Thread: TSP and 72T one more time

Thanks to everyone and for your previous input and for creating this great forum. I am a newby to this 72t rule and I have one additional question before I pull the trigger. First I'm single, 53 and retired from Law Enforcement with no dependents. I have $541,000 in my TSP currently sitting in the S fund. I had a good contract gig just after I retired in 2010 but it was one of those "Shovel Ready Projects" that had a finite lifespan. The company I worked for was not able to find follow on work as they promised and I found myself missing about six figures and back down to just the pension. I'm scraping by and worrying myself sick. So I'm thinking about hitting the TSP for some breathing room. I like the TSP because of the low management fees and I can relatively safely follow this heard of much more intelligent people who are nice enough to publish their thoughts.

1. Is the only option for pulling out surtax free money from the TSP the 72t with SEPP payments? I don't see an option to pull your payments all at once, yearly rather than monthly.

2. I see if you take the life expectancy option the TSP automatically withholds 20% as if you were married with three dependents. I went to a 72t calculator to get an idea of how much more I should withhold to make sure I don't have to pull my wallet out for Uncle Sugar at the end of the year. I come up with around $200 to $250/month depending on which bracket I fall into (25-28%). Does this sound reasonable or am I missing something?
3. What interest rate will TSP use for calculations?

Thanks again for any help you can lend.