State and Territorial Retirement Benefits
Earn retirement credit for your Peace Corps service
The term “buy-back” in a retirement system refers to the purchase of credit for service accumulated while the RPCV is/was not a member of that retirement system. Most purchasable credit rewards such factors as “out-of-state service” or “prior service,” service committed before the RPCV’s enrollment in the state retirement system
An RPCV “purchases” or “buys” such credit because they must recompense the retirement system for those years of accumulated service credit in which the RPCV was not a contributing member to the retirement system.
Several states now allow retirement system members to purchase generic “air time” that, while not Peace Corps specific, allows up to 5 years of credit.
This information was accurate as of November 3, 2023, but these regulations do change frequently. Please use the contact information provided below to confirm.
| State | Retirement Benefits | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
Alabama |
Public Employee: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. *Certification of Service would need to be provided* |
The Retirement Systems of Alabama (877) 517-0020 |
Alaska |
Public Employees and Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back, claiming up to 10 years of service. |
Alaska Division of Retirements and Benefits Public Employees Retirement System (800) 821-2251 Claiming Service Credit: |
American Samoa |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Website Page Not Found: ASG Retirement Fund |
Arizona |
Public employees and teachers: Arizona will only allow retirement credits to be purchased if the individual has been previously employed by a federal agency and/or participated in a federal public retirement plan. RPCVs do not accrue federal retirement credit nor are they classified as federal employees. |
Arizona State Retirement System Service Purchase | Arizona State Retirement System (azasrs.gov) (800) 621-3778 |
Arkansas |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back Overseas Service (up to 10 years) |
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (501) 682-1517 |
California |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back if you are either:
You cannot purchase Peace Corps service credit if:
|
California Public Employees' Retirement System - CalPERS 888-225-7377 |
Colorado |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back but, because earnings during service is used to measure service, and the Peace Corps stipend is so small, only a little bit of time may be bought back. |
800-759-7372 |
Connecticut |
Public employees & Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
Connecticut Teachers' Retirement Board 1-800-504-1102 Peace Corps Verification of Service Form: |
Delaware |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
Office of Pensions - State of Delaware (800) 722-7300 |
District of Columbia |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
District of Columbia Retirement Board (202) 442-9700 |
Florida |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
(866) 446-9377 |
Georgia |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Teachers Retirement System of Georgia – TRSGA 404-352-6500 |
Guam |
Unknown |
Government of Guam Retirement Fund – GGRF (671) 475-8900/01 |
Hawaii |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
Employees' Retirement System of the State of Hawaii (808) 586-1735 |
Idaho |
Public employees & teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Welcome to Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho 800-451-8228 |
Illinois |
Public employees and Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
State Retirement Systems of Illinois 217-785-7444 |
Indiana |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Indiana Public Retirement System (844) 464-6777 |
Iowa |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. RPCVs may purchase up to 5 years of IPERS service credit for previous Volunteer service if the RPCV is a vested or retired members of IPERS and has participated in IPERS for at least 5 calendar years. |
800-622-3849 |
Kansas |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
1-888-275-5737 |
Kentucky |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
Kentucky Public Pensions Authority 1-800-928-4646 |
Louisiana |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Purchase Service - TRSL - Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (877-275-8775 |
Maine |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. RPCVs may purchase up to 2 years of service credit, but it is expensive, and requires 15 years of service in Maine prior to purchase. MSRS members who terminate service as state employees or teachers prior to their Peace Corps service must return to state employment within one year of completing Peace Corps service. |
Maine Public Retirement System 800) 451-9800 |
Maryland |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Maryland State Retirement and Pension System - MSRA 800-492-5909 |
Massachusetts |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back, on a case-by-case basis. |
State Retirement Board | Mass.gov 617) 367-7770-- (Fill out the form for USPHS and NOAA Corps members) Mass Teachers Retirement Board | Mass.gov 617) 679-6877 |
Michigan |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Office of Retirement Services (michigan.gov) (800) 381-5111 |
Minnesota |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
MSRS - Minnesota State Retirement System (800)657-5757 Leaves: Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) (minnesotatra.org) (800) 657-3669 |
Mississippi |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi (800) 444-7377 |
Missouri |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. Peace Corps service is purchasable after 1 year of teaching credit as a member of the PSRS. Requires agency verification of teaching in a public or private school setting. |
Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (800) 827-1063 Public School Retirement System 1-800-392-6848 |
Montana |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. Vested members may, at any time prior to retirement, buy membership service and service. Credit for up to five years of the member's volunteer service in a United States service program, such as Peace Corps. This type of service purchase is only available to PERS-DBRP members. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back, if the person in question was an education volunteer. |
Montana Public Employee Retirement Administration 1-877-275-7372 |
Nebraska |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems (800) 245-5712 |
Nevada |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. After five years of service in the system, however, members are eligible to purchase up to an additional 5 years of service credit. |
