State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli

The number of hours that constitute a full-time work day is established by your employer and, for Tier 2, 3 and 4 members, must be a minimum of six hours per day.

Generally, 260 full-time days worked per year, as reported to us by your employer, equals one year of service credit, except for school employees.

Q: I am a school employee on a 10½-month schedule who has been asked to work two weeks extra during the summer. Do I receive retirement service credit for that time?

A: It depends on whether you are already receiving a full year of service credit for your 10½-month schedule. Members cannot receive more than one year of service credit for a year's time (i.e., a 12-month period).

Ten- and 11-month noninstructional school district employees who work at least 180 days in the school year receive retirement service credit for a full year. So do full-time teachers in New York state schools for the blind or deaf.

Community college employees receive a full year of service credit for the academic year if they work 170 days per year, and teachers who work in New York state-run institutions, like developmental centers or prisons, receive full service credit if they work at least 200 days each year.

We determine your service credit based on information your employer provides. Each month, your employer reports to us the salary you earned and the number of days you worked during the month. At the end of our fiscal year, March 31, we compare the number of days you worked during the year to the number of working days that constitute full-time credit.

So, if you are already working full time, you will receive service credit for a full year. If you are employed on a part-time basis, your service credit is generally prorated, and you will receive additional service credit for the extra time you work.

Please note: regardless of your tier, credit is not given for any period of time you are on a leave of absence without pay or for any period of time you do not receive salary. The only exceptions would be if you are on sick leave at half pay or receiving Workers' Compensation benefits.

Q: How can I get more information?

A: A good place to start is by reading your retirement plan booklet. You can also refer to our publications, Your Retirement Benefits and Service Credit for Tier 2, 3 & 4 Members, available on our Web site at www.osc.state.ny.us/retire/publications, or you can e-mail us via our Web site at www.osc.state.ny.us/retire.