A term used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to classify mail that cannot be delivered to the recipient because the address on the mailpiece is incorrect, incomplete, or outdated. When mail is deemed UAA, USPS may return it to the sender, forward it to a new address if available, or dispose of it, depending on the mail class and the presence of forwarding instructions.
Common reasons for UAA mail include recipient relocation without a filed Change of Address (COA), missing apartment or suite numbers, incorrect ZIP codes, addressees no longer at the address, or illegible addressing. The volume of UAA mail represents a significant operational and financial burden for both USPS and mailers, often leading to delays, lost communications, and increased costs.
To reduce UAA rates, businesses are encouraged to utilize USPS-certified address verification tools, such as CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System), NCOALink (National Change of Address), and Address Correction Services. These tools help ensure that addresses are complete, correctly formatted, and up-to-date before mailing.
In USPS processing systems, UAA designations are often accompanied by a Nixie label indicating the reason for non-delivery. Mailers can use this information to update their records and improve future deliverability.
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