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF NEVADA 866.473.7768 |
New Hampshire |
Members who leave NHRS-covered employment to enter directly into the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps and return to NHRS-covered employment within one year following termination of the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps service may be eligible to purchase the lesser of (a) two years, (b) the member’s actual period of Peace Corps or AmeriCorps service or (c) five years minus the period of nonqualified service credit purchased. |
New Hampshire Retirement System (603) 410-3500 |
New Jersey |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
New Jersey Division of Pensions & Benefits 609-292-7524 |
New Mexico |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back, but it is on a case-by-case basis. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back Airtime can be purchased as well |
New Mexico Public Employees Retirement System 1 (800) 342 3422 New Mexico Educational Retirement Board (866) 691-2345 |
New York |
Public employees and Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. If you think previous public employment (or military service) might qualify you for additional service credit, you must submit your request for the additional service before you retire. |
New York State and Local Retirement System 866-805-0990 NYC Employees' Retirement System 877-669-2377 New York State Teachers' Retirement System (800) 348-7298 |
North Carolina |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
North Carolina Retirement System (877) 627-3287 |
North Dakota |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps may be. bought back under Previous Public Service. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System 800.803.7377 Teachers' Fund for Retirement Members 701.328.9885 PURCHASE OF REFUNDED TFFR SERVICE CREDIT UNDER DUAL MEMBERSHIP |
Northern Mariana Islands |
Unknown |
(670)-664-1100 |
Ohio |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back The maximum credit that may be purchased is five years or an amount equal to your total Ohio retirement system service credit, whichever is less, if that out-of-state or federal service credit is not used for another retirement benefit (except Social Security for retired pay for non-regular service). |
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System 1800-222-7377 ISL-F-Service-Credit-and-Contributing-Months.pdf (opers.org) Purchasing Service Credit Fact Sheet - Teaching and Public Service, University (strsoh.org) |
Oklahoma |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. An active, contributing member of TRS may obtain out-of-state service credit for qualified employment while in the Peace Corps for at least 6 months. |
Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (800) 733-9008 Service Credit | Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System 877-738-6365 https://oklahoma.gov/trs/active-members/service-credit-purchase.html |
Oregon |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Oregon Public Employees Retirement System 888-320-7377 PERS: Tier One/Tier Two purchases: Nonretired members: State of Oregon |
Pennsylvania |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. To apply, you and a personnel officer of the agency must complete the Application for Credit for United States Government Service (PSRS-631A) (Link in next column) The personnel officer must also attach a copy of the job description. |
Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System 1.888.773.7748 Purchasing Service Credit (pa.gov) 717) 787-8540 Guidelines For Completing Your Purchase of United States Government Service (pa.gov) |
Puerto Rico |
Unknown |
Administración de los Sistemas de Retiro de los Empleados del Gobierno y la Judicatura 787-777-1500 787-754-4545 |
Rhode Island |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (401) 462-7600 |
South Carolina |
Member of SCRS, PORS, GARS and JSRS: You must be an active member to be eligible to purchase additional service credit. Public employees and teachers: Unknown, but likely. May be possible to purchase Peace Corps service under “public service” category. |
888.260.9430 |
South Dakota |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. RPCVs who are current, contributing members to SDRS may purchase up to 5 years of Peace Corps service at any time, contingent on documentation. A maximum of five years of airtime may be purchased. |
SDRS Landing - South Dakota Retirement System 1.888.605.7377 SDRS - Retirement Services - Earning Service / Service Purchase |
Tennessee |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (800) 922.7772 |
Texas |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back |
Employees Retirement System of Texas (877) 275-4377 Purchasing Service Credit - For Retirement Groups 1, 2 and 3 (texas.gov) |
U.S. Virgin Islands |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
Government Employees' Retirement System of the Virgin Islands 877) 275-4377 |
Utah |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. Peace Corps service is purchasable after 4 years in Utah’s system. |
800-695-4877 |
Vermont |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. You may purchase retirement credit for service in the military, Peace Corps, or VISTA of up to 5 years of time (after completion of 15 years of service. Service as a state or municipal employee, teaching in another state, teaching in a public or private school, or teaching service with the State of Vermont for which you received no retirement credit. |
Retirement Systems | Office of the State Treasurer (vermonttreasurer.gov) (802) 828-2301 |
Virginia |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
VRS Purchase of Prior Service | Virginia Retirement System (varetire.org) 1-888-827-3847 Types and Purchase Amounts of Prior Service | Virginia Retirement System (varetire.org) |
Washington |
Public Employee and Teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. |
State of Washington: Department of Retirement Systems 800.547.6657 |
West Virginia |
Public employees: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back. Teachers: Possibly. TRS members may be able purchase service credit for “public” school teaching service performed in another state, or for service as a teacher for employment with the federal government of the United States. |
West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board (wvretirement.com) (800) 654-4406 800) 654-4406 |
Wisconsin |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps can be bought back. |
Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds | ETF 1-877-533-5020 |
Wyoming |
Public employees and teachers: Time in the Peace Corps cannot be bought back, but currently employed, vested members have a one-time opportunity to purchase up to five years of qualified service. |
(307)-777-7691 |