State of Michigan Service

Eligibility

You can receive credit for all the years you worked for the state of Michigan and were a member of the State Employees' Retirement System.

Conditions

• You must purchase or transfer all of your prior service with the state. No partial credit can be received. 
• This service credit may be used to satisfy vesting requirements.
• You must have an employer-employee relationship with a Michigan public school.
• Your state of Michigan service cannot be concurrent with your Michigan public school service.
• You must have terminated employment with the state of Michigan.

Cost

The cost, if any, depends on when you performed the service and whether you were covered under the state's Defined Benefit plan or Defined Contribution plan.

Defined Benefit service before July 1, 1974. If you were a Defined Benefit plan member with service before July 1, 1974, your cost is based on your actual earnings in the state system and the contribution schedule in effect at that time in this system. In addition, interest is charged for each year that has elapsed since you performed the service. If your contributions and accrued interest remain in the state's Defined Benefit plan, these funds will be applied to your cost and your Member Billing Statement will reflect only the balance due. We will calculate the cost for you if you submit an application (you will not be obligated to buy).

Defined Benefit service on or after July 1, 1974. If you were a Defined Benefit plan member, there is no cost for your state service earned from July 1, 1974, through December 31, 1986. For service performed on or after January 1, 1987, your cost as a MIP member is 1.5 percent of any state wages received after that date, plus 8 percent interest is charged for each year that has elapsed since you performed the service. If your state of Michigan service includes purchases that are creditable in this system, these purchases may be transferred, however, additional costs may apply. We will calculate the cost for you if you submit an application (you will not be obligated to buy). 

Note: Basic Plan members have no cost for post-1986 service because there are no additional MIP benefits to fund.

Defined Contribution service. Your cost is the actuarial rate in effect at the time of payment. The highest previous fiscal year earnings used to determine your actuarial percentage may be your school earnings, your state earnings, or, if higher, a combination of the two (part-time wages will be equated to full-time). Click here to learn how to calculate actuarial cost.

Application

Submit an Application for State of Michigan Service (R0317C) . Follow the directions provided on the form. For more information on purchasing service credit, see How to Purchase Service Credit.