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The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is intended to ensure that members of the public have access to information about their government and their decision-making process. It requires all public bodies, including IMRF, to make their public records available for inspection and copying.
Under the FOIA, all records of a public body, like IMRF, are presumed to be open for inspection and copying. However, the FOIA also permits certain records to be withheld from inspection. If IMRF receives a FOIA request for information that under FOIA is considered open, IMRF is required by law to comply with that request.
IMRF records consist of information about our members and employers as well as our investment portfolio.
IMRF member information subject to FOIA requests includes:
- Name
- Employer
- Specify:
- Current/last employer
- All IMRF employment
- Reported IMRF wages (salaries)
- FRE (available for retirees
only)
- Service credit
- Member contributions
- Benefit payment amount to members receiving benefits,
e.g., pension payments*
- Specify
- Member retirees only or
- All benefit recipients (which includes member retirees, surviving
spouses, and other beneficiaries)
* Note that we cannot provide pension estimate amounts
for members who have not yet retired.
IMRF member information not subject to FOIA requests includes:
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Address (including zip code)
- Telephone number
- Personal email address
- Beneficiary information
- QILDRO
- Medical records
Previous FOIA requests
IMRF has received FOIA requests from the media asking for pension amounts for specific individuals (e.g., former elected officials for a particular unit of government), or for the names of all retirees receiving a pension greater than $100,000 a year.
In these cases, IMRF advises the member(s) by mail that their information has been requested and released, and we provide them with a copy of the FOIA request, which includes the name of the person making the request. In the case of a FOIA request for a specific individual, we provide a copy of our response in addition to a copy of the FOIA request itself.
However, in other cases the media has asked for information on all active or retired members. IMRF has received a FOIA request from the Chicago Tribune asking for information about all members currently contributing to IMRF. We have also received a FOIA request from The New York Times asking for information about all current retirees' pension payments.
If the information requested is subject to FOIA, we release it. But because the request covers all members or all retirees, we do not advise them of the request.
Who can submit an FOIA request
Any person, including private citizens and members of the media, may request IMRF public records. A written request may be submitted to IMRF by mail, email, fax, or in-person delivery.
FOIA booklet
Detailed information on requesting FOIA information from IMRF, including
costs and timelines, can be found in IMRF's Freedom
of Information Act Booklet. You can also use the (enterable pdf) FOIA
request form 2.90.
Investment portfolio
Complete and up-to-date information regarding the IMRF investment portfolio, including performance, asset allocation, investment managers, investment policies, and annual reports can be accessed directly at the investments section of our web site.
Submitting requests
Requests for records should be directed
to the IMRF specifying the records requested to be disclosed and copied.
IMRF will not accept FOIA requests over the telephone.
Need more information?
Contact IMRF FOIA officer at FOIA@imrf.org
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