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DA Memo - January 31, 2006

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  1. Life insurance conversion rates changing February 1
  2. Pre-Retirement seminars for members
  3. “ABCs of Being a DA” workshops
  4. KP&F designated agent workshops
  5. Community college teachers now covered by continuing contract law

 

(1) Life Insurance Conversion Rates Changing February 1

When covered employees leave employment, they can convert KPERS basic and optional group life insurance
to an individual policy. KPERS’ life insurance provider, Minnesota Life Insurance Company, has increased the
premium rates for converted insurance effective February 1, 2006. A new conversion form with the new premium
rates is enclosed.

Minnesota Life Insurance Conversion Information and Form (PDF, 157KB)

What You Need to Do:

  1. Discard any old conversion forms.
  2. Download the new form at www.kpers.org/forms or contact Minnesota Life
    for paper forms.

    Minnesota Life Branch Office
    In Topeka : (785) 354-0783
    Toll Free: (877) 215-1476
    Fax: (785) 354-0784
    E-Mail: topekabranchoffice@securian.com

 

(2) Pre-Retirement Seminars for Members

The Retirement System is hosting pre-retirement seminars for active members who are within five years of retirement. Enclosed is a flyer with locations across Kansas. KP&F members will have a separate seminar at the locations indicated on the schedule. Feel free to make copies for employee distribution or download a color PDF below.

The winter 2006 issue of KPERS Papers has pre-registration forms and information regarding pre-retirement seminars. We will distribute the newsletter in the next few weeks. Pre-registration forms are also available online.

Please stress to employees that these seminars are group presentations and that individual counseling will not be available. However, we are happy to counsel any member on an individual basis by phone or office visit. Have any employees interested in one-on-one help contact the Retirement System.

Pre-Retirement Seminar Dates and Locations (Color Flyer, PDF 28KB), Text-only
Additional pre-retirement seminar information for members

What You Need to Do:

  1. Distribute pre-retirement seminar information to members.
  2. Remind members that they need to pre-register.

 

(3) “ABCs of Being a DA” Workshops

“The ABCs of Being a DA” is a designated agent workshop designed for designated agents with less than three years of experience and for those who would like a little extra training.

Workshops begin in March and will cover the basics for new designated agents and others of you who would like additional training that you can’t get in our regular workshops each fall. The workshop is designed as a half-day seminar (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and does not replace our regular designated agent workshops.

Topics We’ll Cover

Membership

  • Am I enrolling the member correctly?
  • Hands on practice completing the Report of Member Status form (KPERS-1)
    to enroll a member

Purchasing service credit

  • The critical window of opportunity to purchase the “year of service”
  • How purchasing service credit increases a member’s lifetime benefit
  • Which form do I use and how do I complete it?

Available member benefits

  • Disability benefits
  • Death benefits
  • Optional group life insurance

EFT reporting

  • Do I have to report the contributions every pay period?
  • How do I separate the monies when reporting?

Please bring your regular designated agent workshop manual with you to the workshop. Let us know when you pre-register if you do not have your own manual. In addition to referring to the manual, the instructor will have handouts
with examples. We will go through each process step by step and answer any questions you have.

Please Pre-register

Enclosed is a list of workshop locations with a registration form. You can also register by e-mail at kpers@kpers.org,
or call our toll free number at (888) 275-5737. Please give us the name and ID number of your employer, names of people attending from your employer, and the date and location of the workshop you would like to attend.

"ABCs of Being a DA" Workshop Dates and Locations

What You Need to Do:

  1. Pre-register if you want to attend.
  2. Bring your designated agent workshop manual with you to the workshop or contact
    us if you need one.

 

(4) KP&F Designated Agent Workshops

Kansas Police and Firemen’s designated agent workshops will begin in March. We developed this workshop with special focus on the information needs of KP&F agents. Please encourage all your staff working with KP&F matters
to attend.

Each workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and end at approximately 12 p.m. Please bring your KP&F designated agent workshop manual from last year with you. Let us know when you pre-register if you do not have one.

Topics We’ll Cover

  • Membership
  • The differences between Tier I and Tier II membership
  • Service credit and what KP&F member can and cannot purchase
    (including guidelines for military service)
  • Disability benefits
  • Death benefits
  • Retirement

Please Pre-register

Enclosed is a list of workshop locations with a registration form. You can also register by e-mail at kpers@kpers.org,
or call our toll free number at (888) 275-5737. Please give us the name and ID number of your employer, names of people attending from your employer, and the date and location of the workshop you would like to attend.

KP&F DA Workshop Dates and Locatins

What You Need To Do:

  1. Pre-register if you want to attend.
  2. Bring your designated agent workshop manual with you to the workshop or contact
    us if you need one.

 

(5) Community College Teachers Now Covered by Continuing Contract Law

Effective January 1, 2006 , all teachers employed at community colleges are covered by the “continuing contract law.”

Community college teachers have special guidelines for selecting their retirement date. There are also specific rules about reporting compensation and deducting contributions. Please refer the Retirement section in your Designated Agent Workshop Manual under “School Guidelines.”

What You Need to Do:

If you are the designated agent for a community college, please review the Retirement section in your Designated Agent Workshop Manual under “School Guidelines.”

Questions?

Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions. We’re here to help.