BRS CalculatorBlended Retirement System: TSP Match, Pension, Continuation Pay & Lump Sum
The Blended Retirement System pays 2.0% × years × High-3 after 20 years and puts up to 5% of your basic pay into your TSP every month, which you keep even if you leave early. Project your TSP with matching, see continuation pay, the pension at 20 and what the 25% or 50% lump sum is worth against the legacy High-3.
Rules from DoD’s Blended Retirement System pages; pay from the DFAS 2026 tables.
BRS pension
How the Blended Retirement System works
BRS has four parts: a pension of 2.0% × years of service × High-3 after 20 years; an automatic 1% TSP contribution plus up to 4% matching (5% total when you put in 5%); a one-time continuation pay bonus around 12 years of service; and the option to take part of your pension as a lump sum at retirement.
Everyone who entered the uniformed services on or after January 1, 2018 is in BRS. The TSP part is what makes BRS valuable to the large majority who leave before 20: the government contributions are yours after 2 years of service.
BRS TSP matching table (% of basic pay)
| You contribute | Automatic (1%) | Matching | Total going in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
| 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| 2% | 1% | 2% | 5% |
| 3% | 1% | 3% | 7% |
| 4% | 1% | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| 5% | 1% | 4% | 10% |
Automatic contributions start 60 days after you enter service; matching starts after 2 years and continues through 26 years of service. Put in at least 5% to get the full match.
The formulas
The discount rate for the lump sum is published by DoD each year. A higher rate makes the lump sum smaller, so it is rarely worth more than the pension you give up.
BRS versus the legacy High-3
BRS wins: High-3 pays nothing, BRS leaves you with a TSP balance that includes up to 5% of your basic pay each year from the government.
High-3’s pension is 25% bigger (2.5% vs 2.0%). BRS makes up some or all of that with TSP growth and continuation pay, depending on returns.
Below 5% you give up free matching money. That is the single most expensive BRS mistake.
Your own contributions are capped at $24,500 in 2026 (plus $8,000 catch-up at 50+). Matching stops if you hit the cap early in the year.
How to use this BRS calculator
- Enter where you are nowGrade, years of service and your current TSP balance.
- Plan how long you will serveUnder 20 years shows the TSP you keep; 20 or more adds the pension.
- Set your TSP percentage and returnSee the match you earn and the balance at separation.
- Check continuation pay and the lump sumPick a multiple and a lump-sum option to see the trade-off.
Related military calculators
Every pay, retirement, VA, PT test, ASVAB and time tool in one place, filtered by who you are.
See how compound growth turns small contributions into a large balance.
BRS FAQ
BRS pays a 2.0% per year pension after 20 years, adds 1% automatic plus up to 4% matching TSP contributions, offers continuation pay around 12 years and lets retirees take part of the pension as a lump sum.
Dollar for dollar on the first 3% of basic pay you contribute, then 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2%. Put in 5% and you get 4% matching plus the 1% automatic, 10% in total.
After 2 years of service. The automatic 1% starts 60 days after you enter service and is yours after 2 years.
If you leave before 20 years, almost always, because High-3 pays nothing. If you serve 20 or more, High-3’s larger pension usually wins unless your TSP grows strongly.
A one-time bonus of 2.5 to 13 times monthly basic pay for active members (0.5 to 6 times for reserve) between 8 and 12 years of service, in exchange for 3 more years.
It gives you 25% or 50% of your pension up to age 67 now, at a discount. Because of the discount, it is usually worth less than the pension payments you give up.
$24,500 of your own contributions, plus $8,000 catch-up at age 50 or older ($11,250 at ages 60 to 63). Government contributions do not count toward it.
People also search for:
Manzoor Ahmad
Calculator developer & web designer · 13+ years in web development and SEO
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026I am a pharmacist turned tech geek, and I design, code and test every calculator on DexoCalc myself. I have not served in the military, so this tool does not run on opinion: the matching schedule, pension multiplier, continuation pay range and lump-sum structure come from DoD’s Blended Retirement System guidance, with pay from the DFAS 2026 tables.
Spot a result that does not match an official source? Tell me and I will re-check it.
Sources
- Military Compensation: Blended Retirement System
- TSP: Contribution limits
- DFAS: Military pay tables 2026
Disclaimer: DexoCalc is independent and not affiliated with the Department of Defense (Department of War), the Department of Veterans Affairs or any military branch. Results are educational estimates; official records and your chain of command decide.
Keep this tool one tap away
Add DexoCalc to your Google Preferred Sources or bookmark this page so it is there the next time you need it.