What to do if you are not receiving mail after moving

So, your move is finally over and you’re ready to start your new life in your new home. You have unpacked your items and set up your new place, met the neighbors and explored your new surroundings – everything is as it should be.

Except you get no mail. It’s been a week or so after the move and you haven’t received a single letter or package at your new address.

Why could that be happening? What could be the reason for not getting mail after moving?

Well, the USPS handles millions of mail pieces every day, so it’s easily possible for a letter or package to get lost. But if all your mail is missing after the move, then something is clearly wrong – most probably, your mail is still going to your old address.

What can you do then? How to get your mail and prevent further problems?

Read on to find out what to do if you’re not receiving mail after moving.

Make sure you changed your address with the USPS

Changing your address is one of the many important tasks you need to take care of when moving to a new place. Fortunately, it’s fast and easy to complete – all you have to do is fill out a change-of-address (COA) form, either online or at your local post office. Once your request is processed, your mail will be redirected to your new address. (See also: How to change your address when moving)

If you don’t file a change-of-address request, your mail will continue to arrive at your old address – so you won’t be getting it after the move.

If you changed your address with the USPS, but your mail is still missing, you need to verify that the request went through.

How long does it take for mail to be forwarded to a new address?

First, you need to consider the date of your mail forwarding request – it can take up to 10-12 business days for the USPS to redirect mail from your old address to your new address, so you need to be sure that enough time has passed after you’ve submitted the request. (You’re recommended to file your change-of-address form at least 2 weeks prior to your move so your mail starts arriving at your new home immediately after the relocation.)

If it’s been longer than 12 business days, then there is some issue and you need to find out what is wrong.

Your first step is to check the status of your mail forwarding request and, if necessary, modify your COA order. To do so you’re going to need your USPS Confirmation Number.

Where to find your USPS Confirmation Code

When your mail forwarding request is processed, you’ll receive a Confirmation Letter that contains your USPS Confirmation Number.

If you submitted your change-of-address request online, you’ll receive a Change of Address Confirmation containing your Confirmation Code via email.

If you don’t have your USPS Confirmation Code, you’ll have to visit a Post Office in person (and provide a photo ID) in order to check the status of your request and/or make changes to your COA order.

How to check the status of your change-of-address request and modify it, if necessary

2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the link entitled “View or Edit” (next to the question “Have you already changed your address?”).

3. Fill out the fields for your unique confirmation number and new zip code and click “Submit”.

4. You will see your address change order:

• If your change-of-address form shows a status of Pending, then the USPS has not yet finished processing it;
• If you notice a mistake (in your mail forwarding start day, your address, etc.), you can edit the corresponding field(s) – or reach out to the Customer Support team and have them make the necessary modifications;
• If your change-of-address form shows a status of Completed, the USPS has already processed your order. You need to contact your local post office (at your old address) for additional assistance.

How to get mail that was sent to an old address

If your mail is sent to your old address and the new residents say that it’s not theirs, it will be returned to the local Post Office.

• If the USPS has a forwarding address (in case you filed a change-of-address form), your mail will be forwarded to your new address;
• If not, the Post Office will hold any accumulated mail for up to 10 calendar days – you can collect your mail from there within that time period (you’ll need to provide an ID). After ten days, First-Class mail will be returned to the sender and other mail items will be discarded.

In the event of a local move, it may be a good idea to ask the new occupants of your old home to keep any mail sent to you at your old address and go pick it up once a week or so.

What to do if you’re missing mail after moving

If you’re expecting a letter or package at your new address but it’s not arriving, there are several ways to try to find it:

1. Check its status – If your mail has a tracking option, your first step is to go to USPS tracking and check the current status of your mail (the sender can give you the tracking number – and most online orders have tracking numbers);
2. Complete a USPS Help Request form – If you can’t check the status of your mail, or the status says “delivered” even though you got nothing, you’re advised to fill out a Help Request form – it will be forwarded to your local post office and they will try to locate your missing mail;
3. Submit a Missing Mail Search Request – If you still haven’t received your mail after seven business days, you need to submit a Missing Mail Search Request – so your mail is searched for within the USPS missing package and mail inventory. Your search request has to include several important details – sender and recipient addresses, mailing date, tracking number (if available), receipt (if it’s an online purchase), size and type of mailing container or envelope, description of the contents, etc. The USPS will send you an email confirmation when they receive your request and begin their search. They will also send you periodic updates about the search.

