Full retirement
- KPERS 1: Full benefits at age 65 with 1 year of service; age 62 with 10 years; or any age when your age plus years of service equal 85 points. KPERS 1 only. Membership Guide, p. 12, When Can You Retire?; Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 6
- KPERS 2: Full benefits at age 65 with 5 years of credited service, or age 60 with 30 years. Membership Guide, p. 12 ('Age 60 with 30 years of service; Age 65 with 5 years of service')
- KPERS 3: Normal retirement age is 65 with 5 years of credited service, or 60 with 30 years. KPERS 3 Retirement Options, PDF p. 1; KPERS 3 at a Glance, PDF p. 1
- Early, all tiers: All three tiers allow early (reduced) retirement at age 55 with 10 years of credited service. Membership Guide, p. 12, Retiring Early; Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 7
The 85-point rule (KPERS 1)
Your age is your age at your last birthday. Extra months don't count. Service is counted in quarters; a remainder of two or three quarters rounds up to a full year, one quarter rounds down (9.5 years counts as 10). The rounded years are used both to qualify and to calculate the benefit. Membership Guide, p. 12, When Can You Retire? ('Your age is your age at your last birthday. Additional months do not count. However, the last two quarters of your years of service round up. (Example: 9.5 years rounds up to 10 years of service.)'); Pre-Retirement Guide, pp. 6-7
Age 52 + 29 years = 81 points: 85 at age 54. KPERS 1 & 2 webinar, slide 10
How much less
KPERS 1: the published rate
| Retire at | Cut | $1,500 becomes |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | 40.8% | $888 |
| 56 | 33.6% | $996 |
| 57 | 26.4% | $1,104 |
| 58 | 19.2% | $1,212 |
| 59 | 12% | $1,320 |
| 60 | 4.8% | $1,428 |
| 61 | 2.4% | $1,464 |
| 62 | none | $1,500 |
0.6% a month from 55 to 60, 0.2% a month from 60 to 62, at exact birthdays. KPERS's own example rounds to 5% ($1,425), 19% ($1,215), 41% ($885). Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 7, If You Retire Early ... KPERS 1
KPERS 2: KPERS's examples
| Retire at | Cut | With 30+ years |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | none | none |
| 60 | 38% · $930 | none |
| 58 | 48% · $780 | 24% |
| 55 | 60% · $600 | 30% |
On a $1,500 full benefit. Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 7, If You Retire Early ... KPERS 2 (on a $1,500 benefit); KPERS 1 & 2 webinar, slide 13 (adds age 58)
KPERS shows the KPERS 2 early cut only at ages 55, 58 and 60, rounded to whole percents.
We show a KPERS 2 early amount only at those ages, labelled as KPERS's rounded example; at other ages we show the full benefit and the published cuts on either side, not a number.
Would settle it: KPERS's KPERS 2 early retirement factor table (not in any publication received) or a personal estimate from KPERS.Kansas law counts KPERS 1 early-retirement months 'to the nearest whole month'; KPERS's guides just say 'each month'.
We round to the nearest month (15 days or more rounds up).
Would settle it: A KPERS 1 early retirement estimate or the KPERS 1 retirement booklet.KPERS 3
No separate reduction. An early KPERS 3 benefit is worked out the same way as a full one, from both account balances and the annuity factor for your age at retirement. The partial lump sum isn't available with early retirement. 2025 actuarial valuation, p. 154; KPERS 3 webinar, slide 17
An early cut is permanent, so it's worth seeing what waiting adds: One more year? walks through it, and the benefit formula shows the amount the cut comes off. The rules differ by tier: which tier am I?
What KPERS says
- KPERS 1: Full benefits at age 65 with 1 year of service; age 62 with 10 years; or any age when your age plus years of service equal 85 points. KPERS 1 only.Membership Guide, p. 12, When Can You Retire?; Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 6
- KPERS 2 and KPERS 3: Full benefits at age 65 with 5 years of credited service, or age 60 with 30 years. This applies to KPERS 2 and KPERS 3; the 85-point rule is KPERS 1 only.Membership Guide, p. 12 ('Age 60 with 30 years of service; Age 65 with 5 years of service')
- Your age is your age at your last birthday. Extra months don't count. Service is counted in quarters; a remainder of two or three quarters rounds up to a full year, one quarter rounds down (9.5 years counts as 10). The rounded years are used both to qualify and to calculate the benefit.Membership Guide, p. 12, When Can You Retire? ('Your age is your age at your last birthday. Additional months do not count. However, the last two quarters of your years of service round up. (Example: 9.5 years rounds up to 10 years of service.)'); Pre-Retirement Guide, pp. 6-7
- Check with KPERSYou only need to work one day in a quarter to earn credit for the whole quarter. Rounding quarters depend on your hire date and your employer's quarters; KPERS can tell you yours.Membership Guide, p. 12, When Can You Retire? ('Your age is your age at your last birthday. Additional months do not count. However, the last two quarters of your years of service round up. (Example: 9.5 years rounds up to 10 years of service.)'); Pre-Retirement Guide, pp. 6-7KPERS rounds total service to whole years (two quarters up). For KPERS 1 the engine applies the rounding to the 1.85% (post-2013) years.
