Retirement law allows you the opportunity to purchase credit for the time you were on a military leave of absence. Your retirement benefit is based in part on your length of service. Obtaining credit for the time you were on a leave may increase your retirement benefit.
 

Military service during state employment

If you leave state service to serve in the military and return to state employment within 90 days of discharge, you may buy your service credit for that time. There is a limited amount of time to purchase this service credit, so it is important to contact us as soon as you return.

   Military leave after June 30, 2004

To receive service credit for military leave, you may pay into the retirement fund the retirement salary deductions you would have contributed had you been employed by the state during your time of military service. Your employer will pay the employer share of the retirement contribution–plus interest. You must make payment within a time period that equals three times the length of the leave up to five years. For example, if your leave was for one year, you must make payment for this time within three years.

   Military leave prior to July 1, 2004

If you took a military leave before July 1, 2004, which interrupted your time as a State Patrol Plan member, you automatically receive credit for your military time.
 

Military service prior to state employment

Legislation passed during the 2022 Minnesota legislative session provides MSRS participants the option to purchase service credit for one or more periods while in the uniformed services, as defined in the United States Code, title 38, section 4303(13). The eligible purchase is for military leave period(s) that occurred:

  • Before becoming a public employee; or
     
  • During public employment covered by an MSRS pension plan if you missed the original purchase timeframe under Minn. Stat. 352B.087.


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