Welcome!
The Early Retirement Program (“Bridge”) is a district benefit for employees who
were hired in a permanent position before 7/1/1996.
Other requirements include:
- Employee must have a minimum of 15 years of permanent service to WPS
- Employee must be a minimum of age 50 at the time of retirement from WPS
- Employee must be a vested member of KPERS.
- Employee must work with WPS Retirement Specialist to sign up for the benefit at
the time of retirement from WPS.
For complete details regarding this program, including all eligibility requirements,
read WPS Policy
#4069.
The Bridge
The Bridge benefit is based on two factors: your KPERS retirement information, and
your Social Security retirement information. The Bridge benefit pays only from age
60-65, if you are on KPERS retirement. If you retire after age 60 the bridge benefit
will begin on the next eligible date, based on your retirement information.
KPERS Bridge Information
The KPERS part of the Bridge payment is based on the KPERS information found on
your annual KPERS statement. This bridge will pay from age 60-65, for a maximum
of 60 payments, if you are on KPERS retirement.
Social Security Bridge Information
The Social Security part of the Bridge payment is based on the Social Security statement
you receive annually. This bridge will pay from age 60-62, for a maximum of 24 payments,
if you are on KPERS retirement. Review your statement for an estimate of your Social
Security Bridge benefit, as this is not included in the calculator below. The Social
Security Administration website also has benefit calculators to estimate your retirement
benefit. Visit www.ssa.gov.
Estimate Your KPERS Bridge Benefit!
Use this retirement calculator to estimate your WPS KPERS Bridge. The KPERS
statement has your most recent Final Average Salary and your membership date with
KPERS. Enter this data, along with your anticipated Retirement Date, in the Retirement
Information section and click the Calculate Benefits button. Your estimated monthly
and annual Bridge benefit will display below. (Your Social Security Bridge payment
is based on your Social Security statement and is not included in this estimate
calculator.)
What if you continue to work? Change your estimated retirement date and recalculate.
What if you change jobs and your salary increases? Change your estimated Final Average
Salary (but be conservative!) and recalculate.
Remember: Read
WPS Policy #4069 for full details regarding the Voluntary Early Retirement
Program. The information on this webpage only provides an estimate and may not reflect
your actual benefit amounts. If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact Risk Management at 973-4581.
You can estimate your Lifetime KPERS retirement benefit by going to the KPERS website
at http://www.kpers.org/benefitcalckpers.htm.
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