Customs employees are required to use the Employee Express Web site or phone system, managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to conduct most benefits and Thrift Savings Plan transactions as well as some basic payroll transactions such as changing tax withholding, allotments, or purchasing savings bonds.

The key to taking advantage of convenient self-service options is to know what's available, and how to quickly access the services at work or at home.

Cut out this quick reference guide and keep the information close at hand.

Your self-service options - available 24/7

Customs Web sites Intranet http://customsnet/xp/cnet/hrm, choose "Human Resources Site" Click in the left bulleted column and you can quickly access key items such as GovBenefits, CareerFinder, Pathfinder, Employee Express, Earnings and Leave Statement, and Commonly Used Forms. Customs Vacancies Under the "Careers" heading, click "Jobs," and view Customs vacancies requiring "paper" applications as well as CareerFinder's apply-on-line vacancies. CareerFinder You can also register in CareerFinder to view or apply for on-line vacancy announcements, update your registration or previous application, or apply for another job opening. Benefits Under the "Benefits, Pay, and Leave" heading, there are links to the Long Term Care, Employee Express, Social Security, and TSP Web sites to conduct transactions on-line. Internet Customs.gov, choose "Careers," "Jobs." You'll find the same vacancy and CareerFinder options that are available on the Customs Intranet,and you can access Employee Express and your Earnings and Leave Statement.

Customs Pathfinder automated phone service: 800.944.7725 By calling Pathfinder, you can access Customs job information, link to Employee Express (EE), and obtain retirement and national recruitment information. Job Express (press #1) Access current Customs job announcements and request a copy of an announcement. Retirement Express (press#2) Obtain retirement eligibility information and a retirement estimate by using your EE PIN and SSN. Employee Express (press #3) Links you to the Employee Express Web site (see EE box) -- you can also request a replacement EE PIN. Recruitment Express (press #4) Highlights current national recruitment campaigns. Customs "Employee Transcript" E-mails are automatically sent to employees to confirm most of their personnel actions. Annual employee transcripts are sent to employees' homes each February. To request an "extra" transcript: E-mail "Actions, HRM Personnel" or Access TPX, then choose "SF50-REQ Request an Employee Transcript." Customs personnel actions To ask a question about your personnel actions: E-mail "Actions, HRM Personnel." Employee Express (EE) (OPM Web site) www.employeeexpress.gov 800.827.6290 or 478.757.3085, TDD 888.880.0412 Customs employees receive an EE PIN in the mail from OPM. The Web site and phone numbers allow you to change your benefits and payroll information by using your EE PIN and SSN. Your EE PIN: You can change your EE PIN at any time on the EE site or phone line. To replace your PIN, call OPM at 478.757.3030 and get a new one within 7 workdays. TSP: During TSP open seasons, you can start to contribute or change your contribution percentage or dollar amount (open seasons are from October 15 through December 31 and April 15 through June 30 each year) -- you can stop contributing to TSP at any time. FEHB: During the Federal Employee Health Benefits open season from mid-November to mid-December each year (dates vary), you can start or change a plan or add or delete members. Employment verification: Access the "Work Number" option and follow the prompts or call 800.996.7566 or TDD 800.424.0253. Other services: At any time, you can change your direct deposit location, create or change an allotment, change tax withholding, change your address, and purchase savings bonds. Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) (Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Web site) www.tsp.gov 504.255.8777 or TDD 504.255.5133 TSP provides participants with a separate TSP PIN to conduct transactions on their site. You can manage your TSP funds by using your "TSP" PIN and SSN. At any time, you can: Review account balances, Check rates of return, Change the allocations of funds (how you divide up your contributions among the five funds), Make interfund transfers (move some or all of existing balances among the five funds), Review the status of a TSP loan application or loan account, Review the status of withdrawal requests or payments, Change or replace your TSP PIN, and Obtain copies of TSP forms and publications. Note: during open seasons, you have several additional options, which you exercise through Employee Express (see EE box). Long Term Care Insurance (LTC) www.LTCFEDS.com 800.582.3337 or TDD 800.843.3557 This Web site and phone number allow you to: Get up-to-date LTC information, Submit your application on-line-current open season ends December 31, 2002, and Sign up for an LTC Educational Meeting or view an on-line version of a meeting.