Get Credit for All Your Public Service
Resources
- Application to Reinstate a Tier 1 or 2 Membership (RS5506)
- Request for Previous Service form (RS5042)
- Military Service Credit page
- Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214)
- Service Credit for Tiers 2 through 6 (VO1854)
- Transferring or Terminating Your Membership
- Publications page
- Contact Us
Service credit is a core component of your NYSLRS membership. It determines when you are vested (entitled to a pension benefit even if you leave public service before you are eligible to retire). It impacts eligibility for benefits such as retirement benefits, death benefits and loans. For most members, the total service credit they have will directly affect how much their pension will be.
Earning Service Credit
You earn service credit for any period when you’re:
- A NYSLRS member, and
- Working for a public employer in New York State.
You may request additional credits for past service if you:
- Worked for a participating employer before joining NYSLRS;
- Worked for a public employer that later participated in NYSLRS;
- Received an honorable discharge from active military duty; or
- Had a previous membership in NYSLRS or another New York State public retirement system (see Tier Reinstatement and Transfer Membership in the table below).
Note: You usually have to pay for past service credit, depending on when you began public service. Generally, it’s worth the cost (because for most of our pension plans, the more service you have the higher your benefit will be), but there are a few exceptions. For example, some special retirement plans limit your benefit calculation to 20 or 25 years of service. Contact us if you have questions.
Request Additional Service Credit
If you think previous public employment (or military service) might qualify you for additional service credit, you must submit your request in writing for the additional service before you retire. (Generally, the cost of purchasing service credit is lower, the earlier you request it.) We’ll determine whether you’re eligible for the credit and any related cost.
This chart shows the various types of creditable service and how to request credit for each of them:
| Previous Service | Active Military Duty | Tier Reinstatement | Transfer Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Complete and submit a Request for Previous Service form (RS5042) |
Send a written request and a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214). |
Tier 1 or 2 members must complete an Application to Reinstate a Tier 1 or 2 Membership (RS5506) Tier 3–6 members must write to us at the address below. |
Members of other New York State public retirement systems, who are off payroll with the other system, may transfer an active membership to NYSLRS. Contact that retirement system to transfer. |
|
Or, send a written request that includes specific details about the period of employment for which you are seeking credit. |
Mail your requests to:
NYSLRS
Member & Employer Services Bureau
110 State Street
Albany, NY 12244-0001
For detailed information on receiving credit for all of your public service, please see our Publications page, and refer to the booklet for your plan and tier. You can also visit our Military Service Credit page, and members in Tiers 2–6 can read our publication, Service Credit for Tiers 2 through 6 (VO1854).
(Rev. 4/17)