TSP withdrawals & income.
How to turn your TSP into retirement income — the withdrawal options, installments versus the life annuity, the Rule of 55, in-service withdrawals at 59½, and the Roth-TSP RMD rules.
Every guide in this cluster
TSP Withdrawal Options in 2026: Lump Sum, Installments, Annuity
The three withdrawal building blocks, the combination strategy most retirees use, the Rule of 55 that beats every IRA, and the spousal-rights traps that derail withdrawals.
TSP Installments vs. the Life Annuity: Income for Life (2026)
TSP installments keep your money flexible and inheritable; the MetLife annuity guarantees income for life but is irrevocable. The tradeoffs and a calculator.
The TSP Rule of 55: Penalty-Free Withdrawals at 55
How separating in the year you turn 55 unlocks penalty-free TSP access, the special-category age-50 version, and the rollover trap that voids it — with an eligibility checker.
TSP In-Service Withdrawals at 59½
Tap your TSP while still working — the four-per-year limit, Roth vs traditional ordering, and how it differs from a hardship withdrawal — with a withdrawal planner.
TSP RMDs and the Roth-TSP Exemption: 2026 Rules
TSP RMDs start at 73, and since 2024 Roth TSP is exempt for life. How RMDs work, the two-in-one-year trap, the still-working exception, and an RMD calculator.
Back to the full pillar
This is one cluster of the TSP pillar. Explore fund basics, Roth & catch-up, rollovers, and loans & death benefits in the full pillar.
← Back to TSP