Get Credit For All Your Public Service
Your service credit forms the basis for eligibility and calculation of your service retirement, vested rights, disability retirement and death benefits.
You earn service credit with the Retirement System for your paid service with a participating employer. Only your New York public employment and credit you purchase (certain types of service are credited to various tiers at no cost) count toward your service credit. You may also receive service credit for the period you worked prior to your employer becoming a participant in the Retirement System.
Previously there were restrictions for getting credit for public service if you were a Tier 2, 3 or 4 member, but now you have the opportunity to get retirement credit for all public service performed before becoming a member of the New York State and Local Retirement System.
You may also receive credit for service during a previous membership through Tier Reinstatement. If you had a previous Tier 1 or 2 membership in the New York State and Local Employee’s Retirement or another public retirement system in New York State, you may wish to complete an Application to Reinstate a Tier 1 or 2 Membership (RS5506) 
.
If you have any previous public employment (including military service), please tell us about it as early in your career as possible because it may be creditable toward your retirement.
In most cases, purchasing additional service credit will increase your retirement benefit. However, there are certain situations where it would not be beneficial. You should know what it can and cannot do for you. If you have questions regarding the purchase of any additional service credit please Contact Us.
For detailed information on getting credit for all of your public service, please see our Publications page and refer to the booklet for your plan and tier.
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