Browsing: VSIP

Q. I am a CSRS employee. I have decided to take the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment and should be off the rolls by March 31. I am told that I can put in 10 percent of my basic total federal wages (could be in excess of $200,000) into the Voluntary Contribution Program and I should withdraw all of it when I retire. I am also told that I can deposit this withdrawn VCP money into a Roth IRA, which is the main reason I want to do this. Are my assumptions true? If it is, how can I open a…

Q. I am 61 years old and have a Thrift Savings Plan loan of $24,000 and over $60,000 remaining in my TSP account. I applied for a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay at my human resources office awaiting approval. What happens to my TSP loan and to my remaining balance in my account if I request a full withdrawal when my retirement is approved? Does the remaining balance of my TSP loan gets paid up from my remaining balance and incur penalty for the full withdrawal? A. If you don’t repay your loan within 90 days of the…

Q. I retired from the Postal Service on Jan. 31 with a Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay of $15,000. The VSIP was paid out as $10,000 this year and $5,000 in 2014. I know I can contribute to an IRA for 2013 since I had earned income during the month of January. Now that I’m retired, will I still be able to contribute to an IRA in 2014 because of the $5,000 in “income” that I’ll receive from the Postal Service? A. A VSIP is not considered a basis for contribution to an IRA.

Q. How will Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay affect my retirement benefits (annuity supplement, Social Security, pension and Thrift Savings Plan withdrawals)? I am an Air Force civilian GS-13, age 52, with 26 years of service under FERS. A. A VERA/VSIP will not affect the rules governing your TSP withdrawals. You will be subject to the early withdrawal penalty until you reach age 59½ unless you can qualify for one of the exceptions listed on the left side of Page 7 of this notice: https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tsp-536.pdf.

Q. How will Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay affect my retirement benefits in regard to the Thrift Savings Plan and what I do with the money in the TSP (when do I have to take withdrawals, etc.)? I am a Defense Department civilian, age 53, with 35+ years of service under CSRS. A. Early retirement does not affect the rules governing access to your TSP account. The usual rules apply and they can be found at www.tsp.gov. In particular, you should understand the information contained in this notice: https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tsp-536.pdf. You’ll be subject to the early withdrawal penalty unless…

Q. How will Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay affect my retirement benefits (annuity supplement, pension and Thrift Savings Plan withdrawals)? I am a Defense Department civilian, age 58, with 21 years of service under FERS. A. Mike: You will have access to your TSP account, under the usual rules, without penalty following your separation. Reg: Your annuity would be computed under the standard formula: .01 x your high-3 x your years and full months of service. There wouldn’t be any age penalty because you were retiring before age 62. And, since you have already reached your minimum retirement age,…

Q. Overview:  I began in the Air Force Non-Appropriated Fund in 1996, enrolled in NAF retirement plan in 2000, ported to GS in 2005 with deferral of my NAF retirement (calculated at 5.27 yrs) and entered FERS. My current GS position will be abolished in 2014 (at nine years FERS). I have the potential of porting into a NAF position. I wish I had just retained NAF retirement, but lack of research and misguided human resources recommendations led me to where I am with a split retirement outlook. Given my FERS time will total only nine years at abolishment, if I move…

Q. I worked for the federal government for over 28 years. I retired last year under Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay provisions June 30, 2012. I am considering re-employing/reinstating. Am I eligible to return to work on July 1, one year after retiring? Can I repay the VSIP in cash or in payments? I read once that you can make payments for up to 36 months upon re-employment but am not sure whether this is correct. I understand the VSIP must be paid back before I return to work. Upon re-employing with the government, will I be able to contribute to…

Q. For Army employees: Have you heard anything regarding the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program and pretax payment? Or is there anything before Congress? What are the pros and cons to employees having their money from a VSIP benefit going to TSP? What would they need to do to ensure that money goes to TSP? A. A VSIP is not eligible for deferral to the TSP.

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