Q. I am 60 years old and, for seven years, have been separated from 21 years of federal service. I have never made any withdrawals from my Thrift Savings Plan account. I am interested in making a partial withdrawal for home improvement projects. I understand a one-time partial withdrawal leaving the rest in TSP for later is allowed, but does one-time mean that if I make a one-time partial withdrawal now, I will not be allowed to make a full withdrawal of the remaining money later when I am fully retired to perhaps pay off the mortgage? Will I only be allowed monthly payments?
A. You are allowed one partial withdrawal and one full withdrawal, which may be taken as a lump sum of your entire remaining balance or as a series of monthly payments, which may then terminate in a withdrawal of the remainder.
