RETIREMENT & BENEFIT SERVICES DIVISION MEMORANDUM

December 17, 1997

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

1. BACKGROUND
   
   In general, Tier I members of the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) have been eligible to purchase retirement credit under Connecticut General Statutes (CGS), Section 5-180(b) for their war service, and up to three years of national emergency service, provided that they applied to do so by October 1, 1985 and met certain other statutory requirements. Similarly, within one year of their commencement of employment, Tier II members have been eligible to obtain retirement credit for their war service and up to three years of national emergency service, pursuant to CGS, Sections 5-192i(j) and 5-192j(d).
   
   Public Act No. 95-300, which was effective October 1, 1995, amended the dates which define the Vietnam Era, as follows:
   

However, the above-referenced Tier I and Tier II deadlines were an impediment to obtaining retirement credit associated with this revision until the April 27, 1997 legislative ratification of a collective bargaining agreement (SEBAC V) between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition.

Pursuant to SEBAC V, employees with active duty military service between December 22, 1961 and December 31, 1963 from which they received an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces and for which they are not otherwise entitled to receive a pension will be eligible to obtain additional retirement credit under one of the following conditions:

1. Any member of SERS with qualifying military service from December 22, 1961 to December 31, 1963 for which they have not previously obtained retirement credit may now acquire such credit.
   
2. Some members of SERS have already received retirement credit for the period from December 22, 1961 to December 31, 1963, or a portion thereof. In the past, however, such credit was included in the maximum three years of national emergency military service which could be obtained. The conversion of this period from national emergency service to war service may create an opportunity for members to obtain additional retirement credit equivalent in length to the period so converted. This type of opportunity exists if a member has obtained the maximum credit for national emergency service, a portion of that credit includes the period from December 22, 1961 to December 31, 1963, and the individual has some other period of national emergency for which he/she was barred from acquiring retirement credit because of the three year maximum.

2. NEW PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES
   
   Tier I Members: The member and the employing agency should complete a CO-896, "Retirement Credit Purchase Request - Tier I". This application must be submitted to the Retirement & Benefit Services Division (Division) accompanied by:
   

• a copy of the member's honorable discharge, AND
• a copy of an official military document which clearly shows date of entry into active service and date of separation from active service, preferably a DD-214, AND
• a statement by the agency of the employee's earnings for the first full year of state service.

After proper submission of the application, the employee will then receive an invoice from the Division. If the cost of the military service is over $200.00, a payroll deduction method of payment will be offered to active members not to exceed 52 pay periods. The employee should be advised to follow the instructions given on the invoice.

There is no deadline associated with this purchase opportunity for Tier I members.

Tier II Members: The member and the employing agency should complete a CO-922, "Retirement Credit - Tier II Members Only". This application must be submitted to the Division with a copy of the member's honorable discharge, and a copy of the DD-214 or, in lieu thereof, another official document clearly reflecting date of entry into active service and date of separation from active service. After proper submission of the completed CO-922 to the Division, the member will receive an acknowledgment regarding this service.

There is no deadline associated with acquiring this vesting and credited service for Tier II members.

Tier IIA Members: With respect to employees hired on or after July 1, 1997, purchases of retirement credit for miscellaneous service, including military service, will be addressed in a separate memorandum to be issued in the first quarter of the calendar year 1998. In connection with that memorandum, a Tier IIA purchase request form will be introduced.

3. CONCLUSION
   Please bear in mind that the opportunity created by the extension of the Vietnam Era period is restricted to members with active duty military service between December 22, 1961 to December 31, 1963.
   
   
   Current Tier I and Tier II members of the State Employees Retirement System will be notified of this opportunity to receive additional credit for military service. Notices are scheduled to be enclosed in the January 16, 1998 active employee payroll checks. A copy of the notice is attached hereto for your information.
   
   
   This limited new opportunity to obtain retirement credit for military service is also being extended on a one-time basis to retirees and vested members who left state service after October 1, 1995. The Division intends to communicate directly with retirees; no agency action is required.
   

   Any questions regarding the opportunities described herein should be directed to the Division's Purchase Unit. The telephone number is (860) 702-3512.
   

Very truly yours,

STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION
NANCY WYMAN, SECRETARY EX OFFICIO

BY:

Steven Weinberger, Director
Retirement and Benefit Services Division

Active Employee Check Enclosure January 16, 1998

Additional Retirement Credit for Certain Military Services

As a Tier I or Tier II member of the State Employees Retirement System, you may be eligible to obtain additional retirement credit if the following circumstance describes you:

You have active duty military service with the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard from December 22, 1961 to December 31, 1963 and you do not have retirement credit for it or were prevented from obtaining other active duty military service because the period from December 22, 1961 to December 31, 1963 was included in the maximum three years of national emergency service you could acquire.

Please contact your agency's personnel or payroll office for more information.

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