5 C.F.R. § 1690.12 Power of attorney.
Title 5 - Administrative Personnel
(a) A participant or beneficiary can appoint an agent to conduct business with the TSP on his or her behalf by using a power of attorney (POA). The agent is called an attorney-in-fact. The TSP must approve a POA before the agent can conduct business with the TSP; however, the TSP will accept a document that was signed by the agent before the TSP approved the POA. The TSP will approve a POA if it meets the following conditions: (1) The POA must give the agent either general or specific powers, as explained in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section; (2) A notary public or other official authorized by law to administer oaths or affirmations must authenticate, attest, acknowledge, or certify the participant's or beneficiary's signature on the POA; and (3) The POA must be submitted to the TSP recordkeeper for approval. (b) General power of attorney. A general POA gives an agent unlimited authority to conduct business with the TSP, including the authority to sign any TSP-related document. By way of example, a POA grants such authority by authorizing the agent to act on behalf of the participant or beneficiary with respect to “all matters,” “personal property,” “Federal Government retirement benefits,” or “business transactions.” (c) Specific power of attorney. A specific power of attorney gives an agent the authority to conduct specific TSP transactions. A specific POA must expressly describe the authority it grants. By way of example, a specific POA may authorize an agent to “obtain information about my TSP account” or “borrow or withdraw funds from my TSP account.” [69 FR 29852, May 26, 2004]
Title 5: Administrative Personnel
PART 1690—THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN
Subpart B—Miscellaneous
§ 1690.12 Power of attorney.
