How to request additional service credit

f you worked for a public employer or served in the U.S. armed forces before you were a member of the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System, you may be eligible to request additional credit for that past service. It’s likely that you will have to pay for past service credit. However, because service credit is a major factor in calculating an ERS pension, in most cases, buying service credit will increase your pension.

To request additional service credit, sign in to your Retirement Online account (web.osc.state.ny.us/retire/sign-in.php), scroll down to the “My Account Summary” area of your account homepage and click the “Manage My Service Credit Purchases” button. You can also apply by mail by submitting a Request to Purchase Service Credit form (including any military service) (RS5042), available on our website at osc.state.ny.us/files/retirement/forms/pdf/rs5042.pdf. If you are applying for military service credit, upload your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214) in Retirement Online, or enclose a copy with your paper application.

Once we receive your request, we will write to your former employer(s) and request your payroll records. We’ll use these records to calculate how much credit you are eligible to receive, and we’ll let you know the cost (if any) to purchase it.

If you think you have public employment or military service that might qualify for additional credit, you should make your request as soon as possible. The records we need to verify your service will be more readily available and, if there is a cost, it will be less expensive the earlier you request it. If you have any documentation of your past service, such as payroll records or W-2 forms, providing this information along with your application will assist ERS with the process of verifying your service credit.

In most cases, buying service credit will not change your date of membership or your tier unless you were a member of ERS or another public retirement system in New York at the time. You can learn more by reading our publication, Service Credit for Tiers 2 through 6, available at osc.state.ny.us/retirement/publications/service-credit-tiers-2-through-6.