the earnings statement for Pay Period 18.

After you open this statement, click on the “Adjustments” button to view all the adjustments for the back pay period. Due to the limitations of how much information can be listed in ePayroll, there is a maximum of 11 adjustments shown on the screen. You can view the adjustments by clicking on the number above your name. By default, adjustment #1 will be shown when you open the “Adjustments” option on the menu. Each adjustment explains how the back pay was calculated based on the number of work hours you received, including every hour at the straight-time, overtime, and penalty overtime rate, and any paid leave taken during that pay period.

Since ePayroll does not list enough adjustments to cover the entire back pay period, one adjustment will cover multiple pay periods which are not covered in one of the other adjustments. You can determine which pay periods were included in this adjustment by looking at the inclusive dates. The back pay period began in Pay Period 19 of 2023 and ended in Pay Period 9 of 2025, so the adjustments should cover this period as long as you were on the rolls during the entire timeframe. If you were hired after Pay Period 19 of 2023, and before Pay Period 9 of 2025, your adjustments should begin with your first pay period as an employee.

If you believe your back pay was not calculated properly, you should ask to speak to a shop steward and ask them to investigate. NALC fought hard to ensure that back pay was included in the 2023 National Agreement, and letter carriers deserve to be paid for their hard work.

Do City Carrier Assistants (CCAs) Get Back Pay?

Yes, CCAs who were on the rolls during the back pay period will receive back pay for all paid work and leave hours. This ensures that all eligible individuals, regardless of their employment status, receive their back pay.

I’m Hearing That Back Pay Is Being Posted to LiteBlue. Why Don’t I See It Yet?

The back pay will be included in the paycheck for Pay Period 18, which ended on August 22. Your earnings statement for this pay period may not have been posted in the ePayroll application on LiteBlue yet. Once it’s posted, you will be able to see the total amount of back pay you will receive.

Do Part-Time Flexibles (PTFs) Get COLAs or Back Pay?

Yes, PTFs who were on the rolls during the back pay period will receive back pay for all paid work and leave hours. Because PTFs are career employees, they do receive COLAs based on the current pay table and step.

What if You Are on Leave Without Pay (LWOP) Because of Work Injury During the Back Pay Period?

The back pay is paid for all work and paid leave hours. Letter carriers on leave without pay (LWOP) for any reason, including an on-the-job injury, will not receive back pay for those hours. If a letter carrier is receiving compensation from the Office of Workers' Compensation Program (OWCP) for the entire time covered by the back pay period, they will not receive back pay because the amount of compensation paid by OWCP is based on their rate of pay when they were injured.

In conclusion, the back pay distribution process for letter carriers who have left the Postal Service is designed to ensure that all eligible individuals receive their payments accurately and efficiently. By following the steps and considerations outlined above, the Postal Service can ensure that letter carriers are compensated for the period during which unjustified or unwarranted personnel actions were in effect. This process not only ensures that letter carriers receive their back pay but also helps to maintain the integrity of the Postal Service's compensation system.