Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) (Formerly Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS))

NKY Health's Retirement Plan Policy

For the complete Retirement Plan Policy see Section 4.2.1 of NKY Health's Guide to Personnel Policies.

About the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA)

As required by statute, NKY Health participates in the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA). Until 2021, this system was called Kentucky Retirement Systems (KRS) or Kentucky Employees Retirement Systems (KERS).

KPPA is a pension plan not a traditional retirement plan. This means that all or part of the benefits received upon retirement are pre-defined instead of based solely on amounts of contributions and market growth.

According to law, NKY Health must withhold a percentage of eligible employEEs' pay as the employee contribution to KPPA and contribute the required employER's percentage. The contribution must be exactly this amount. EmployEEs may also set up a voluntary retirement plan to contribute additional money towards their own retirement.

The usual employee contribution for employees new to any branch of KPPA is 5% for retirement plus 1% for retirement health insurance. The amount NKY Health contributes is established annually by legislation and is based on the estimated amount the system needs to keep defined benefits intact. The withholding and contributions begin with the first pay employees receive and continue until the employee's employment status changes.

Click here for KPPA's website.

How to Set Up Your KPPA Account for the First Time

Employees who are eligible to participate in KPPA are automatically enrolled. However, they must set up their account and designate a beneficiary within seven days of their hire date or date they become eligible to participate in KPPA.

To set up your KPPA account, follow these steps:

Complete "Form 2001 - Membership Information" by electronically entering the information in all the fields using these tips:
- Use your social security number instead of a Member ID Number if you have never participated in KRS.
- Be sure to enter details about previous employment that may be eligible for reciprocal retirement benefits. (These are usually city, county, state, school district, or health department jobs.)
Print the form and sign it using blue or black ink.
Complete the "Form 2035 - Beneficiary Designation" form by by electronically entering the information in all the fields using these tips:
- You must include SSNOs for beneficiaries.
- The %ages for beneficiaries must total 100%.
Print the form and sign it using blue or black ink.
Have a witness (anyone over 18 years of age other than HR) sign the form using blue or black ink.
Submit the forms to HR. You should have two files, one for the "Membership Information" form and one for both pages of the "Beneficiary Designation" form. (See "How to Submit Forms/Documents to HR" for detailed instructions about how to submit the form.)
Keep the originals of both forms with your important papers.

NOTE: KPPA may send a packet to you at home within 3 to 6 months. If you receive a packet, be sure to read it carefully and follow all the instructions contained therein. Be aware that they may request these same forms. Feel free to make a copy and send them.

How to Change your KPPA Beneficiary

Employees can change their beneficiaries any time.

Follow these steps to change your beneficiary:

Complete the "Form 2035 - Beneficiary Designation" form by by electronically entering the information in all the fields using these tips:
- You must include SSNOs for beneficiaries.
- The %ages for beneficiaries must total 100%.
Print the form and sign it using blue or black ink.
Have a witness (anyone over 18 years of age other than HR) sign the form using blue or black ink.
Submit all pages of the form in one .PDF file to HR. (See "How to Submit Forms/Documents to HR" for detailed instructions about how to submit the form.)
Keep the original of the form with your important papers.

How to Look at and Estimate Your Benefits

Obtain a login ID and password from KPPA.
Click here and follow the prompts.

KPPA Contact Information

Spiking Law

How Spiking Affects Tier 1 and Tier 2 Employees

Links to KPPA Website, Forms and Member Self-Service

KPPA Member Forms: All the forms employees need to complete transactions with KPPA.

KPPA Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3: Details about the three tiers. Use this to determine determine which tier you are in and how this impacts your benefits.

KPPA Member Self Service: Online tool for employees to use to manage their KPPA accounts. Use this to check your balances and project estimates for your retirement income find information about additional service credit and/or update your contact information. Contact KPPA if you need help navigating this site.

KPPA Sick Leave Table: Table KPPA uses to give eligible employees service credit for unused sick leave upon retirement. Use this to determine how your unused sick leave may impact your retirement benefits. (NKY Health participates in KPPA's Standard Sick Leave Program with 8-hour workdays.)