What you can buy
Reinstatement of refunded service; unpaid sick or workers' comp leave (current or previous two years); USERRA military (up to 5 years); paid leave (50%+ salary, current year); supplemental service (up to 0.5 year, within five years of eligibility); Social Security-covered employment (must be vested); forfeited PEERS service; maternity/paternity leave (up to 1 year per event); non-covered school employment; non-federal public employment; active military; 1991-2003 part-time certificated work; vo-tech experience (up to 2 years); not-for-profit educational work; reciprocity transfers and Missouri educational recognition of service. Handbook pp. 28-32, Reinstatements, Purchases and Service Transfers
Rules
Most purchases need one year of earned service; purchased service (not reinstatements) can't exceed earned service at termination; payment must be complete before retirement or you get proportional service; applications can't be canceled. Handbook p. 30, Rules for Purchasing Service; p. 26, Vested Membership
What it costs
Cost per year = current total contribution rate (employee + employer) x highest annual salary on record; recalculated every October 1. Handbook p. 29, Basic Purchase Cost Calculation
How long it takes to pay back
| Monthly benefit without the purchase | $3,213 |
| Monthly benefit with it | $3,328 |
| Added each month | $115 |
| Cost | $15,973 |
| Months of benefits to pay back | 139 (11.6 years) |
This simple payback ignores COLAs and investment returns. It can also help to buy service that moves you to normal retirement or the 2.55% factor. See one more year.
Service in other Missouri systems
Reciprocity transfers move service between PSRS and: Kansas City Employees' Retirement System, MPERS, LAGERS, MOSERS, PEERS, KCPSRS. Missouri educational recognition of service counts vested service across PSRS, PEERS, KCPSRS, PSRSSTL toward eligibility. Handbook pp. 31-32, Reciprocity Transfer; Missouri Educational Recognition of Service
What the handbook says
- Most service purchases cost the full contribution rate (29% for 2026-2027) times your highest salary on record, per year. On a $55,080 salary that's $15,973 a year.Handbook p. 29, Basic Purchase Cost Calculation
- The cost is recalculated every October 1, so buying earlier is usually cheaper. All payments must be finished before you retire.Handbook pp. 29-30, 33
- You can buy service for leave, military service, out-of-state or private school work, other public jobs, maternity or paternity leave, and up to half a year of supplemental service if you're within five years of eligibility.Handbook pp. 28-31, Types of Service Purchases
- PSRS's example: $15,973 for one year that adds $115 a month takes about 139 months (11.6 years) to pay back.Handbook p. 33, Purchase Cost Recovery Time
- Vested service in PEERS, the Kansas City or the St. Louis teacher systems can be 'recognized' at no cost to help you qualify sooner. Your PSRS benefit still uses only your PSRS service.Handbook p. 32, Missouri Educational Recognition of Service
Questions
How much does it cost to buy PSRS service?
For most purchases, the total contribution rate (29% for 2026-2027) times your highest salary on record, for each year. On $55,080 that's $15,973 a year.
Is it worth it?
PSRS's example: $15,973 for a year that adds $115 a month takes about 139 months (11.6 years) of benefits to pay back.
When should I buy?
The cost is recalculated every October 1, so buying sooner is usually cheaper. All payments must be finished before you retire.
Source: PSRS Member Handbook, 2026-2027 (as of September 2026), pp. 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. Last reviewed .