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. 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.
Deadline to purchase service credit
There is a limited time to purchase service credit, so it is important to contact MSRS as soon as you return from a military leave.
- If the uniformed leave of absence is shorter than 3 years, the purchase window is 3 years from the discharge date.
- If the uniformed leave of absence is 3 years or longer, the purchase window is 5 years from the discharge date.
If you miss this deadline, you may be able to purchase service credit under the "Military service prior to state employment" rules (see below).
To learn more
- Contact MSRS to request a calculation of the cost to purchase the service credit. You must provide a copy of your DD Form 214 or a copy of your original duty orders before we can do the calculation.
- See Minnesota state statute 352.27
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:
To learn more
- Contact MSRS to request a calculation of the cost to purchase the service credit. You must provide a copy of your DD Form 214 or a copy of your original duty orders before we can do the calculation.
- See Minnesota state statute 352.27
- 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.
- See Actuarial Military Purchase FAQs and Cost Examples
- Contact MSRS to discuss eligibility and purchase requirements and to request an Actuarial Military Purchase Application for Calculation form.
- Before becoming a public employee; or