Creditable service is service that is used in computing retirement benefits. There are seven types of creditable service: 

  • Membership Service - Eligible service during employment period where members make payroll contributions to the System.
  • Probationary Service - Eligible service purchased from commission date to retirement system start date in the event it has not been credited.
  • Military Service - Eligible service purchased for up to two years for previous active federal duty military service, prior to employment. Members are not eligible to use this type of military service credit when it has been used as creditable service in another federal or statutory public retirement system in Texas. If a member was employed after February 1, 2016, the member is eligible to purchase benefits by paying the full actuarial cost at the time of your retirement. (DD-214 Form Required)
  • Uniformed Leave of Absence Service - Eligible service for military leave of absence granted from City employment and purchased within five years of reemployment with the City.
  • Reinstated Forfeited Service - Eligible service for prior APRS membership service that was forfeited by withdrawal of accumulated deposits, and repurchased after 24 consecutive months of membership service after police reemployment. An interest charge of 8% per year is made to the System to reinstate the forfeited service credit.
  • Cadet Service - Eligible service purchased from the date of cadet class enrollment to commission date in the event it has not been credited. Since 1998 Cadets have been contributing to the System during their Cadet service so this purchase is not necessary for members if they were hired after 1998.
  • Permissive Service - Eligible service that can be purchased at the full actuarial cost by members with at least 20 years of creditable service, excluding pre-membership military service, for up to 60 months with immediate retirement. *Cannot be used in conjunction with the Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP). Group B members must be 50 years of age to be eligible to purchase Permissive Service Credit.
  • Deferred Permissive Service - Eligible service of up to 36 months that can be purchased with a delayed monthly annuity, excluding pre-membership military service, at full actuarial present value cost. *Cannot be used in Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP). Group A members can purchase at 20 years of service.

If a member believes they may be eligible to purchase any of the above service credit options, contact the System for a quote and verification of eligibility.

 

FAQs

Why would I want to purchase service credit?

Creditable service is service that is used in computing retirement benefits. A member's membership service is the eligible service during employment period where they make payroll contributions to the System. In addition to the member's membership service, they may be eligible to purchase certain periods of time when they did not make payroll contributions. Any additional amount of time purchased, would add on time to the member's creditable service which would give them a higher annuity when computing retirement benefits.

Can I rollover money from my Deferred Compensation 457 program to cover the cost of my service credit purchase?

Yes. Members can purchase service credit using non-Roth funds from the deferred compensation 457 program or other tax qualified deferral plans. IRS rules allow the use of these direct fund rollovers from the member's tax deferred accounts to purchase service credit in their retirement program for eligible service credit.

Can I have bi-weekly payroll deductions made in order to purchase service credit?

No, all service purchase credits do not allow for payroll deductions. However, service credit can be purchased in monthly increments.