Pay · TSP

TSP and the retirement stack

Under the Blended Retirement System the government will not finish the match for you. You have to turn the contribution on, and you do it at TSP.gov.

1. 01

   Create or recover your TSP account

   Go to TSP.gov. Use Login.gov. If you have never logged in, the account may already exist from finance — you still have to claim it.

2. 02

   Set the contribution so you capture the match

   BRS is 1% automatic plus up to 4% matching. If you contribute nothing extra, you are leaving the match on the table. Change the percentage in the TSP portal and confirm it hits your LES.

3. 03

   Pick a fund and a beneficiary

   The L funds are the default for a reason if you do not want to manage glide paths. Add a beneficiary the same day. TSP does not read your will.

4. 04

   Know how this sits next to a pension

   BRS members who qualify still get a reduced defined-benefit pension plus TSP. Do not treat TSP like optional hobby money. It is the portable half of the retirement.