Hiring Existing NYSLRS Members or Retirees

When hiring employees, it is important to ask the employee whether they are an existing member or retiree of one of the eight public retirement systems in New York State. If they are a NYSLRS member or retiree, you should ask them to provide their NYSLRS ID, if available.

You would hire (not enroll) the employee into a new employment instance if they have never worked at your location and they are:

• An existing NYSLRS member; or
• A retiree who is receiving a pension from one of the eight public retirement systems in New York State.

If your employee is an existing NYSLRS member, they will make mandatory membership contributions (if applicable) as part of their employment with you.

If your employee is a retiree receiving a pension from one of the eight public retirement systems in New York State, you will report their days and salary so we can monitor their post-retirement employment.

Using the Actual Hire Date

When you hire a new employee at your location, you must use the actual hire date for the position being entered. For NYSLRS purposes, the actual hire date is the first day the employee receives pay on your payroll for that position.

If they are an employee whose membership is mandatory, you will enroll them into NYSLRS as of their hire date. Using the actual hire date informs us about any uncredited service that may exist for the member.

If the employee was formerly employed by your location and the employment instance has already been terminated, either by you as the employer or by us for inactivity, you must rehire them into the same employment instance and use the first day they are being paid (after their termination date) as their rehire date.

Learn more about membership and enrollment.

Rev. 2/23