Vesting means that you have met the service requirements that

entitle you to keep the agency automatic (1%) contributions and their earnings

when you leave federal service.  Vesting does not apply to any other types

of contributions. 

Therefore:

• FERS and CSRS participants are always vested in their own contributions and

  the earnings on their contributions. 

• FERS participants are always vested in the matching contributions their

  agencies make, as well as the earnings on the matching contributions.

Most FERS employees become vested in their agency automatic (1%)

contributions after completing 3 years of federal civilian service.  FERS

employees in congressional and certain noncareer positions become vested in

their agency Automatic (1%) contributions after completing 2 years of civilian

service.

All federal civilian service counts toward vesting in your TSP account -- not

just your service while you are a TSP participant.  Service covered by

USERRA also counts toward vesting.  If you are a FERS participant, your

agency reports your TSP Service Computation Date (TSP-SCD), which is used by the

TSP record keeper to determine whether you are vested.  Your TSP-SCD is

shown on your participant statement; if you believe it is incorrect or have

questions about it, contact your personnel office. (Your TSP-SCD will never be

earlier than January 1, 1984.)

If you leave federal service before satisfying the vesting requirement for

your agency automatic (1%) contributions, those contributions and the earnings

on them will be forfeited to the TSP.

If you die before separating from service, you will automatically be

considered vested in your TSP account.