Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to purchase service credit that can count toward your total years of service and may increase your retirement benefit. 

Purchase Request forms may be submitted for the purchase of Extra Help time, Plan 3 and Plan 5 service upgrades, certain military leave, unpaid sick leave, and parental leave. Returning SamCERA members can also make a Purchase Request for a redeposit of withdrawn funds. 

SamCERA members have two separate periods of time during 2025 to make service purchases. The process starts when the member submits a Purchase Request form. 

First Period

• SamCERA begins processing Purchase Request forms: February 1, 2025
• Deadline to submit Purchase Request Form: April 30, 2025
• Deadline for all money to be received by SamCERA with agreement: June 5, 2025

Second Period

• SamCERA begins processing Purchase Request forms: August 1, 2025
• Deadline to submit Purchase Request Form: October 31, 2025
• Deadline for all money to be received by SamCERA with agreement: December 4, 2025

You can find a copy of the SamCERA Purchase Request form on the SamCERA forms page.

Contact SamCERA for more information about service purchases.

Empower (formerly known as Mass Mutual) Plan-to-Plan Transfer

If you wish to use your 457 funds to purchase service credits, the 2025 deadlines to submit the Empower Plan-to-Plan Transfer form to San Mateo County Human Resources are:

• May 22, 2025 by 12:00 PM (PST)
• November 20, 2025 by 12:00 PM (PST)

For more information about an Empower Plan-to-Plan transfer, please contact benefits@smcgov.org.