TSP launches custom user ID option

The 3.9 million participants in the federal Thrift Savings Plan now can create customized user identification to access their accounts online, the agency overseeing the plan announced on Wednesday.

The new feature is designed to replace the 13-digit account numbers the TSP issued to participants last fall in an effort to enhance security. Those account numbers, while intended to take the place of participants' Social Security numbers as account IDs, prompted some concern among those who had not received or lost them.

"Many participants have told us that the 13-digit account number is too difficult to remember and makes logging into their accounts difficult," stated a notice on the TSP Web site.

Creating a custom identification is optional, and participants can choose to continue using their 13-digit account number, the notice said. Participants still will be required to use the account number and their personal identification number when accessing their account via telephone through ThriftLine.

Participants wishing to switch to the new user identification can do so by logging on to their accounts and clicking on the "create custom ID" option on their account homepage. The identification must be a minimum of six characters and can be changed at any time, the notice said.

Those who forget their custom ID still will be able to log on using their account number.

"I believe being given the opportunity to replace the 13-digit TSP account number is definitely a step in the right direction," plan participant Larry Hood said on Wednesday. "There may be people who can remember each and every one of their passwords and ID numbers, but I'm betting there aren't a whole lot of them."