1651.14—How payment is made.
(b) Payment.
Payment is made separately to each entitled beneficiary. The TSP will send the payment to the address that is provided on the participant's TSP designation of beneficiary form unless the TSP receives written notice of a more recent address. All beneficiaries must provide the TSP record keeper with a taxpayer identification number; i.e., Social Security number (SSN), employee identification number (EIN), or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), as appropriate.
(c) Payment to the participant's spouse.
The Agency will automatically establish a beneficiary participant account (described in § 1651.19) for any spouse beneficiary. The Agency will not maintain a beneficiary participant account if the balance of the beneficiary participant account is less than $200 on the date the account is established. The Agency also will not transfer this amount to another eligible plan or pay it by electronic funds transfer. Instead the spouse will receive an immediate distribution in the form of a check.
(d) Payment to minor child or incompetent beneficiary.
Payment will be made in the name of a minor child or incompetent beneficiary. A parent or other guardian may direct where the payment should be sent and may make any permitted tax withholding election. A guardian of a minor child or incompetent beneficiary must submit court documen tation showing his or her appointment as guardian.
(e) Payment to executor or administrator.
If payment is to the executor or administrator of an estate, the check will be made payable to the estate of the deceased participant, not to the executor or administrator. A TIN must be provided for all estates.
(f) Payment to trust.
If payment is to a trust, the payment will be made payable to the trust and mailed in care of the trustee. A TIN must be provided for the trust.
(g) Payment to inherited IRA on behalf of a non-spouse beneficiary.
If payment is to an inherited IRA on behalf of a non-spouse beneficiary, the check will be made payable to the account. Information pertaining to the inherited IRA must be submitted by the IRA trustee.
(h)
If a death benefit payment is returned as undeliverable, the TSP record keeper will attempt to contact the beneficiary. If the beneficiary does not respond within 60 days, the TSP will forfeit the death benefit payment to the Plan. The beneficiary can claim the forfeited funds, although they will not be credited with TSP investment returns.