See exactly how much DoD matching you're leaving on the table — and what it takes to capture all of it.
Under the Blended Retirement System, DoD contributes automatically to your TSP regardless of your own contributions: a 1% automatic contribution begins after 60 days of service. Beyond that, DoD matches your contributions dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% of basic pay you contribute, then 50 cents per dollar on the next 2% — up to a total agency match of 5% of basic pay.
BRS applies to members who entered active duty on or after January 1, 2018, and to members who served in the legacy High-36 system but elected to opt in during the 2018–2019 open enrollment window. If you entered service before 2018 and did not opt in, you are under High-36 and DoD matching contributions do not apply to your retirement.
Contributing below 5% of basic pay means you are leaving DoD match on the table each month. There is no make-up provision — missed matching contributions from prior pay periods are gone permanently. The gap this calculator shows is the annualized cost of your current election versus the maximum match-eligible 5%.
Authority: 10 U.S.C. § 1463 (BRS match schedule) · DoDI 1000.16 · DFAS 2026 pay tables · IRS Notice 2025-67
