Browsing: retirement

Q. I retired from my dual-status job on Dec. 31, 2018, at the age of 53 in Mississippi, which is below my minimum retirement age. Am I able to collect from my TSP plan without paying a penalty since I am under my MRA? What are the laws that govern this for my CPA to use at tax time? A. If you receive a TSP distribution before you reach age 59 ½, in addition to the regular income tax, you may have to pay an early withdrawal penalty tax equal to 10 percent of any taxable portion of the distribution not…

Q. If I retire from civil service (under FERS) and I return to work as a civil servant at a later date, I know that my annuity will be subtracted from my pay. However, will I be able to contribute to TSP again? If so, can I contribute to my original TSP account or would I have to start over with another account? A. You will allowed to contribute to the TSP for during any period of eligible employment under TSP’s rules: https://www.tsp.gov/PlanParticipation/EligibilityAndContributions/index.html. A new TSP account will be opened for you when your are eligibly employed.

Q. I work for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and am currently 65 years old. I started working for the federal government on July 4, 2010. The plan is to continue working as long as I can, past 70. When I retire it will be under FERS (born Sept. 12, 1953). Do I start taking Social Security at age 70 if I’m still working? Also, can I continue putting money into my TSP after age 70 and 1/2 (the required minimum distribution age)? Are there any other things I should be aware of if I retire after age…

Q. I currently work for the U.S. Postal Service and have 38 years of service. I’ll be 66 years old in December 2019 and can collect my Social Security benefits in full while still working at the Post Office. Will they still reduce my benefits (government offset) even though I’m not retired or collecting my CSRS pension? A. The Social Security earned income offset will not apply to your Social Security retirement benefit once you reach your Social Security Full Retirement Age. The windfall elimination provision is calculated based on your earnings history and will be applied whether, or not,…

Q. I was speaking with a Thrift Savings Plan representative recently and they said that not all of my years working with the federal government were vested. I started my career with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), then went to DoD, and now I’m with the Department of Veterans Affairs. I have 25 years served all together with just one break in service of two years. Do I need to speak with each agency to see if I’m vested? A. From the TSP Bulletin 15-1: Thrift Savings Plan Vesting Requirements and the TSP Service Computation Date: The TSP Vesting…

Q. I have often read you stating to put your TSP in the L Fund most closely matching your expected life expectancy if you are not able to analyze the market (which I am not able nor willing to hire someone to do that). I am a former FERS employee, retired at age 56. I am now 59 and I only have $120,000 in my TSP and hope to wait until age 70 (or just leave it alone for my sons), if possible. I wondered if the L Fund most matching your life expectancy is suggested for a current employee…

Q. What happens to life insurance you have been paying throughout the service after you retire? A. I’m not going to try to cover all of the possibilities here. An explanation is provided on pages 15 through 20 of the booklet at https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/life-insurance/reference-materials/federalbooklet.pdf.

Q. I work for the U.S. Postal Service and would like to resign at 58 with 24 years of service. I will postpone my annuity date till I am 60 years of age, but I need to tap into my Thrift Savings Plan to tide me over for the two years I am waiting for my pension. Will I face the 10 percent penalty since I am not 59 1/2? I am retiring, but delaying the pension to avoid the 5 percent per year under 62. Would I need to use the lifetime average or could I set the amount I want to…

Q. I plan on retiring September 2020 with over 41 years of service. What states don’t tax a U.S. Postal Service pension, if any, or what states tax the least? A. Take a look at Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

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