What are Estimated Earnings?

For a former military member to have their service time considered for their civil service retirement they have to "buy back" that time. In order to "buy back" military service time for civil service retirement, former military members are required to get their estimated earnings from the appropriate DFAS Center. Below are instructions on how to do this.

Who does this apply to?

Employees who have served in the military and wish to have their military time credited toward their civilian retirement.

Are you eligible?

If you have any prior active duty military service, you are eligible to buy back that time.

How to buy back your military time:

1. Use a separate request form ( RI 20-97 PDF - 178KB) for each branch of service.
   
2. Attach DD 214 (or equivalent) and any available records of pay or promotions to the RI 20-97 and send to the appropriate military finance center. The pay center cannot provide estimated earnings unless verification of service is attached. Click here to see a listing of acceptable documentation to complete earnings.
   
   Note: To obtain a copy of your DD214, write to, or send a SF 180 to the following:
   
   National Personnel Records Center
   Military Personnel Records
   9700 Page Avenue
   St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
   
   
3. The military finance center will send you an estimated military earnings computation via mail. When you receive it:
   
   
   
   • If you are a FERS employee, fill out part A of SF 3108 (PDF - 68KB).
     
   • If you are a CSRS employee who was first employed in civilian service before 10-1-82, fill out part A of this SF 2803 (PDF - 217KB).
     
   • If you are a CSRS employees first employed after 10-1-82, fill out part A of this SF 2803 (PDF - 288KB).
     
4. Send your RI 20-97 (or estimated earnings statement), DD 214, and SF2803 or SF3108 to your servicing personnel office. If you are employed by DFAS, DISA, DCAA, DoDIG, DTIC, DAU, or NDU, your servicing personnel office is DFAS and please mail to:
   
   DFAS Shared Services Center
   Benefits Division, DHFOPB
   8899 E. 56th St.
   Indianapolis, IN 46249-6485
   
5. We will certify your application and forward it to your payroll office.
   
6. The payroll office will calculate the amount of your military deposit and inform you by letter the amount you owe and instructions for making payments.
   
7. Make your payments directly to your servicing payroll office, either by check/money order or through payroll deductions - as directed by your payroll office. The deposit may be made in a single lump sum or through installments. Your deposit account balance and each payment will be reflected on your LES.
   
8. When you have completed your payments, your servicing payroll office will send you a letter stating the deposit has been paid along with a completed OPM Form 1514 which shows details of the computation.
   
9. Forward a copy of the completed OPM Form 1514 to your servicing personnel office for it to be placed in your official personnel file. If you are employed by DFAS, DISA, DCAA, DoDIG, DTIC, DAU, or NDU, your servicing personnel office is DFAS and please mail to:
   
   DFAS Shared Services Center
   Benefits Division, DHFOPB
   8899 E. 56th St.
   Indianapolis, IN 46249-6485