Celebrate Older Americans

This May we recognize the 60th anniversary of Older Americans Month (OAM) and challenge the narrative on aging. This is a time for us to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends, and strengthen our commitment to honoring our older citizens.

This year’s theme, Aging Unbound, offers an opportunity to explore a wide range of aging experiences and to promote the importance of enjoying independence and fulfillment by paving our own paths as we age.

Here are some ways we can all participate in Aging Unbound:

• Embrace the opportunity to change. Find a new passion, go on an adventure, and push boundaries by not letting age define your limits. Invite creativity and purpose into your life by trying new activities in your community to bring in more growth, joy, and energy. • Explore the rewards of growing older. With age comes knowledge, which provides insight and confidence to understand and experience the world more deeply. Continue to grow that knowledge through reading, listening, classes, and creative activities. • Stay engaged in your community. Everyone benefits when everyone is connected and involved. Stay active by volunteering, working, mentoring, participating in social clubs, and taking part in activities at your local senior center or elsewhere in the community. • Form relationships. As an essential ingredient of well-being, relationships can enhance your quality of life by introducing new ideas and unique perspectives. Invest time with people to discover deeper connections with family, friends, and community members.

Aging Unbound also offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes. Join us in promoting flexible thinking about aging – and how we all benefit when older adults remain engaged, independent, and included. Celebrate Older Americans Stories build community and connect us. Stories are a great way to learn about and engage with others. The best sharing activities are those where people feel encouraged and at ease.

Legislative Priorities

Millions of federal, local and state retirees are still waiting for Congress to pass legislation to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), The Social Security Fairness Act.

We must keep the pressure on Congress by encouraging our family, friends and acquaintances to contact Congress at 202-224-3121, write letters, postcards and emails asking our congressional representatives to cosponsor and vote in the House for HR.82 and S.597 in the Senate.

We also want this Congress to pass legislation similar to The Federal Retirement Fairness Act, which will allow postal workers who began their postal career as temporary employees/Postal Support Employees on or after Jan. 1, 1989 to “buy back” that time as credit towards their retirement. This will once again create parity between temporary and career employees, ensuring they have equal access to retirement benefits. Continue to contact Congress by calling 202-224-3121, and writing letters, postcards and emails.

Retirement Seminars on ZOOM

The Retiree Department will conduct two seminars by ZOOM - Disability Retirement on Saturday, July 8, 2023, and Retirement Planning on Saturday, July 29, 2023. The registration and detailed information will be posted on the APWU Events webpage.

Join The Retirees Department

Your APWU dues stop when you retire from the USPS because you are no longer on their rolls. Continue your APWU membership by joining the Retirees Department - dues are just a $3.00 per month deducted from your annuity. Retirees Department applications are mailed and emailed to APWU bargaining unit members when you retire. You can join online at https://apwu.org/retiree-online-join.