(a) For purposes of this part, a claim shall be deemed to have been presented when the U.S. Postal Service receives from a claimant, his duly authorized agent or legal representative, an executed Standard Form 95, Claim for Damage or Injury, or other written notification of an incident, accompanied by a claim for money damages in a sum certain for injury to or loss of property, personal injury, or death alleged to have occurred by reason of the incident. A standard Form 95 may be obtained from the local District Tort Claims Coordinator, the National Tort Center, or online at usa.gov (select Government forms).

(b) A claim presented in compliance with paragraph (a) of this section may be amended by the claimant at any time prior to:

(1) The claimant's exercise of the option to file a civil action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2675(a);

(2) The Postal Service's issuance of a payment in the full amount of the claim; or

(3) The Postal Service's issuance of a written denial of the claim in accordance with §912.9.

(c) Amendments shall be submitted in writing and signed by the claimant or his duly authorized agent or legal representative. Upon the timely filing of an amendment to a pending claim, the Postal Service shall have six months in which to make final disposition of the claim as amended, and the claimant's option under 28 U.S.C. 2675(a) shall not accrue until six months after the filing of an amendment.

[36 FR 12448, June 30, 1971, as amended at 45 FR 43720, June 30, 1980; 69 FR 52607, Aug. 27, 2004; 73 FR 75339, Dec. 11, 2008]