KPPA has contracted with Managed Medical Review Organization, Inc. (MMRO) for administration of disability retirement claims. MMRO may reach out to members regarding their application for disability retirement and members who are disability retirement recipients. Any member wishing to apply for disability retirement should submit their
Form 6000 - Notification of Retirement to KPPA to begin the process.
What are the Eligibility Requirements for Disability Retirement?
You must have 60 months of service credit. This requirement is waived for a member suffering a duty-related injury (nonhazardous members) or an in-line-of-duty injury (hazardous members) as explained below.
Your retirement application must be on file in the retirement office no later than 24 months after your last day of paid employment in a regular full-time position at a participating agency. "Last day of paid employment" is the last date employer and employee contributions must be reported to KPPA. Employee and employer contributions must be reported to KPPA for all months in which the member worked in a participating position for an average of 100 hours, except for classified school board employees, who must average 80 hours of work per month in a participating position in order for employer and employee contributions to be properly reported to KPPA. Please be aware that "last day of paid employment" does not necessarily mean the last day that the member worked and/or the last day of work for which the member received payment from their employer.
If you began participating prior to August 1, 2004 and are eligible for an unreduced benefit, you cannot apply for a disability benefit.
KPPA or MMRO Medical Review Physicians shall review objective medical evidence submitted by you and make the determination if you are permanently functionally incapacitated since your last day of paid employment from performing the job you held as of your last day of paid employment.
An incapacity must not result directly or indirectly from bodily injury, mental illness, disease, or condition which pre-existed the membership in the Systems or reemployment, whichever is more recent.
The prohibition against pre-existing conditions shall not apply if the incapacity is the result of bodily injury, mental illness, disease, or condition that has been substantially aggravated by an injury or accident arising out of or in the course of employment, or if the member has at least 16 years of current or prior service with employers participating in the Systems.
What is A Duty-Related Injury?
A duty-related injury is a single traumatic event that occurs while the employee is performing the duties of his position; or a single act of violence committed against the employee that is found to be related to his job duties, whether or not it occurs at his job site. The person must be totally and permanently disabled from engaging in any occupation for remuneration or profit as a result of a duty related injury.
What if I am A Hazardous Duty Employee?
Hazardous disability means a disability which results in an employee’s total incapacity to continue as an employee in a hazardous position, but the employee is not necessarily deemed to be totally and permanently disabled to engage in other occupations for remuneration or profit. Total and permanent disability means a disability which results in the member’s incapacity to engage in any occupation for remuneration or profit.
What are In Line of Duty Benefits?
In Line of Duty disability is a hazardous disability or a total and permanent disability that is the direct result of an act in the line of duty. An act in the line of duty is an act occurring or a thing done which was required in the performance of the specified duties.