Anyone meeting any of the following requirements is eligible for KPR membership.
KERS
KERS includes state government employees, non-teaching staff at the regional state-supported universities (Eastern, Western, etc.), employees of local health departments, regional mental health/mental retardation agencies, and all quasi-state agencies (credit unions, Kentucky Association of Counties, League of Cities, and many others).
CERS
CERS includes all city and county governments, police and firefighters, non-teaching staff of local boards of education (including bus drivers, janitors, cafeteria workers, etc.), circuit clerks, local library employees and other local government agency employees.
SPRS
SPRS includes all uniformed state police officers.
Also eligible are Spouses of a current KPR Member
Retirement Eligibility For Those Who Began Participating In the Systems On or Before 1/1/2014
Participating Prior to 9/1/2008:
Any age with at least 27 years of service; or
Age 65 with at least 4 years of service
Participating on or after 09/1/2008:
Must meet rule of 87 (age+ service equals this value) and must be at least 57 years of age; or
Age 65 with at least 5 years of service
Participating Prior to 9/1/2008:
Age 55 with at least 5 years of service; or
Any age with at least 25 years of service
Participating on or after 09/1/2008:
Age 60 with at least 10 years of service
Note: Reduction determined by actuary, 4.
KERS & CERS Hazardous, SPRS
Participating Prior to 9/1/2008:
Any age with at least 20 years of service; or
Age 55 with at least 5 years of service
Participating on or after 09/1/2008:
Any age with at least 25 years of service; or
Age 60 with at least 5 years of service
Age 50 with at least 15 years of service
Note: Reduction determined by actuary, 6.5% for each year short of unreduced benefit.
Retirement Eligibility For Those Who Began Participating on or after 1/1/2014
(For New System Participants in the New Cash Balance Plan)
The retirement eligibility for new system participants in the cash balance plan who began participating with the systems on or after 1/1/2014 is the same as an individual who began participating on or after 9/1/2008 (the HB 1 changes from 2008) as it relates to an unreduced benefit. The ability to retire with a reduced benefit (with a penalty) has been removed for new system participants in the cash balance plan.
Must meet rule of 87 (age+ service equals this value) and must be at least 57 years of age; or
Age 65 with at least 5 years of service
KERS & CERS Hazardous, SPRS
Any age with at least 25 years of service; or
Age 60 with at least 5 years of service
Note: Employees can also purchase different types of service credit (i.e. military service, federal service) and can use the purchased service to meet the service requirements for retirement eligibility listed above. In addition, employees of KERS/SPRS agencies and many CERS agencies receive additional service credit for accumulated sick leave at retirement which can also be used to meet the service requirements for retirement eligibility listed above. However, the ability to use purchased service and sick leave service credit for retirement eligibility has been limited for new participants over time. New participants on or after 8/1/04 cannot use most service purchases towards meeting retirement eligibility requirements, and new participants on or after 9/1/08 are further restricted. In addition, sick leave service credit for new participants on or after 9/1/08 cannot be used for determining retirement eligibility.
