Purchasing Retirement "Air-Time?" You need to act NOW

JUNE 30 DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 31
TO PURCHASE SERVICE CREDIT

The Vermont State Teachers’ Retirement System has been flooded with questions from teachers trying to accomplish the purchase of "service credit" by June 30.  As a result, the retirement system decided on June 22 to extend the deadline for purchasing "service credit” until July 31.  However, to take advantage of this extended deadline, you must act by June 30!

Contact the state's retirement office by June 30 and provide it with a written statement or other documentation that you are in the process of either verifying prior service or obtaining the funds to make the purchase of service credit.  If you provide this notification, the retirement office will give you until July 31 to finalize the purchase. 

Warning: the June 30 notification deadline is cast in stone.  Do not delay in contacting VSTRS if you need additional time to purchase service credit. 

Here are the names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of the retirement specialists at VSTRS:

1. Laurie Lanphear:         828-5897 or laurie.lanphear@state.vt.us
2. Tina Kawecki:             828-3795 or tina.kawecki@state.vt.us
3. Nancy Dimick:            828-2303 or nancy.dimick@state.vt.us
4. Kathie Kretzer:           828-2306 or kathie.kretzer@state.vt.us

You can call VSTRS toll-free at 1-800-642-3191. Ask to speak with a retirement specialist.

You can also send a fax to VSTRS expressing your interest in a service purchase at 802-828-5182. 

If you have further questions, contact Mark Hage, VT-NEA Director of Benefit Programs, at mhage@vtnea.org or 1-800-649-6375 (ex. 120).