Quote:
Originally Posted by WTF
Under the new plan, those who do stay for 20 or more years will see a 20 percent cut in their pension payouts, though the difference should be offset in part by the contributions to the plan's 401(k)-style component.
|
Under the OLD plan, Veterans who served 20 years got 50% of their base pay. They also got their TSP (a 401k type of retirement that included fund matching) if they chose to contribute and an IRA if they chose to contribute. (Those who leave w nothing chose not to contribute to TSP or an IRA. You could contribute to voluntary plans at anytime during your career.)
Under the NEW plan, Veterans who served 20 years get 40% of their base pay. They also got a 401k type of retirement that includes fund matching if they chose to contribute and an IRA if they chose to contribute. (I dont recall if the article stated whether or not the new 401k was voluntary or mandatory. If it is voluntary, those who leave w less than 20 years could still leave with nothing. The new 401k plan with fund matching is ONLY available to those with 12 years of service or more. Those who serve less than 12 years will still leave with nothing.)
If you read the two above statements, you realize the only differences are that one plan is 50%, the other of 40% AND the 401k style that provided fund matching at any time in your career, would now only be available to those w 12 years of service OR more. The original article from MSN is misleading and the federal government is not looking out for its service members (as if that never happened before).
To answer dilbert firestorm's question: Under the old plan, if you left the military before 20 years, you could take your TSP and IRA accounts with you but would be penalized for early withdrawal. You could roll it into a new plan but the new fund might charge you a fee.
Hint: The money the federal government saves on this plan comes from somewhere. In other words, someone is getting screwed.