The 50 mile rule for USPS refers to changes in mail delivery times under the DFA or Delivering for America plan.
Under the 50 mile rule for USPS, mail that is dropped off over 50 miles from a USPS processing hub gets collected the next day, and not the same day.
This slows mail service down for some rural areas but speeding it up for those nearby.
The 50 mile rule for USPS also relates to employee travel for temporary assignments, where travel over 50 miles from a home base triggers eligibility for reimbursements like mileage, lodging and per diem.
If your local post office or USPS collection box is more than 50 miles from a Regional Processing and Distribution Center, then your mail, whether First Class Mail or Ground Advantage mail gets picked up on the following day, which adds a day to the delivery standards.
And mail originating within 50 miles of a Regional Processing and Distribution Center, generally gets faster service.
This is all a part of the efforts of USPS to streamline the USPS operations, save money and improve efficiency by optimizing how the mail flows to larger and closer facilities.
For employees for travel and relocation, the 50 mile rule for USPS refers to temporary assignments, compensable travel and over 50 miles for longer temporary moves that are often over 50 miles from home base, employees of USPS may qualify for full per diem meals, and hotel stays in addition to travel pay, although union guidance is also always recommended.
Travel time and mileage become compensable or paid once you travel from your permanent duty station to another location, especially if it's outside your normal commute.
And when a letter carrier is temporarily assigned to work outside their normal duty station, the 50 mile mark often determines pay and expense rules.