Vesting

Becoming “vested” is your first major milestone as a KCERA member. It means that you have a legal right to receive a lifetime retirement benefit once you are eligible to retire. To be vested, you must have five years of reciprocal and/or retirement service credit. You can accumulate retirement service credit by working in a permanent position for a KCERA employer or by purchasing service credit that counts toward vesting.

Eligibility to Retire

Becoming eligible to retire for service is your last major milestone as a KCERA member. It means that you have met all of the eligibility requirements of your membership tier.

General Tiers I and II

• 10 years of retirement service credit eligibility AND 50 years old, or
• 30 years of retirement service credit, regardless of age

General Tier III (West Side Recreation and Park District)

• 5 years of retirement service credit AND 52 years old

Safety Tiers I and II

• 10 years of retirement service credit eligibility AND 50 years old, or
• 20 years of retirement service credit, regardless of age

There is an exception to the eligibility rules for Tiers I and II. Members who reach age 70 may retire from KCERA even if they have less than five years of retirement service credit.