We have found the Premium Forwarding to be more reliable. Rather than mail trickling in one piece at a time (and wondering if they got it all, which was our main issue), every Wednesday, your mail for the week is put into a priority mail envelope and mailed in a batch. You get an email notification so you can then track that envelope and know when it is arriving. Not cheap, but gave us some peace of mind. We found that the post office was less likely to “miss” pieces with the Premium. Just be sure to time your stop date appropriately.

About 10 days

Mail forwarding
 

I've done the free, actually $1 fee, in both directions(Pa to and from FL) for 14 years with no problems. There is a 7-10 day delay and it's for first class mail only.

I get that email and it isn’t accurate everyday. Don’t rely on it. Put everything on auto pay and give a temp address change to other things. I’ve dont it with no issues

IF a you have a friend here. Give then the key. The can sort the mail and send it to you every two weeks. Much cheaper option and no junk. Take them to dinner when you return

Forward Mail
 

We forwarded our mail for over 6 years the best way is to start forwarding 1 week ahead of you leaving. And remember it will take about 10 days to get to the forwarded address.
Then stop the mail about 10 days before you return, it takes that long for mail to completely get to temporary address.

I’ve discovered that when you forward your mail, they don’t scan it into informed delivery.

I use the temporary address change and have informed delivery so I know what to expect. Been working great for over 5 years, two times away 2 to 3 months.

Mail
 

We use temporary for years

We started using the premium forwarding service after some of our mail that was supposed to get forwarded never did. And I agree, it is costly.

This is my 4th season of mail forwarding, Pa to Fl. In the past it took about 7-14 days to receive, this year is the worst & the postal service confirmed yesterday that nationwide is about a month behind. When you forward it no longer goes to your local PO it goes to a regional center then they forward. I have not received a monthly statement for December, sent in early Jan.
So, I will be stopping a month before I return. PO says they agree.

I start forwarding my mail 3 or 4 days before I am leaving. Has worked fine for me.

Postal service says give them two weeks to start getting your mail to you. If it goes longer they say give them a call. You can go into the system now and set the date you want it to stop. You can also set the end date while in the system setting the start date. We found the service to be unreliable so we don’t use it anymore

I always do temporary change of address and never have a problem

If you are going to a temporary address, like a vacation rental or an AirB&B, do not forward mail. The credit bureaus will put that address in your credit record, and you will never be rid of it. Never, not in at least ten years.