Which statement correctly describes the Blended Retirement System’s scope compared with High-3?

Which statement correctly describes the Blended Retirement System’s scope compared with High-3?

• A. It Provides Retirement Benefits to a Broader Range of Service Members, Even Those Who Serve Less Than 20 Years
• B. It Reduces Benefits for Those Who Serve More Than 20 Years
• C. It Replaces the High-3 Entirely
• D. It Eliminates Survivor Benefits

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the Blended Retirement System expands how retirement is supported by mixing a defined benefit with a defined contribution, rather than relying solely on a pension tied to years of service. Because part of the retirement comes from the Thrift Savings Plan with government contributions, service members who don’t reach 20 years still have a meaningful retirement benefit through the TSP, plus any employer contributions. In contrast, High-3 provides a pension only after reaching 20 years of service, with no automatic government-contributed defined-contribution component. So the statement that the Blended Retirement System offers retirement benefits to a broader range of service members, including those who serve less than 20 years, best captures the difference. Survivor benefits aren’t eliminated under the Blended System, and it doesn’t replace or remove the High-3 concept for those who do reach 20 years.

The key idea is that the Blended Retirement System expands how retirement is supported by mixing a defined benefit with a defined contribution, rather than relying solely on a pension tied to years of service. Because part of the retirement comes from the Thrift Savings Plan with government contributions, service members who don’t reach 20 years still have a meaningful retirement benefit through the TSP, plus any employer contributions. In contrast, High-3 provides a pension only after reaching 20 years of service, with no automatic government-contributed defined-contribution component. So the statement that the Blended Retirement System offers retirement benefits to a broader range of service members, including those who serve less than 20 years, best captures the difference. Survivor benefits aren’t eliminated under the Blended System, and it doesn’t replace or remove the High-3 concept for those who do reach 20 years.