06/03/2016
Chapter 41 of the Laws of 2016 enables eligible members to claim up to three years of service credit for military duty – no matter when the service occurred. Previously, to purchase military service credit, the service must have been performed during specified periods of war and certain hostilities.
In order to be eligible to claim this credit, members must have been honorably discharged from the military, have at least five years of credited service, be active NYSTRS members on or after May 31, 2016 (when the law took effect) and claim any possible military credit before their effective date of retirement.
For Tier 1-5 members, the cost for the service is 3% of the salary earned during the 12 months of credited service immediately preceding the year in which a claim is made for each year of military service. For Tier 6 members, the cost for the service is 6% of the salary earned during the 12 months of credited service immediately preceding the year in which a claim is made for each year of military service.
To submit a claim for military service, send a letter and a copy of the applicable honorable military discharge Form DD 214 to the Retirement System. Please contact NYSTRS at (800) 348-7298, Ext. 6060 with any questions.
Please note we are expecting a large volume of claims as a result of this new law, so we appreciate your patience as we process these requests.