So, how to make sure you get your mail after moving? Change your address with the USPS at least 2 weeks before your move, be careful not to make a mistake in your COA request, and verify that the request went through. If any issues arise, contact your local post office for assistance.

When you know how to forward mail after moving the right way, there should be no problems and you should start receiving your mail at your new address. May it bring good tidings!

on: August 11, 2020

41 thoughts on “ What to do if you are not receiving mail after moving ”

I get email pictures of what mail I’m getting.. but none of it gets to my mailbox.. plus why is my mail delivered at 5 PM or after?

I am not getting my mail at my new address. I moved from 37575 Hanson Sterling Heights Michigan 48310 to 17413 Averhill Dr Macomb Township Michigan 48042. I get mail but not all the mail that is being sent to me.Is it being held at my old office?

I have filed a temporary change of address that was supposed to start December 10, 2020.. I have a confirmation Code and to date (Jnauary 5, 2021), I have not received any mail that was supposed to be forwarded.
Some of my medications are included in the missing mail. I checked with both post offices and all they say is that I am in the system.

I am experiencing the same exact issue! My mail was supposed to begin forwarding on December 1, 2020 and to date (January 20, 2021) I have not yet received a single piece of forwarded mail. I am beyond frustrated and cannot get in contact with anyone. I have submitted multiple tickets in the ‘help’ system with USPS and continuously receive an automated response. I am unable to reach any customer service representatives or get any answers. I even decided to mail a letter to myself (sent to my former address) to ensure that my mail was in fact being forwarded and of course have yet to receive that as well. I have moved multiple times within the last several years and have NEVER had an issue! I am hopeful it will arrive in mass one day and think they are likely backlogged with COVID impacts and decreased funding. I hope you receive answers (and mail!)

Try contacting the mailers directly , they can send to the new address, therefore you will not have any delays, change service is a temporary courtesy, you are still responsible for notifying your mailers of your new address

i paid for the option to see in my e-mail what was coming in the mail and have not had this happen please explain.

Informed Delivery is a free service, they do not charge at USPS for this service to view what mail is coming.

Did a change of address it will be a month may 1st old address says vacant but I’m not receiving any mail at new address also received confirmation of the address change and still nothing. Also packages saying they have been delivered but nothing. And nobody seems to know anything

When you move notify the mailers so that nothing is mailed to old address the change service is a courtesy to potentially catch items and redirect them but it is the moving party responsibility to ensure all mailers have the new address not the post office, they only assist.

Then why does USPS offer change of address service? ASSIST. That’s BS. They definitely do have responsibility. Before we moved in January 2022 I turned in an address change in December 2021 & received confirmation of the change. No mail came to either house for 6 weeks. I made multiple visits to the Post Office to no avail. We’re still getting forwarded letters dated from January. I even paid $29.95 to extend forwarding for an additional 12 months. And evidently it as good thing I did

2 paychecks were sent out on fri April 30 from Somerville nj and we just moved to Port st luice Florida and they haven’t arrived yet.

I am having the same issues with the mail being forwarded and I am anticipating stimulus checks and a refund. I’m concerned that I will miss an important letter or letters as well.

I know you’re trying to be helpful Patsy, but it doesn’t always work that way.
I had a tornado insurance claim check for my old house that I’m moving out of, asked to change address with State Farm ins so the check would go to new house. Adjuster said she wasn’t able to change the address. Life isn’t as black and white as you make it out to be. It is the responsibility of the postal service to be able to handle a COA.

did my change of address on Jun 25th and got a confirmation number. I am expecting important mail. It is a new subdivision and address is not yet in GPS but I can give the address of the old house that was on the property, it is in GPS.

I changed my address back in DEC 2020 (even received my confirmation) and here we are half way through 2021 and I’m still not receiving all of my mail. I can count how much mail I do actually receive on 3 fingers…yes 3 and those are just junk mail! Where’s all of my important mail?! I know I have mail that I am supposed to receive from the government regularly, and those are no longer coming since I moved to my new address. I didn’t even receive my last stimulus check, or the letter about the CTC at this new address! What is going on?? Is my mail still being sent to my former address?? Also, what do I do if it is or the people staying there are possibly just throwing away my mail instead of sending it back?? Please respond!

