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I've been called to active military service. What do I need
to do concerning my KPERS benefits?
Notify your employer of your upcoming military service. Your employer
will notify the Retirement System as needed.
What happens with my benefits while I am away?
Employers are required to give you the same rights and benefits
that they would give to an employee on a "non-military"
leave of absence. You also have a few additional benefits.
Life Insurance
- Basic Life Insurance continues at no
cost to you during active duty. (KP&F does not have basic life insurance.)
- Optional Life Insurance continues for 16 months as long as you continue
to pay the premiums to Minnesota Life. After 16 months, you
have the option to convert to an individual policy.
- Optional coverage is reinstated if you return to work within
five years, even if you did not choose to convert to an individual
policy. Premiums are based on your age when you return.
Service Credit
- If you are in the middle of a service credit purchase when
called to active duty, your purchase resumes when you get back.
- Granted military service is limited to five years. You can purchase up to six years of military service regardless of how many years are granted. (See "Receiving
service credit for military service" below.)
Disability Insurance
There is no disability coverage during military service.
What do I need to do when I return from active military service?
- Notify your employer and return to work. Your employer will
notify the Retirement System.
- Notify your employer if you wish to reinstate your optional
insurance. Your coverage will be reinstated at your previous coverage
level with no waiting period or approval process.
- Check with your employer about receiving granted or purchased
service credit for the time you were on active military service.
Receiving Retirement System service credit for military service
Service credit is important when calculating your retirement
benefit. You can increase your retirement benefit and possibly retire
earlier by increasing your years of service credit. Granted military service is limited to five years. You can purchase up to six years of military service regardless of how many years are granted.
Granted Service
In certain circumstances, Kansas law allows the Retirement System
to grant active military service at no cost to you if the military
service interrupts your public service. You must be employed immediately
before and immediately after the active military service. This
type of service is limited to five years and you must apply for
it. Contact your designated agent for more information.
Purchased Service
You can purchase year
for year of active
military service
and one quarter
of service credit
for each year of
national guard
or reserve service.
Service can be purchased
with a lump-sum
payment or by payroll
deduction over a
period of time.
For KP&F, purchased military service does
not count toward your eligibility to retire, but it does increase
the dollar amount of your retirement benefit. Contact your designated
agent for more
information.
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