KPERS Death Benefit and Survivor Benefits: What Families Need to Claim

If the person who died was a Kansas state employee or retiree covered by the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), specific benefits are available to survivors — but none of them pay out automatically. Every benefit requires the family to initiate the claim. Miss the notification step and the benefit sits unclaimed.

Here is what KPERS provides and exactly how to access it.

The $6,000 Retiree Death Benefit

For KPERS retirees, the system provides a lump-sum death benefit of $6,000. This is paid to the retiree's designated beneficiary on file with KPERS — not necessarily the same person listed in the will.

This benefit does not distribute automatically. The designated beneficiary must:

1. Contact KPERS directly to report the death
2. Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
3. Complete the KPERS claim form

KPERS can be reached by phone at (888) 275-5737 or through the KPERS member website at kpers.org. The claims process typically takes a few weeks once documentation is received.

Direct assignment to a funeral home: Kansas law allows the designated beneficiary to assign the $6,000 death benefit directly to a licensed funeral establishment to offset burial or cremation costs. If the family is arranging services and the funeral bill will be at least $6,000, the funeral director can work with KPERS to receive the payment directly — eliminating the need for the family to pay out of pocket and then wait for reimbursement. Ask the funeral director about this option at the time of arrangement.

What if the retiree didn't update their beneficiary? KPERS death benefit claims follow the beneficiary designation on file, not the will. If the retiree named an ex-spouse decades ago and never updated the form, the ex-spouse may legally be entitled to the $6,000. If there is no beneficiary designation on file, or the named beneficiary predeceased the retiree, KPERS pays to the estate — which means it flows through probate.

The beneficiary designation form for retirees is the KPERS-7/99 (Designation of Beneficiary - Retired). If you're managing a KPERS retiree's estate and aren't sure who was designated, contact KPERS to verify.

Survivor Pension Options for Retirees Who Elected Joint Survivorship

When a KPERS member retires, they choose how their pension payments will work. If the retiree elected a joint-survivor pension option at retirement, the surviving spouse receives a percentage of the monthly pension continuing after the retiree's death. The available percentages are 50%, 75%, or 100% of the retiree's monthly benefit.

The surviving spouse does not need to do anything special to continue receiving these payments — the KPERS payroll system is updated once KPERS is notified of the retiree's death and receives the death certificate. Payments continue at the elected survivor percentage for the rest of the surviving spouse's life.

If the retiree did not elect a joint-survivor option and instead chose the maximum single-life benefit, no continuing pension payments are made to the surviving spouse after the retiree's death. The pension ceases at the retiree's death. This is worth understanding when you're notified by KPERS after reporting the death — if the retiree elected single-life, there will be no ongoing pension and the survivor should not expect one.

Benefits for Active KPERS Members (Not Yet Retired)

If the decedent was an active KPERS member — still working for a state agency, county, city, or school district covered by KPERS — the survivor benefits work differently:

Basic life insurance: Active members are covered by basic group life insurance equal to 150% of their annual salary, automatically provided through KPERS. The beneficiary must file a life insurance claim with KPERS to receive this benefit. A certified death certificate is required.

Return of accumulated contributions: Active members who die before retirement have their employee contributions to KPERS refunded to their designated beneficiary. This is the money the employee paid into the system during their working years.

Long-term disability considerations: If the member was receiving KPERS long-term disability benefits at the time of death, notify KPERS immediately — disability payments cease at death, and an overpayment will need to be returned if a payment was made for any period after the date of death.

How to Notify KPERS

Contact KPERS as soon as practical after the death — don't wait until the estate is otherwise settled. Early notification:

• Stops ongoing pension or disability payments (and prevents overpayment recovery issues)
• Initiates the claim process so benefits aren't delayed by paperwork
• Allows the funeral director to arrange a direct payment assignment if that's useful

KPERS contact information:

• Phone: (888) 275-5737
• Address: 611 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66603
• Website: kpers.org

Have the following ready when you call:

• The decedent's full name and Social Security number
• The date of death and a certified copy of the death certificate (or the ability to mail one promptly)
• Your relationship to the decedent and your contact information

KPERS in the Context of the Full Estate

KPERS benefits — whether the $6,000 death benefit, life insurance, or returned contributions — generally pass to named beneficiaries outside of probate. They are non-probate assets that bypass the will and the court process entirely.

However, they must still be coordinated with the rest of the estate settlement. If KPERS is named as a potential Medicaid claimant (rare but possible in specific circumstances), or if the decedent's KPERS account affects the surviving spouse's elective share calculation under K.S.A. 59-6a202, an attorney should review the situation.

For most families, KPERS is one item on the notification checklist — an important one that delivers real money, but straightforward once you know who to call and what to send.

The Kansas Estate Settlement Guide includes a complete notification checklist covering KPERS, Social Security, Medicare, the Kansas Department of Revenue, and each county-level office involved in Kansas estate settlement — so nothing falls through the cracks during an already difficult time.

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