ALCOAST 124/18 - APR 2018 SITREP 9 - HUMAN CAPITAL STRATEGY - BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM (BRS) – THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP) CONTRIBUTIONS

R 051011 APR 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01000//
ALCOAST 124/18
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ:  SITREP 9 - HUMAN CAPITAL STRATEGY - BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM (BRS) –
THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP) CONTRIBUTIONS
A.  COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 131407 DEC 17/ALCOAST 357/17
1.  This ALCOAST announces a change to REF (A) regarding the timing of TSP
Government automatic and matching contributions. According to REF (A),
Government automatic and matching contributions were to begin the pay period
after the election to enroll in the BRS regardless of the day of the month.
Due to a recent clarification of the statutory language and implementation
policy, the day of the month on which a member enrolls in the BRS will
dictate the timing of the receipt of automatic and matching contributions.
This is a change to the process detailed in REF (A).
2.  If a member elects to enroll into the BRS on the first day of any month,
then the individual will receive Government automatic and matching
contributions (based on member contributions) in the same month that they
have made their election.
3.  A member electing the BRS on any other day of the month will receive the
Government automatic and matching contributions (based on member contributions)
beginning the next pay period following their election.
4.  BRS enrollees who opted-in on 01 January, 01 February or 01 March and the
first day of future months will receive contributions for the month in which
they made their election. Members will see the retroactive TSP transactions
reflected in their pay slip in the coming months. Those enrolling in the BRS
on any other day of January, February, March, or future months will see
Government contributions in their mid-month pay slip in the next pay period.
5.  New accessions -- members who are automatically enrolled in the BRS
because their Date Initially Entered Military Service (DIEMS) is on or after
01 January 2018 -- will receive an automatic 1% Agency matching contribution
in the 1st pay period on or after their 60th day of service as calculated
from their Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD). Should the 60th day from their PEBD
fall on the first day of any given month, then the member will receive an
automatic 1% agency matching contribution in the current pay period or current
month. If the 60th day from their PEBD falls on any other day of the month,
then the member will receive their automatic 1% Agency matching contribution in
the first of the month following their 60th day of service. In either case, the
1% agency contribution will be reflected on their mid-month pay slip. The same
rules apply for the matching contributions, which start on or after an automatic
enrollee completes 2 years and 1 day of service from their PEBD.
6.  All commands are strongly encouraged to share this update with BRS-eligible
candidates. It is paramount that members have the facts when making an opt-in
decision so they receive earned Government automatic and matching contributions
as soon as possible.
7.  Eligible members who desire to enroll in the BRS in 2018 should use the BRS
Self-Service Page in Direct Access. As a reminder, the opt-in period for the BRS
ends on 31 December 2018. For the latest information, visit the BRS website at
http://www.dcms.uscg.mil/brs. Questions regarding the BRS or related items
should be directed to COMDT (CG-1331) at HQS-PolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
8.  RDML William G. Kelly, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources, sends.
9.  Internet release is authorized.