Death and Survivor Benefits

for Tier 1 Revised ECO Plan Members
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IMRF Death Benefits Protect Your Survivors

As an IMRF member, you are not only earning an IMRF pension—you also have important death benefits you should know about.

The amount and type of your IMRF death benefits depends upon your:

To view a current estimate of your IMRF death benefits, sign into your Member Access account.

Active Member Death Benefits

You are considered an active IMRF member if you are:

If your IMRF service credit is: Your death benefits are:
Less than one year If your death is job related, a lump sum equal to one year’s salary plus any balance in your member account
Instead of the lump sum, a beneficiary annuity may be payable.
If your death is NOT job related, a lump sum equal to any balance in your member account
More than one year but less than eight years A lump sum equal to one year's salary plus any balance in your member account.
Instead of the lump sum, a beneficiary annuity may be payable.
Eight or more years
(you are vested for an IMRF pension)
If you have an eligible spouse, your spouse may choose:
  • A monthly surviving spouse pension plus a $3,000 payment
  • A lump sum equal to one year's earnings plus any balance in your member account.
If you DO NOT have an eligible spouse, a lump sum equal to one year's salary plus any balance in your member account.
Instead of the lump sum, a beneficiary annuity may be payable.

Additional Information

What is the Balance in Your Member Account?

The balance in your member account is the accumulation of your member contributions, plus any interest earned on your contributions and less any benefit prepayments.

What is a benefit prepayment?

Any time a benefit is paid out of your account using estimated payments, we may initially pay out a higher payment than you or your beneficiary(ies) is entitled to. This is called a “prepayment.” IMRF is required by law to recover prepayments, typically through reductions from future benefit payments.

When is a Surviving Spouse Eligible?

For your spouse to be considered eligible for the active member death benefits listed above, the following three requirements must be met:

  1. You were an actively participating member at the time of your death.
  2. You must have named your spouse as your only primary beneficiary on your IMRF Designation of Beneficiary form.
  3. The date of your marriage or civil union was at least one year prior to your death.

If your spouse is eligible for an ECO surviving spouse pension, he or she can choose benefits payable under the ECO plan or under the Regular plan.

Surviving Spouse Pension Benefits
Regular Plan
In addition to $3,000 lump sum payment, a pension equal to 50% of the pension you earned
ECO Plan
At age 50 or older, in addition to $3,000 lump sum payment, a pension equal to 66-2/3% of the pension you had earned (minimum amount 10% of ECO salary)

Surviving Spouse with Child Pension

If your spouse is eligible for a surviving spouse pension and your spouse is caring for your minor, unmarried children, your spouse will receive:

The maximum total monthly benefit payable to spouse and children cannot exceed 50% of your ECO salary at time of death.

Child’s Pension

If you have eight or more years of service credit your children may be eligible for a child's pension. The following conditions must be met: