How to File a USPS Claim

3 min read · Updated June 2026

If a package goes missing or arrives damaged, you may be able to recover its value through a USPS claim. Here’s the order to do things in — starting with a free Missing Mail Search.

TL;DR

Start a Missing Mail Search first — it often locates the package without a claim.
You can only file a claim if the shipment was insured.
Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, and Flat Rate include $100 of insurance; Media Mail does not.

Step 1: Start a Missing Mail Search

If your package is missing, always begin with a Missing Mail Search — even if you plan to file a claim later. This gives USPS a chance to locate the package, and it often resolves the issue on its own. It applies to all mail, insured or not, and should be done first when tracking shows the item lost or undelivered.

You’ll need: the tracking number, mailing date, a description of the package and contents, and the delivery and return addresses.

Start a Missing Mail Search at USPS →

Step 2: Check if your shipment is insured

You can only file a USPS claim if the package was insured. The good news: most Thryft Ship labels already include coverage.

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What’s covered automatically Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Flat Rate, and Priority Mail Express include up to $100 of USPS insurance at no extra cost (the label must have a tracking barcode, which yours do). Media Mail does not include insurance.

Step 3: File your claim

If the Missing Mail Search doesn’t resolve it and your shipment is insured, file a claim directly with USPS. You’ll generally need the tracking number, proof of value (like a receipt or order record), and, for damaged items, photos and a description of the damage.

File a USPS claim →

Timing matters USPS has windows for both searches and claims, so don’t wait too long once an issue appears. Start the Missing Mail Search as soon as tracking stalls, and file the claim within USPS’s allowed timeframe for your service.

Common questions

Do I file the claim, or does my customer?

As the seller who bought the label, you’re the one with the shipment and insurance details, so you typically file it.

My package was Media Mail — can I claim it?

Media Mail doesn’t include insurance, so there’s no USPS claim to file unless insurance was separately added. Start with a Missing Mail Search regardless.

How much can I claim?

Up to the insured amount — $100 on the services that include it, or the higher coverage amount if extra insurance was purchased. You’ll need proof of the item’s value.

Stuck on a lost or damaged shipment? Reach out and we’ll point you in the right direction.