Preparing for active duty or TDY

You have a lot to think about as you prepare to go on active duty. Whether you’re a federal or non-federal civilian employee, you can minimize problems that may arise regarding your TSP account if you take the following actions:

Federal civilian employees

Immediately inform your federal civilian agency that you have been called to perform active military service.

Employee contributions

Your employee contributions to your civilian TSP account (and agency contributions, if you’re FERS) will stop once you go into a nonpay status.

However, you can still contribute to your uniformed services TSP account. It is a good idea to contribute a percentage of your basic pay, which entitles you to contribute a percentage of any incentive pay, special pay, or bonus pay.

TSP uniformed services account

Don’t have a uniformed services account yet? You may want to establish one by using your service’s electronic payroll system, for example, myPay, or by submitting Form TSP-U-1, Election Form, to your service.

Read TSP Benefits That Apply to Members of the Military Who Return to Federal Civilian Service to learn more.

TSP loans

Loan payments for your civilian account will stop because they come from payroll deductions. Also, you cannot make payments on that loan from your uniformed services pay. However, you can continue to make loan payments by check, money order, or direct debit at any time to stay current on your payments. Log in to My Account or use one of the ThriftLine Service options to learn how.

See the TSP booklet Loans and the TSP fact sheet Effect of Nonpay Status on Your TSP Account for more information.

Non-federal civilian employees

Confirm how much you have contributed to your employer’s defined contribution plan (e.g., 401(k), 403(a), 403(b), etc.) for the current tax year. If you plan to contribute from your uniformed services pay, this will help you determine the amount (in tax-deferred contributions) that you’ll be eligible to contribute to your uniformed services TSP account while on active duty.

Federal and non-federal civilian employees

Remember the basics

• Make sure we have your current mailing address. If necessary, ask your agency and/or your service to correct or change your mailing address for your TSP account.
• Be sure you have your TSP user ID and password. If you have lost or forgotten these numbers, you can go to Access your account for more information or contact us through one of the ThriftLine Service Center options.
• Acquaint yourself with TSP contribution limits.

Give a power of attorney

Before you go on active duty, you can designate a power of attorney—an individual to serve as your agent in any business with the TSP. Your agent can be given very specific powers or unlimited power to act on your behalf. Use one of the ThriftLine Service Center options to establish a power of attorney.

Review beneficiaries

Be sure that the designation of beneficiary you have on file for you reflects your current intentions. We cannot accept any other types of designations, such as wills.