62-5 SPD:62/5 SPD.qxd - NYCERS

SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION - 62/5 TIER 4 MEMBERS VERSION APRIL 2012eligible, the first membership must have been terminated. Unlike purchasing previous service,membership reinstatement requires that you were previously a member of a public employeeretirement system, not merely employed by a public entity that would have allowed you to joina retirement system.Membership reinstatement is beneficial to members in a couple of ways.Cessation of Basic Member ContributionsAs stated in the “Contributions” section of this SPD booklet, your Basic Member Contributionscease upon ten years of Credited Service OR upon your tenth anniversary of membership inNYCERS or another public employee retirement system if membership in such system is transferredto NYCERS. By reinstating a former membership which had been terminated, you maybe able to stop your Basic Member Contributions sooner, as your tenth anniversary of membershipwould be an earlier date.Tier ReinstatementAnother key benefit to membership reinstatement is reinstating to an earlier tier. If your firstmembership date was on or after July 1, 1973 and prior to July 27, 1976, you could reinstate toTier 2. If your first membership date was prior to July 1, 1973, you could reinstate to Tier 1.The benefits in Tiers 1 & 2 are generally better than those in Tier 4, so if you think you might beeligible you should think of applying. In order to make an informed decision, you should visitour Customer Service Center and speak to a representative. In most cases the benefits will outweighany cost, but individual cases differ.LR: Chapter 646 of the Laws of 1999SR: RSSL §645MILITARY SERVICEFederal and state law allow members to purchase service credit for time spent on active dutyin the U.S. military -- The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act(USERRA) and Article 20 of the Retirement & Social Security Law, respectively. Each law hasdifferent provisions governing the eligibility criteria to purchase military service. A member isentitled to receive credit for Military Service under the law that provides him or her with thegreatest benefit.In all cases, military service must have been satisfactorily completed and a discharge underhonorable circumstances received. A DD214 form is the most common proof of satisfactorymilitary service. However, other acceptable documents of military service include a Public HealthService (PHS) Certificate (PHS 2893; PHS 1867) or a certificate from the military issued pursuantto Presidential Executive Order 11519 during the United States Post Office work stoppage.The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)USERRA affords members/employees all of the rights, benefits and privileges that they wouldhave enjoyed had they never left their City position for military service.Members employed by the City of New York who are activated to military service in one of themilitary branches of the U.S. armed forces may apply to receive service credit for the period oftime spent on military duty, including any training rendered during City employment. Individualsso activated need not have been NYCERS members at the time of activation.Members/employees are required to apply to return to a City position within 14 days after terminationof military duty if their military service lasted between 31 and 180 days. If their mili-WWW.NYCERS.ORGCREDITED SERVICE13