To receive credit for previous public employment or military service, sign in to your Retirement Online account, go to the ‘My Account Summary’ area of your Account Homepage and click “Manage my Service Credit Purchases.” You can also apply by mail by submitting the Request to Purchase Service Credit (Including any Military Service) form (RS5042).

We will determine your eligibility to receive the credit and any cost involved.

Requesting credit for your previous public employment or military service as early in your career as possible ensures that:

• If there is a cost, it will be less expensive than if you wait to purchase it at a later date.
• Your retirement benefit will be processed more quickly if your service credit is in order.
• Records we need to verify your service will be more readily available.
• For Tier 3 members, you will stop making your 3 percent contributions sooner.

If you are requesting previous service credit to establish eligibility for a vested retirement benefit, you must request this credit while you are on the payroll of a participating employer. If you receive a statement of the cost after you leave the payroll, you must make payment within 30 days of notification.

NOTE: If your purchased service credit brings your total credited service to ten or more years, you will no longer be eligible to withdraw your contributions and end your membership.