Are you considering purchasing or transferring prior public service to MOSERS? Since your future MOSERS pension benefit is based on your years of service, doing so could increase your benefit, allow you to retire sooner, or both!

See the What’s my plan? tool to find which plan you’re in and determine if you’re eligible to purchase or transfer service credit. To purchase or transfer prior public service, you must be vested with MOSERS.

Next, take a moment to review the Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for your plan:

• Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP 2011 Members
• Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP 2000 Members
• Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for MSEP (Closed Plan) Members

Every situation is different, so we recommend that you review your plan's guide and contact a MOSERS benefit counselor with any questions. They can help you make informed decisions about your prior service credit and its potential impact on your retirement benefits.

Before requesting an estimate, you will need to complete an Application to Purchase Other Missouri Public Service and have it verified by your prior employer or retirement system. After we receive the completed form, a benefit counselor can provide an estimate that will tell you:

• If prior service credit is available for purchase or transfer.
• How much it will cost (if available for purchase), and your payment options.
• If the extra service will make you eligible for retirement sooner.
• How much it will increase your future benefits.

Keep in mind that interest can affect the cost of purchasing service, so making the purchase earlier in your career may be beneficial. You must complete any purchase or transfer of service before applying for retirement.

If you are a member of MSEP or MSEP 2000, you may be eligible to purchase up to four years of prior active-duty military service. To be eligible, you must be vested with MOSERS and provide a valid DD-214 or NGB-23 covering an active-duty service period that occurred prior to MOSERS employment.

Members of all plans may receive automatic service credit if they are called to active-duty military service while employed in a MOSERS-covered position. To be eligible, you must have been employed immediately before the active-duty military service and return to work for the state within USERRA requirements. You will also need to provide a valid DD-214 or NGB-23 covering the active-duty service.

If you move to an employer not covered by MOSERS, you may be able to transfer service credit from MOSERS.

For example, the Missouri Department of Transportation is covered by MPERS, not MOSERS. If you leave to work for a Missouri public school, you may be covered by PSRS/PEERS. We recommend contacting your new employer to determine if MOSERS service can be added to their system before you decide to transfer.

Some of the plans you may transfer or purchase service from include:

• Public School and Education Employee Retirement System (PSRS/PEERS)
• Missouri Local Government Employees’ Retirement System (LAGERS)
• Employees Retirement System of the City of St. Louis
• Police Retirement System of St. Louis
• Kansas City Employees’ Retirement System
• MoDOT & Patrol Employees’ Retirement System (MPERS)

Other options are available for transferring or purchasing prior service credit. Remember that, except for military service, the credit must be from full-time, nonfederal public employment in Missouri.

For more detailed information, see the Purchasing and Transferring Service Guide for your plan (listed above) or contact a MOSERS benefit counselor.