Death Benefits - KPERS, Correctional Officers and Judges
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FORMS
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Basic Group Life Insurance
Who is covered by Basic Group Life insurance
- Active KPERS members
- State of Kansas employees in the year of service before KPERS or Board of Regents Retirement plans membership
- Employees of non-school employers who have affiliated for First Day Coverage
- Please have member complete beneficiary form and keep in member’s file. Do not send to KPERS office until employee becomes a member and you send the KPERS-1 form.
- Active employees participating in Board of Regents Retirement plans (TIAA or equivalent).
- Retirement System for Judges members
Basic group life insurance provides an insured death benefit equal to 150 percent of the higher of a member’s:
- Current annual rate of compensation
- Previous 12-months’ salary
The employer pays the entire cost of the basic group life insurance program.
Military Duty and Basic Life Insurance
Optional Group Life Insurance
Optional Group Life insurance is coverage beyond employees' regular death benefit. Employees decide how much coverage they need and pay the cost of this additional coverage through payroll deduction. Each employer must have affiliated for Optional Group Life Insurance to provide this additional coverage.
Coverage amounts range from $5,000 to $250,000 in $5,000 increments. Employees are eligible for an initial $50,000 of guaranteed coverage without proof of good health within 30 days after their hire date, membership date or their employer's entry date. Coverage amounts over $50,000 require proof of good health.
Starting or Increasing Coverage: Employees can start or increase coverage at any time with proof of good health.
Family Status Change: Employees can enroll for or increase their coverage by up to $25,000 (subject to plan maximum of $250,000) without proof of good health within 30 days of a family status change like marriage, divorce, birth or adoption.
Accelerated Death Benefit: If employees are diagnosed as terminally ill with 12 months or fewer to live,
they may be eligible to receive up to 100 percent of their life insurance instead of their beneficiary receiving
a death benefit.
Minnesota Life Insurance Accelerated Death Benefit Claim Form, (PDF, 33KB)
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Optional Group Life Insurance Premium Rates (Excel file or PDF, 52KB), effective January 1, 2007
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Basic and Optional Group Life Insurance brochure: (PDF, 348KB): Information for employees about insurance coverage, insurance needs and premium costs.
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Optional Group Life Insurance How-to Guide for Designated Agents (PDF, 1.26 MB): Information for employers about administering the OGLI program.
KPERS Optional Life Insurance Benefits are underwritten by Minnesota Life Insurance Company.
Visit Minnesota Life's web site
Surviving Spouse Benefit
When a member dies, his or her spouse may be able to choose a continuing monthly benefit, instead of receiving returned contributions and interest. The member must have designated the spouse as sole primary beneficiary for retirement benefits.
Situation #1 |
If the member was eligible to retire, the spouse begins receiving a monthly benefit immediately. He or she cannot wait until a later date to apply for this benefit. Members are eligible to retire at age 55 with ten years of service, age 62 with ten years of service, age 65 with one year of service, and any age when age and years of service added together equal 85 (85 points). |
Situation #2 |
If the member was not yet eligible to retire but had ten years of service, the spouse begins receiving a monthly benefit when the member would have reached age 55. |
| Members can name contingent beneficiaries or separate beneficiaries for life insurance without affecting this benefit option. Inactive members are also eligible for this benefit. | |
On the Job Accidental Death Benefits
If a member dies as a result of an accident arising out of the performance of the member’s duties, in addition to the benefits paid for an active member death, the following benefits are payable:
- $50,000 lump-sum payment
- Monthly benefit equal to 50 percent of the member’s final average salary less any benefits received from Workers’ Compensation. The minimum monthly accidental death benefit is $100. This benefit is instead of any joint/survivor monthly retirement benefit which might have been payable.
The above benefits are payable in the following order of preference:
- Spouse
- Children under age 18, or up to age 23 if a full-time student
- Dependent parents
The employer should submit a copy of the Worker’s Compensation accident report and a notarized statement by the supervisor which describes the accident and certifying that the employee was performing his or her official duties.