How service purchases, sick/vacation conversion and reciprocal time affect SERS pension credit

Unidentified Speaker (SERS presenter) described how members can increase service credit through purchases, conversions and reciprocal time. He explained the online request to calculate the cost for buying optional service (military time, refunded service, leaves) and the payment options: write a check, roll in funds from deferred compensation or other retirement accounts, or set up an irrevocable payroll installment agreement.

On sick and vacation conversion, the presenter walked through the conversion chart and gave worked examples: 40 sick days could establish about two months of service credit; in another worked example a mix of paid and unpaid sick days plus vacation days produced a net increase of 17 months of service credit. He cautioned that certain accrual periods are treated differently for payability (accrued before 1984, between 1/1/1984–12/31/1997, after 1/1/1998) and that some time is nonpayable and counts only as free service credit.

Reciprocal time rules were summarized: there are 13 reciprocal systems in Illinois; to reestablish refunded time you must be reemployed in any reciprocal system for at least 24 months before requesting costs to repay; reciprocal time used at retirement must usually be at least 12 months in the other system to count; not all reciprocal time counts toward insurance offset or alternative eligibility rules.

The presenter recommended members check the service‑purchase offers page on member services and contact SERS accounting/service departments for payment options and documentation required for transfers from prior systems.