---
type: "LegalText"
title: "5 U.S.C. § 8471"
description: "Definitions"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
chapter_number: "84"
chapter_name: "FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM"
section: "8471"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 8471"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc05@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s8471"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-05/usc05.xml"
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text_hash: "0aa79a96ae74d8b7e6224b34d1cf82d02f5959b26d205c85fa7f6bf5fb925b38"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 5 U.S.C. § 8471 - Definitions

## Text

For the purposes of this subchapter—

(1) the term “beneficiary” means an individual (other than a participant) entitled to payment from the Thrift Savings Fund under subchapter III of this chapter;

(2) the term “Council” means the Employee Thrift Advisory Council established under section 8473 of this title;

(3) the term “participant” means an individual for whom an account has been established under section 8439 of this title;

(4) the term “person” means an individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation, mutual company, joint-stock company, trust, estate, unincorporated organization, association, or labor organization; and

(5) the term “Thrift Savings Fund” means the Thrift Savings Fund established under section 8437 of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 99–335, title I, § 101(a), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 577.)

## Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSubchapter VII effective June 6, 1986, see section 702(b)(1) of Pub. L. 99–335, set out as a note under section 8401 of this title.