TSP Annuity After Retirement

If I elect to take the TSP annuity after retirement and I die before using all of my contributions will it go to my adult daughter, my elected beneficiary?

Q: I have a question about the TSP annuity. I am on the CSRS-offset plan, not the full CSRS or FERS, but a little of both, and a single parent of a daughter. My question is if I elect to take the TSP annuity after retirement and I die before using all of my contributions will it go to my adult daughter, my elected beneficiary? If not, what is the best option for me if I wanted to get the most of my tsp contributions, but also leave the money to my beneficiary if I did not use it all?

A: You will file a new beneficiary form if you elect the annuity and, if you die before recouping the purchase price (assuming you elect the cash refund feature), it will go to whomever you list on that form.

Agencies can request to have John Grobe, or another of Federal Career Experts' qualified instructors, deliver a retirement or transition seminar to their employees. FCE instructors are not financial advisers and will not sell or recommend financial products to class participants. Agency Benefits Officers can contact John Grobe at johnfgrobe@comcast.net to discuss schedules and costs.

About the Author

John Grobe is President of Federal Career Experts, a firm that provides pre-retirement training and seminars to a wide variety of federal agencies. FCE’s instructors are all retired federal retirement specialists who educate class participants on the ins and outs of federal retirement and benefits; there is never an attempt to influence participants to invest a certain way, or to purchase any financial products. John and FCE specialize in retirement for special category employees, such as law enforcement officers.