You may recall that poor, pitiful, broken-ankled Pony had his workman's compensation claim denied for incomplete paperwork. Namely, documentation from a doctor, not the urgent care nurse practitioner he saw the night he broke his ankle on his mail route. He jumped through more hoops than a circus pony to finally get official paperwork for an appointment with a specialist for treatment TWO WEEKS after the break. After all that hoop-jumping and being given the runaround by superiors in several agencies, it boiled down to The Pony needing to have followed up on the promises of paperwork submission made by the treating physician's office.
The Pony returned to work on September 13th. On the 14th, he was able to get copies of that supporting paperwork from his physician. He compiled a multitude of forms, which he needed to mail in for a RECONSIDERATION of his claim. I took them to the main post office myself, in a manila envelope addressed in my precise, block-lettered handwriting. I obtained proper postage. The counter gal asked if I wanted tracking. OF COURSE! So she said it had to be send as a package. Four dollars and change. No problem.
That was on September 17th. The receipt said the package would be delivered on September 21st. As I type this, at 10:45 p.m. on September 28th, the tracking says The Pony's package (heh, heh) is IN TRANSIT. It didn't get very far. On the 17th, it was accepted by the main post office, left the main post office, and arrived in St. Louis. Where it is now IN TRANSIT. Which I believe is code for: sitting in a trailer on a parking lot at a St. Louis postal facility.
Of all the ways to further thwart The Pony's efforts for his rightful medical bills and lost salary due to his injury working for the USPS... it's the USPS that is holding up The Pony's chance at RECONSIDERATION!
Yeah. Even I know this is irony.
Ironic with a dash of moronic!
ReplyDeleteI really think there was something off about Clerk 2, who pulled The Pony's package (heh, heh) over the counter to slap a printed postage sticker on it. But since The Pony's package actually left the main post office, and arrived in St Louis in a timely manner, I guess she's off the hook.
DeleteIf we'd just pay those increased (and increased and increased) postal rates they demand, none of this would happen. Right?
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me, I need to buy some FOREVER STAMPS on the 30th...
DeleteAmazon is the one who needs to pay increased rates! They are taking advantage of this delivery partnership. Or most likely, somebody somewhere is getting kickbacks for this deal. Is that too conspiracy-theorish?
I told you to send it by Fedex! ;)
ReplyDeleteI understand why you did not. I really hope it arrives very soon to it's destination, fingers crossed.
Yes, your recommendation is on the record. Hindsight is kicking my ample rumpus!
DeleteIf the documents are dated, then he should be okay for reconsideration even if they are delivered late, since neither you nor The Pony controls the Post Office deliveries.
ReplyDeleteI think this type of appeal, the RECONSIDERATION, is valid for one year from the date of denial. It's just that the delay will cause more problems, like the one week of Continuation of Pay that must be paid back due to the denial, which hasn't been adjusted yet.
DeleteThen if the decision is reversed, all those weeks of Continuation of Pay, and one or two weeks of the 60% comp pay must be allocated and processed. It took The Pony almost two months to get his training pay readjusted from an error by management. And longer than that for his mileage and four nights of lodging reimbursement.
Nothing happens overnight at the post office. Literally, it seems.
Bureaucracy! My daughter is in hospital dealing with right hand/left hand idiocy. One doc says this and the other says that. There was a note yesterday in paper that USPOffice will be holding up non important mail for lengthier times before delivery. What kind of nonsense is that?! Hope he gets his issues resolved.
ReplyDeleteHope your daughter can find someone with common sense in that hospital. The Pony had a terrible time just getting an appointment to treat his broken ankle!
DeleteThe post office will be so busy delivering Amazon orders that regular mail will have to wait. The Pony says the double time pay does not apply for four weeks prior to Christmas. They will work about 12 hours a day, but only for regular overtime. How fair is THAT?