Benefit eligibility at a glance for active IMRF members

There are many different stipulations to IMRF benefits and they can quickly get confusing. This "Benefits at a Glance" page will help you sort out some of the details.

IMRF Online also provides information on the Elected County Official plan.

Withdrawal of contributions

After termination of participating employment. An IMRF member is not eligible for a refund of contributions if he or she stops participating in IMRF but continues working for the same employer.

Disability benefits under the Regular and SLEP plans

• 12 consecutive months of service credit
• 9 of the 12 months of service must immediately precede disability
• Not be receiving any earnings from any employer
• Unable to perform duties assigned by the member's employer because of illness or injury
• Disabled for more than 30 days

Death benefits Under the Regular and SLEP plans (service credit requirements)

• Less than one year, death not job related: return of member contributions
• Less than one year, death is job related: one year's salary plus return of member contributions
• More than one year, less than eight years: one year's earnings plus return of member contributions with interest
• More than eight years: surviving spouse pension plus $3,000 payment or one year's earnings plus return of member contributions with interest

Vesting for a Regular IMRF pension

After eight years of service credit

• Normal pension (unreduced pension)
• At age 55 with at least 35 years of service credit
• At age 60 with at least eight years of service credit

Early pension (reduced pension)

• Between the ages of 55 and 60 with less than 35 years of service credit

Vesting for a IMRF SLEP pension

• 20 or more years of SLEP service credit
• Age 50 or older