About the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund

The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund was created in 1939 by the Illinois General Assembly and began operating in 1941 with 5 original employers and $5,000 in assets. Today IMRF serves approximately 2,900 employers and has approximately $24 billion in assets.

Since 1941, IMRF has provided employees of local governments and school districts in Illinois (with the exception of the City of Chicago and Cook County) with a sound and efficient system for the payment of retirement, disability, and death benefits.

As of December 2009, IMRF counted 181,380 active members, 92,058 benefit recipients, and 2,950 local units of government in Illinois.

IMRF Mission Statement

"To efficiently and impartially
develop, implement, and administer
in a prudent manner programs that provide
income protection to members and their beneficiaries
on behalf of participating employers."

Read more about our visions and values.

How is IMRF administered?

IMRF is established under statutes adopted by the Illinois General Assembly. It is governed by a Board of eight trustees who must also be participating members and one trustee who must be receiving an IMRF annuity.

Four trustees are elected by employers, three are elected by participating members, and one annuitant trustee is elected by IMRF annuitants (individuals receiving IMRF retirement benefits). Trustees receive no compensation, only reimbursement for expenses.

The Board appoints an Executive Director who is responsible for all administrative functions and supervision of staff employees. The Board also appoints medical and investment consultants, an actuary and an independent auditor.

IMRF administers three plans: Regular IMRF, Sheriff's Law Enforcement Personnel (SLEP), and the Elected County Official Plan (ECO).

How do IMRF benefits plans work for our members?

How the IMRF plan operates locally
IMRF serves employers including cities, villages, counties, school districts, townships and various special districts, such as parks, forest preserves and sanitary districts. Although total participation exceeds 181,000 members, IMRF is a local program. Each employer builds up an account to provide future benefits for its own employees.

How the IMRF SLEP plan operates locally
The IMRF SLEP program currently serves approximately 130 units of government and has a membership of more than 5,000 participants. However, IMRF is still a local program. Each SLEP employer builds up a savings account to provide pensions for its SLEP members.

How the IMRF ECO plan operates locally
The ECO plan is an alternative benefit plan for elected county officials providing enhanced disability, retirement, and death benefits.The ECO plan is an employer option, the county must first adopt the plan in order for the elected county official to participate in it.

IMRF Authorized Agents
Each IMRF employer appoints one of its employees to serve as IMRF Authorized Agent. Your IMRF Authorized Agent handles the operation of the plan locally and has the necessary forms to apply for all IMRF benefits.