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As an active member of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), you are covered by KPERS long-term disability benefits that provide income protection if you cannot work because of an illness or injury. This coverage is provided at no cost to you. If you become disabled you may qualify for a monthly disability benefit based on 60% of your KPERS gross salary. There is a $100 minimum monthly benefit and a $5,000 maximum monthly benefit (subject to reduction by deductible sources of income). In order to receive LTD benefits, you must be disabled for 180 days and no longer receiving compensation from Johnson County Community College. As a condition of eligibility for LTD benefits from KPERS, you must apply for Social Security benefits and exhaust all administrative remedies of the Social Security Administration.

Definition of Disability

You are disabled when, on the date of disability, you meet the following definition of total disability:

Own Occupation Period - For the first 24 months you receive benefits, you must be unable to perform the material and substantial duties of your regular occupation due to sickness or injury.

Any Occupation Period - After you have received benefits for 24 months, you must be unable to perform the material and substantial duties of any gainful occupation due to sickness or injury.

Benefit Periods

The maximum LTD benefit period is as follows:

  • If your disability begins before age 60, the period remaining to your 65th birthday or retirement whichever occurs first; or
  • If your disability begins after age 60, a period of five (5) years or the date of your retirement whichever occurs first

A 24-month limitation on LTD benefit payments applies to disabilities caused by:

  • Non-biologically-based mental illness
  • Substance abuse

KPERS disability benefits are administered by a third-party administrator. We encourage you to get more detailed information about your long-term disability benefits by reading the Summary Plan Description at the KPERS website: https://www.kpers.org/ 

If you become disabled and need to apply for long-term disability benefits, please contact the JCCC Benefits team at HRbenefits@jccc.edu or by calling 913-469-8500 ext. 3357.