Your service retirement benefit is based on your total years of service credit, benefit factor, age at retirement, and final compensation.  Although service credit is normally determined by your number of hours worked, in certain circumstances members may purchase service credit for service that would otherwise be uncredited.

Active members, for example, may be eligible to purchase uncredited service (such as Extra Help, Unpaid Medical Leave, Unpaid Parental Leave, and Military Leave) if certain requirements are met. Learn more about these requirements in the Guide to Your SamCERA Benefits and important deadlines on the Service Purchases page on our website.