Page 21 - Public Employees Retirement Fund My Choice Plan Member Handbook for Local Government Employees

4 Participation Credit
4.1 Member Participation Credit
Participation credit is earned in full years.
You may also be entitled to participation credit during military service and certain types of leave. More
information is available in the Types of Participation Credit section of this handbook. Example
You work for the state for 21⁄2 years which count as 2 years of participation credit. During that time, you are on leave for 6 months. You begin a new job in a My Choice-covered position with another employer and work there for 31⁄2 years which count as 3 years of participation credit. During that time, you take another 6-month leave. Your total service at that point is 5 years.
4.2 Types of Participation Credit
As a PERF My Choice member you may be entitled to various types of participation credit.
4.2.1 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Eligibility
You may also be eligible for participation credit if the provisions of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) cover your military service. Conditions for USERRA eligibility are that you must meet all of the following criteria:
▪ Applied for or currently hold a civilian job
▪ Given written or verbal notice to the civilian employer prior to leaving the job for military training
or service except when precluded by military necessity
▪ Have not exceeded the 5-year limit on periods of service, subject to certain exceptions
▪ Been released from service under honorable conditions
▪ Reported back to the civilian job in a timely manner or submitted a timely application for re- employment
All yours and your employer’s contributions must be paid upon return to PERF-covered service for leaves. Ultimately, INPRS relies on the assertions and verifications made by the plan’s participating employer.
4.3 Participation Credit for Leave of Absence
As a PERF My Choice member you are entitled to years of participation credit for leaves of absence in some instances.
4.3.1 Leave of Absence from Covered Employment
If you go on an unpaid leave of absence for personal reasons, the employer may grant the leave with
years of participation credit and accept the additional liability.
Public Employees Retirement Fund My Choice Plan Page 21 of 50 Member Handbook for Local Government Employees
Effective: 07/01/2020