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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
- Continuing Basic Life Insurance while on active duty at no
cost to you. (Applies to KPERS, Judges, Board of Regents, State
employees in their year of service and local employees with
first day coverage.)
- Continuing Optional Life Insurance for 16 months. 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. Your premiums will be based on your age when you return.
Service Credit
- If you are in your "year of service" when called
to active duty, your time away is counted toward completion
of your "year of service" if you return to the same
employer immediately after service.
- If you are in the middle of a service credit purchase when
called to active duty, your purchase resumes when you get back
and nothing changes.
- When you return, KPERS might be able to grant you service
credit for your time away at no cost to you. (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 an important factor used to calculate your retirement
benefit. You can increase your retirement benefit and possibly retire
earlier by increasing your years of service credit. The maximum
amount of credit for all military service is six years, whether
purchased or granted. 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.
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.
Contact your designated
agent for more
information.
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