USDA - APHIS

Human Resources Division (HRD) - Benefits - Thrift Savings Plan

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Who may contribute to TSP?
How much can I contribute to TSP?
How do I make a TSP Contribution Election?
When will my TSP Election become effective?
When am I eligible for Agency Contributions?
What is TSP Catch Up?
What are the TSP Investment Funds?
How do I make an Investment Allocation?
When do Investment Allocations become effective?
Where can I get more information about TSP?

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Who may contribute to TSP?

Current employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS and CSRS-Offset) are eligible to contribute to the TSP.

How much can I contribute To TSP?

The total amount that you may contribute is capped by the Internal Revenue Service's annual elective deferral limit: $15,500 in 2008 and $16,500 in 2009.

FERS employees who are eligible for government matching contributions should be sure to contribute to TSP every pay period.

The pay year for 2008 begins December 9, 2007 (pay period 25/07) and ends on December 20, 2008 (pay period 25/08). This is unusual, because in 2008 there are 27, not 26, pay dates!

The pay year for 2009 begins December 21, 2008 (pay period 26/08) and ends on December 19, 2009 (pay period 25/09). For example, if you want to contribute the maximum contributions in 2009, and if you will be paid every pay period, you will want to divide your TSP contributions ($16,500) by 26 pay periods, and make your TSP contribution election of $635 per pay period effective beginning pay period 26/08.

How do I make a TSP Contribution Election?

You can enroll, change, or stop your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contribution amount at any time, but you may make only ONE transaction per pay period. You may choose one of the following ways to process your transaction:

Use NFC's Employee Personal Page
(https://www.nfc.usda.gov/personal/ep_warning.asp). This is an automated system accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we encourage you to use this efficient method of processing your TSP change. If you have misplaced your NFC password, you may request another one at the NFC EPP web site.

Or complete a TSP-1, TSP Election Form (PDF; 35Kb). Complete the form, print it, sign it, and FAX it to (612) 336-3545, or mail it to:

Benefits Team
USDA MRPBS Human Resources
Butler Square, 100 N. 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55403-1588

DO NOT mail the TSP-1 form if you have FAXED it. DO NOT complete a TSP-1 form if you used NFC's Employee Personal Page for the same transaction. You may make only one transaction per pay period.

When will my TSP Election become effective?

TSP elections generally become effective at the beginning of the following pay period, however, transactions processed through NFC EPP may be effective in the pay period it is processed.

You are required to review your Statement of Earnings and Leave whenever you request a change which affects your salary withholdings, and to report any errors to your servicing Benefits Specialist immediately. Your Statement of Earnings and Leave is available on your NFC Employee Personal Page: https://www.nfc.usda.gov/personal/ep_warning.asp.

When am I eligible for Agency Contributions?

Only employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) are eligible for Agency contributions. Newly hired FERS employees and FERS employees reappointed following a break in service who were not previously eligible for agency contributions must serve a waiting period before receiving agency contributions to their TSP accounts:

Appointment Effective	Agency Contributions Begin
June 1 – November 30	First full pay period of the following June
December 1 – May 31	First full pay period of the following December

What is TSP Catch Up?

If you will be age 50 or older this year, and if you will contribute the maximum limit to the TSP ($16,500 in 2009), you may be able to make an additional $5,500 in catch up contributions to the TSP in 2009. See Fact sheet for details. (http://www.tsp.gov/forms/oc03-03.pdf (PDF; 80Kb).

TSP Catch Up elections do not carry over from year to year. To participate, you must make a new TSP Catch Up election at NFC’s Employee Personal Page (https://www.nfc.usda.gov/personal/ep_warning.asp), or by using the TSP-1-C form.
TSP-1-C, TSP Catch Up Contributions Election Form (PDF; 36Kb).

What are the TSP Investment Funds?

G Fund	Government Securities Investment Fund
F Fund	Fixed Income Index Fund
C Fund	Common Stock Index Fund
S Fund	Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund
I Fund	International Stock Index Investment Fund
L Funds	Lifecycle Funds

Read about the TSP investment funds on TSP's web site (http://www.tsp.gov).

How do I make an Investment Allocation?

You may invest in any or all of the TSP investment funds. You may use one of the following ways to change the investment of future contributions to your TSP account (contribution allocations) or to change the investment of money already in your account (interfund transfer):

Use the TSP website (http://www.tsp.gov). Click on "Account Access.” You need your TSP account number (not your Social Security Number) and your TSP web password. You may request a TSP account number at this site if you need one, but your address of record must be correct before you can request a TSP account number, because it will be mailed to your address of record. (You can update your address of record at NFC’s Employee Personal Page (https://www.nfc.usda.gov/personal/ep_warning.asp).
From a touch tone telephone, use the TSP Thriftline, 1-877-968-3778. You need your TSP account number and your 4-digit TSP PIN (which is not the same as your TSP web password). If you have misplaced your TSP PIN, call the Thriftline to request a replacement PIN.

When do Investment Allocations become effective?

The TSP Service Office will send you a confirmation of your investment allocation request when it has been processed. You are required to review your quarterly TSP Participant Statement and report any errors within 30 days.

Where can I get more information about TSP?

Link to the Thrift Savings Plan web site (http://www.tsp.gov) for complete information on the Thrift Savings Plan, including TSP forms and publications, current rates of return, access to your own TSP account, on-line calculators to estimate future account balances and TSP annuities, a retirement savings planner, and how the TSP is changing. Find out about the new Lifecycle Funds!

WATCH VIDEOS ABOUT THE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN
KEEP YOUR DESIGNATIONS OF
BENEFICIARY CURRENT
TSP-3, TSP Designation of Beneficiary Form (PDF; 52Kb)

QUESTIONS: Please contact your servicing Benefits Specialist.

(For employees of USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs and the Merit Systems Protection Board)