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Military Service and Your Benefits

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.