591 Overview
591.1 Description
591.11 Administration
591.12 Getting Help from TSP
Participants may obtain information and help from the TSP as follows:
- Website. The TSP’s website, www.tsp.gov, provides employees with general information, forms, and publications. The TSP booklet (TSPBK08), Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan for Federal Employees, and other TSP materials are available on www.tsp.gov.
- Telephone. The ThriftLine, TSP’s automated voice response system, is available to participants 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
- Participants can use the system to do the following:
- Get general information about their account.
- Retrieve the latest TSP information on rates of return and share prices.
- Contact a participant service representative (PSR).
- To use the ThriftLine system, participants:
- Call 1-TSP-YOU-FRST (1-877-968-3778) or the Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) line for the hearing impaired: Dial 711.
- Must provide their TSP account number and personal identification number (PIN).
- Can select option 3 to contact a PSR. PSRs are available Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
591.2 Enrollment
- PostalEASE, accessible on Blue (https://blue.usps.gov) and LiteBlue (https://liteblue.usps.gov).
- Calling the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC) at 877-477-3273, option 1 (TTY 866-260-7507).
591.3 Eligibility to Contribute
591.31 General
All career employees are permitted to contribute to the TSP.
591.32 New Career Employees
- PostalEASE, accessible on Blue (https://blue.usps.gov) and LiteBlue (https://liteblue.usps.gov).
- Calling the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC) at 877-477-3273, option 1 (TTY 866-260-7507).
591.33 Rehired Employees
The Postal Service automatically enrolls in the TSP, at the TSP mandated contribution rate, employees rehired after July 31, 2010, who are members of the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The TSP mandated contribution rate is deducted from their basic pay each pay period. Rehired employees may increase or decrease their contributions through PostalEASE (accessible on USPS websites Blue and LiteBlue), or by calling the HRSSC at 877-477-3273, option 1 (TTY 866-260-7507). The following provisions also apply:
- Employee contributions and applicable agency contributions will resume upon rehire for rehired FERS or CSRS employees who had a break in service of less than 31 full calendar days and were previously contributing to the TSP. Employees not previously contributing can begin at any time.
- Rehired FERS or CSRS employees who had a break in service of 31 or more full calendar days, regardless of whether they were enrolled before their break, will be enrolled automatically in the TSP at the TSP mandated contribution rate, which is deducted from their basic pay each pay period.
591.34 Reemployed Annuitants
591.341 Eligibility
A reemployed annuitant is an individual rehired by the federal government and who continues to receive basic retirement benefits from CSRS or FERS. The following eligibility rules apply:
- Reemployed annuitants performing service that FERS, or CSRS covers are eligible to participate in the TSP. Agency contributions for FERS reemployed annuitants must begin with the effective date of their reappointment to the FERS position.
- Reemployed annuitants not performing covered service are not eligible to participate in the TSP.
591.342 Enrollment
591.343 Contributions
591.35 Transfers from Another Agency
- TSP loan payment.
- Automatic (1 percent) contributions.
- Employee and matching contributions (if any).
The HRSSC must submit a completed TSP-19, Transfer of Information Between Agencies, to the Eagan Accounting Service Center (ASC).
591.36 Dual Appointments
- Each agency automatically enrolls the employees until they elect to change or terminate their participation in the TSP (with each agency). Each agency must use only basic pay employees earn at that respective agency to determine TSP contributions.
- Employees whose retirement coverage does not continue under the second appointment are not eligible to participate in the TSP under the second appointment.