What are the different types of service that can be purchased at COA ERS?

Prior City of Austin Service: If a Member has left City employment, withdrawn/refunded his/her deposits, and later returns to City employment or employment with a participating proportionate system (see Proportionate Retirement), he/she may purchase the earlier time with the City. The cost to purchase prior service credit is based on the amount previously withdrawn, plus an interest payment based on the interest assumed to have been earned by the fund.

Credit for Prior Federal Active Duty Military Service: COA ERS Members may establish up to 48 months of Creditable Service for prior military service. Military service eligible for purchase is full-time active duty in the armed forces of the United States of at least 90 consecutive days, before the beginning of a Member’s most recent period of COA ERS membership. To purchase prior military service, honorably discharged Members must present an original DD214. Service credits for the same period of time may not be purchased in more than one retirement system for a Member with service in more than one participating proportionate retirement system (see Proportionate Retirement).

Non-contributory Service Purchase: A Member is allowed to purchase non-contributory service for the following periods of time: (1) while the employee was on workers’ compensation leave; (2) while the employee was on an authorized leave of absence; and, (3) while the employee performed service for the employer in a position for which the service was not otherwise creditable such as temporary or part-time service (less than 30 hours per week) or when no contributions were paid to COA ERS.

Permissive Time: Members may purchase up to five years of Permissive Time to advance their retirement eligibility date and/or increase the amount of their monthly annuity upon retirement. Only vested Members with five years of service with COA ERS are eligible to purchase Permissive Time. The minimum purchase is one month with a maximum of 60 months. Age, salary, earliest retirement date, and a combination of actuarial data determine the cost. There may be federal limitations on certain purchases.

Conversion of Unused Sick Leave: At retirement an employee may elect to purchase Creditable Service for unused sick leave. An employee can only convert hours that are not eligible for payment by the City of Austin. COA ERS requires payment by the Member, and then by the City, of the equivalent amount of retirement contributions that would have been made had the sick hours been exercised as sick hours. This service credit can only be purchased at the time of retirement and cannot be used to reach retirement eligibility.

Creditable Service/Membership  |  Contributions   |  Proportionate Service   |  Service Purchases
Retirement   |  Lump-Sum Payments   |  Retirees Working for the City of Austin   |  Retiree Health Insurance
Leaving City Employment   |  Other Information