Q. I am a federal firefighter and a FERS employee. In 2022, I will have 21 years of creditable service and four years of bought-back active military time and be 48 years old. 1. Will I be able to retire under the provisions of 25 years of service at any age? 2. Will I receive the special category retirement percentages (1.7 x high-3 x creditable service, etc.)? 3. Will I receive the special retirement supplement until 62? 4. Will I not be able to withdraw any Thrift Savings Plan annuities until 62? A. Reg: 1. No, you won’t be able…
Browsing: withdrawal
Q. I received a disability retirement four years ago. I had 25 years of service and will be 57 years old in February. I have rolled over my Thrift Savings Plan. At what age can I start receiving it? A. You can withdraw money from an IRA at any time.
Q. I am a CSRS employee planning on retiring at age 55. I also have been paying into the Thrift Savings Program. Will I be able to withdraw from TSP when I retire at age 55 without penalty? A. Yes.
Q. I have tried to understand the issue of the 70½ age thing and what should be done with my Thrift Savings Plan. Do I need to roll it over, or can I keep it where it is and have the minimum withdrawal done each year? Also, can I withdraw $10,000 at that time? I did a one-time withdrawal in 2008. Does this mean I cannot make another withdrawal when I am 70½? A. You may leave your money in the TSP for life, but you must take Required Minimum Distributions each year if you are no longer working and have…
Q. My wife has contributed to her Thrift Savings Plan all her career and we will draw on it soon. We both have federal pensions and Social Security pensions that do not count toward income for purposes of the Social Security cap. If she receives her TSP in a lump sum, I know we have to pay taxes, but will that money be considered income for that year and offset our Social Security pensions, or is her TSP considered part of her retirement income? A. TSP withdrawals are not considered earned income.
Q. I recently asked to withdraw my Thrift Savings Plan account. I understand that they automatically withhold 20 percent of the balance. I live in Pennsylvania and was wondering if I will have to pay more taxes even though TSP withheld the legal limit of the 20 percent. I am trying to figure out if I should be expecting a bill from the Internal Revenue Service once I file my taxes for 2012. Maybe I’m overthinking this, but I’m trying to buy my first house and heard rumors that the money can be used for this without penalty. A. The 20 percent withholding…
Q. I was involuntarily separated under FERS discontinued service retirement with 26½ years of service. I was rehired to a federal job and opted to receive both salary and annuity. I no longer contribute to FERS and understand why I no longer get matching contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan, but why can’t I contribute my own money to TSP and get the tax deferral? I have a TSP account but do not plan on withdrawing money until I permanently retire in several years. A. The only way that you’re allowed to contribute to the TSP is through payroll deferral or…
Q. I’m going to retire in May, and I’m considering withdrawing my Thrift Savings Plan in equal monthly payments. Based on the TSP website calculator, my $190,000 will give me 288 payments using a 1.5 percent interest rate. If I die after, say, 150 payments, what are the options open to my wife? A. A beneficiary participant account will be established for your spouse beneficiary, and she may then manage it or withdraw from it as she chooses, subject to the applicable TSP and Internal Revenue Service rules.
Q. I just started a Roth TSP and wondered if there was a five-year waiting period to start drawing it out? I am almost 61 years old. A. Yes, the five-year rule applies to Roth TSP withdrawals.
Q. I am interested in seeing if the Thrift Savings Plan can be managed on a bucket type of withdrawal strategy. I realize it would take an act of Congress to get the rules changed. Can you identify the member of Congress whose pet project is the TSP? A. No, but you can use a “bucket” strategy in the TSP now. Just allocate your account the way you’d like, take your withdrawal and then rebalance your account. The “bucket” strategy is just another way to look at an asset allocation strategy. Even if you use “buckets” for your money, there…