- KPERS's 85-point example: John is 50 with 25 years, so he has 75 points. Each year adds a year of age and a year of service (2 points), so he needs 5 more years and reaches 85 at age 55 with 30 years.Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 6, How to Calculate Your '85 Points'
- Your retirement date is the first day of a month, and you must be off your employer's payroll and out of every job (covered or not) with any KPERS employer. Licensed school members under the continuing contract law (teachers, principals, superintendents) can't retire before June 1, and only once the contract is complete.Membership Guide, p. 14, Your Retirement Date; Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 10, Choosing Your Retirement Date
- Apply at least 30 days before your retirement date; benefits don't start automatically. The first payment is deposited on the last working day of the month you retire.Membership Guide, p. 14, Steps in the Retirement Process; Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 16
- You must not be employed by any KPERS employer within 60 days of retirement (180 days if you retire before 62) and must not have a prearranged agreement to return; you certify this on the application.Membership Guide, p. 16, No Prearrangements; Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 22
- All three tiers allow early (reduced) retirement at age 55 with 10 years of credited service.Membership Guide, p. 12, Retiring Early; Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 7
- KPERS 1 early reduction: 0.6% for each month you are between ages 55 and 60, and 0.2% for each month between 60 and 62. At 55 that adds up to 40.8%. The cut is permanent.Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 7, Retiring Early; 2025 actuarial valuation, p. 153
- KPERS's KPERS 1 example on a $1,500 full benefit: $1,425 at 60 (about 5% less), $1,215 at 58 (about 19% less), $885 at 55 (about 41% less). KPERS rounds these to whole percents.Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 7, If You Retire Early ... KPERS 1; KPERS 1 & 2 webinar, slide 12 (adds age 58)
- Check with KPERSKPERS 2: Before 65 with fewer than 30 years, the benefit is reduced actuarially. Retiring between 55 and 60 with 30 or more years, the reduction is half the regular one (60 or older with 30 years is full retirement). KPERS publishes example cuts at ages 60, 58 and 55 only; its full table isn't in the sources.Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 7; Membership Guide, p. 12, Retiring EarlyKPERS publishes KPERS 2 early cuts only at ages 55, 58 and 60 (rounded to whole percents on a $1,500 example), plus the rule that 30+ years halves the cut. Ages 56, 57, 59 and 61-64 aren't published.
- KPERS's KPERS 2 example on a $1,500 full benefit: $930 at 60 (38% less; 0% less with 30 years), $780 at 58 (48% less; 24% less with 30 years), $600 at 55 (60% less; 30% less with 30 years).Pre-Retirement Guide, p. 7, If You Retire Early ... KPERS 2 (on a $1,500 benefit); KPERS 1 & 2 webinar, slide 13 (adds age 58)
- KPERS 3: No separate reduction. An early KPERS 3 benefit is worked out the same way as a full one, from both account balances and the annuity factor for your age at retirement. The partial lump sum isn't available with early retirement.2025 actuarial valuation, p. 154; KPERS 3 webinar, slide 17
- Long-term disability: 60% of annual salary, at least $100 and at most $5,000 a month, after 180 days of disability and off employer pay. First 24 months: unable to do your own job; after that, any job. You keep earning service (KPERS 3: contributions, credits and interest continue to normal retirement age).Membership Guide, p. 6, Long-Term Disability Benefits; KPERS 3 Disability & Life, PDF p. 1
Questions
What is the earliest I can retire from KPERS?
All three tiers allow early (reduced) retirement at age 55 with 10 years of credited service. Full retirement: KPERS 1, Full benefits at age 65 with 1 year of service; age 62 with 10 years; or any age when your age plus years of service equal 85 points. KPERS 1 only. KPERS 2 and 3, Full benefits at age 65 with 5 years of credited service, or age 60 with 30 years.
How much does KPERS 1 cut for retiring early?
0.2% for each month you are between 60 and 62, and 0.6% for each month between 55 and 60. At 55 the cut is 40.8%, for life.
How much does KPERS 2 cut for retiring early?
KPERS publishes examples only: 38% at 60, 48% at 58, 60% at 55. With 30 or more years the cut is halved.
How do I count my 85 points?
Add your age at your last birthday and your rounded years of service. Each year you keep working adds 2 points. KPERS's example: 50 + 25 = 75, so 5 more years gets John to 85 at age 55.
Source: KPERS Membership Guide: KPERS 1 & 2, Correctional KPERS 1 & 2, Revised 2/26, pp. 12, 14, 16, 6. Also: KPERS Pre-Retirement Planning Guide for KPERS 1 & 2 (1/25), pp. 6, 7, 6-7, 10, 16, 22. Also: KPERS 1 & 2 Pre-Retirement Webinar slides, slides 10, 11, 12, 13. Also: KPERS Actuarial Valuation as of Dec. 31, 2025 (July 16, 2026), pp. 151, 153, 154, 154-155. Also: KPERS 2 Benefits at a Glance (rev. 5/25), PDF p. 1. Also: KPERS 3 Retirement Options (rev. 5/25), PDF pp. 1, 2. Also: KPERS 3 Benefits at a Glance (rev. 1/25), PDF p. 1. Also: KPERS 3 Pre-Retirement Webinar slides, slides 15, 17, 27, 46. Also: KPERS 3 Retirement Benefits (9/25), PDF p. 2. Also: KPERS 3 Retirement Application booklet K3-15 (6/26), pp. 13, 4. Also: KPERS 3 Disability & Life Insurance (rev. 2/22), PDF p. 1. Last reviewed .