The same exact thing is going on with us even down to the ctc check, please let me know how this turned out for you

My concern is that I’m not receiving mail that isn’t forwarded mail to my new address but mail that is actually addressed to my new address. Also why does the USPS not forward government mail? At least that’s what I’m told.

We moved the middle of September 2021. We started getting letters a week or so later, but so far no packages.
Some things like medicine and supplements are automatically sent.
We’ve been able to contact most of the shippers but not all,
(some don’t show a way to change address, some don’t respond to e mails or ph calls.)

USPS I think is required to have a grievance process. I’m shocked that so many people have recently had issues with mail forwarding, and not one has had resolution. Unreal.

I moved in June from IL to MA. I’m getting all my junk mail in the USPS Informed Delivery eMails AND in the mailbox. On the other hand, I see my “important” mail in the USPS Informed Delivery eMails, but I do not receive them in the mailbox. The local Post Master told me that the USPA service “was NOT reliable”, and I should ignore that service. I was very surprised by their reaction when I went in and discussed my concerns with mail delivery, for they essentially tried to pull a “Jedi Mind Trick” with the Post Master trying to convince me that there were no issues with my mail and he personally did deliveries in my area recently and assured all the mail was delivered. The only answer I have is to get a PO Box potentially.

I think the mail issue may have to do with the bulk mailboxes – never had a problem getting mail with our personal mailbox.

My mail has not been delivered since Nov 3. I get daily email what I should be receiving but don’t receive it including bank papers and checks. I submitted a complaint and the matter is still unresolved please advise this is crucial I receive these items

I have been trying to find out about my mail not coming to my home address now for a month ! been running around to resolve the issue and each post office from Brentwood Road, 45 L Street where my mail comes from no help. So where do I go from here.

The USPS is terrible. My granddaughter moved here in June of 2022 and has never received any of her mail, except junk mail. She has missed getting important documents, her new drivers license and other important documents that were mailed within our area. I just don’t understand it. Her mail is simply vanishing into thin air. We have complained several times to no avail.

I moved May 6 2023 to my new address & on that date I went online to do an address change with UPS. It cost me $20. To this date; I haven’t received my mail. It continue to go to my old address. Please assist. Get Dejoy out office so that people can get their mail again ad usual!!

I requested a change of address at the end of May. I’ve only received 1 forwarded since then, I’m running behind in my
bills. Where is my mail?

I only changed to new P.O. Box from an old P. O. Box within the same post office building and my mail isn’t coming. The clerks just tell me to keep checking because it takes time. Like everyone else I’m expecting important letters that I can’t wait for indefinitely.

I moved on 7/15/2023 into another apartment in the same city I have been living in. I submitted my request a week before moving and now we are going a month past moving day and I still have not received any forwarded mail. I contacted the Post Office and they haven’t even been getting mail for me so I know it’s not going to the old apartment. I was actually friends with my postal carrier so she told me nothing has been coming. Normally I would get mail almost every single day, now I’m not getting anything. Was supposed to received a government benefit card in the mail that now is missing and since I didn’t get it, I lost one of my prescriptions that I needed to pay for it with. Thanks USPS For nothing!

What the heck is going on with the USPS. After reading all these comments I’m convinced something must be done. We have filled out 3 change of address forms since May of 2023. We have been to speak to our local postmaster here in our town 5 times. Supposedly we should have started receiving our forwarded mail about 6 days ago…..this is over 2 months since we filled out the 1st form….no forwarded mail has been received. Postmaster says our mail is being held in Colorado and we should be getting it….we live in Missouri. How is this even possible. Again, they are trying to blame it on Covid. This is absolutely ridiculous.

The mail doses not go to my new address AND it does not even go to my old address. This includes entities that have my new address such as health insurance, etc. The USPS regional administrative customer service manager, in charge of mail to 20 million people and businesses,have sent 4 letter, 2 to my old address and 2 to my new address. None made it. Worse, as the mail does not even go to my old address, I can not edit my change of address request to say a PO Box or to say my sister in the next city. I honestly am not sure I will ever receive USPS ever again. I mean, lets say I move again. I put in a new change of address to a new residence. As I dont get mail now at my new address, how would a change of address even work.
My former post office wont allow me to speak to the postmaster. I only moved 3 miles to a new city and zip code. The new city wont let me speak to the postmaster either. The USPS regional administrative administrator is very aware of this. After 3 weeks of very diligent efforts the regional folks seem to have lost interest and have not answered an email since the end of August.