The Hero Act – Payment Options for Approved Veteran’s Creditable Service Purchase

An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing our Service members and Veterans.

• You may purchase up to four years of eligible military service if you qualify as a veteran as defined in M.G.L. Chapter 32, §1 with the Massachusetts State Employee’s Retirement System (MSERS). The cost is 10% of your starting salary when you last became a member of a retirement system for each year of military service that you are purchasing.
• Once an application to purchase creditable service has been approved by the MSERS, they will send an invoice for the service purchase to the member. This includes both the cost of purchasing the service as well as the amount of the creditable service a member can purchase back. The MSERS offers members the following repayment options:

1. Lump sum payments
2. Roll-over payments from a qualified retirement plan
3. Payment plans via payroll deductions up to five years
4. Combination of the above

• Buyback information for members of the Massachusetts State Employees’ Retirement System:   

• Payment Options for Approved Creditable Service Purchases (MSRB)

Please Note: A member may purchase their military service on day one of their membership service or defer the purchase to the day they reach one year after their vesting date, which would be 11 years of creditable service. 

• Information on the HERO Act and the provisions of this legislative package.

If you have any questions regarding the purchase of Veteran’s Creditable Service, please contact the State Board of Retirement, Service Purchase Representatives at (617) 367- 9333 extension 856.

• Hero ActPayment Options for Approved Creditable Veteran’s Service7/15/25