Q. My wife retired under a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority in August 2011. Her 1099-R displays a “1” as the distribution code in Block 7 of the form, “no known exceptions.” For years 2011 and 2012, we paid a 10 percent tax penalty for early withdrawal from her Thrift Savings Plan. I know the tax is usually levied unless the person is 59½ years of age, but at what age will the code on the 1099-R change for my wife so we won’t have to pay this tax? Will she benefit at some point because her retirement was a VERA, and at…
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Q. I am below the age for Thrift Savings Plan withdrawal without penalty (soon to be 50), but it looks like I will be out on workers’ compensation under permanent disability shortly. Due to the impact on my income and an ongoing issue, I need to make a withdrawal or close my TSP to continue meeting my obligations. I have thoroughly researched the issue of using a TSP but have little choice. A loan is not an option (I’m paying one off and, if I’m on disability, I can’t take one out). And I’ve looked into other avenues, to include…
Q. I am a letter carrier, age 52, started in 1985 and have 28 years of creditable service. If I understand what I’ve gleaned from the posts here and the Postal Service were to offer me a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority this year, 1. Would I begin my annuity immediately? 2. Would I have no reductions in calculations of my annuity? (average high-3 x 1 percent x 28) 3. Would I receive credit for half of my sick leave and all of my annual leave? (How are these applied?) 4. Would I receive the special retirement supplement beginning at age…
Q. On March 11, you wrote a response to a gentleman who was retiring from the Postal Service and had a question about moving his Thrift Savings Program to a civilian account. In your response you wrote, “You are not required to roll over your TSP account and may continue it for life. You should do everything you can to keep your money in the TSP for as long as possible, since it is superior to any other investment account you will find. Your TSP should be the last account you tap for retirement income.” That response raised a few…
Q. How often am I able to change my allotment amount being drawn from my Thrift Savings Plan account yearly monthly, etc., while retired? Can I still move my money between funds after I start receiving the allotment? A. If you’re referring to automatic monthly distributions, the amount can be changed once each year, effective in January. You may, and are responsible to, continue to manage your account for as long as it continues.
Q. My husband is a Defense Department term employee. If his term does not get renewed in May, he wants to roll his Thrift Savings Program into my TSP. Would this be allowed? A. This is not allowed, but he may continue and manage his TSP account for life.
Q. Can I take $20,000 out and get a monthly annuity from the rest of the money? A. Yes.
Q. I will be retiring very soon. Can I withdraw some of the money in the Thrift Savings Plan and leave the rest there to buy an annuity later when the interest rate is better? A. Yes.
Q. I have 27½ years in the Postal Service and I am 52½ years of age. If an early-out comes in the next few months, will I get a penalty for leaving? Do I get my special retirement supplement, or do I have to wait for that? Also, do I get to take my Thrift Savings Plan now, or do I wait for that? A. Mike: The early-out has no effect on the Internal Revenue Service early withdrawal penalty. You will be subject to the penalty until you reach age 59½ unless you qualify for one of the exceptions listed…
Q. In 2008, when the market crashed, I put a lot of my G and C funds into the S and I. The balance was around $107,000 at the time. It’s now 2013 and my balance today is $270,000 as the share prices for the S and I have more than doubled. The S Fund went from $11 a share to $26 a share. The I Fund went from $12 a share to $25 a share. When is a good time to move all of the S and I back into the G or C funds so that I do not…