Change of Address

Question: How can I change my address with IMRF?

Answer: At this time and for your protection, your address cannot be changed by email. Your actual written signature is required.

To change your address with IMRF you may either complete IMRF Form 6.20 or simply send your request on a piece of paper that must include: the date, your new address, your name and Social Security number, and your signature. This may be mailed or faxed (630-368-5397) to IMRF.

If you are not currently receiving a benefit from IMRF, you can change your address online through your Member Access Account. For more information on applying for an account, visit the Member Access area.

You can read more about changing your personal information here.

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Refunds

Question: How can I get a refund of my contributions?

Answer: To receive a refund, you must have stopped working for your IMRF employer. You cannot take a refund of your IMRF contributions if you have left your IMRF-qualified position but are still working for the same employer. For example, if you were working for a school district as a teacher's aide and participated in IMRF, then accepted a teacher's position and joined TRS, you cannot take a refund of your IMRF contributions.

You must then complete IMRF Form 5.10 (Application for Separation Refund) and submit it to IMRF. Note that your employer must complete and file IMRF Form 6.41 (Notice of Termination) with IMRF before your refund will be processed.

Provided IMRF has all the necessary paperwork on file, it generally takes about 10 business days to process a refund.

Borrowing contributions

Question: Can I borrow against my IMRF contributions?

Answer: You cannot borrow from your member contributions, nor can you use them as collateral for a loan. The Illinois Pension Code specifically states that members cannot borrow from their contributions nor use them as collateral. There is no "hardship provision."

However, under this same restriction, your IMRF member contributions are also protected from your creditors as long as your contributions remain on deposit with IMRF. They cannot be garnished or seized by any creditor.

You also cannot take a refund (full or partial) of your IMRF contributions while you are currently working for an IMRF employer (even if you work in a position that does not qualify for IMRF participation), nor can you opt out of IMRF participation if you work in a qualifying position.


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Downloading forms and publications from IMRF Online

Question: I am having trouble downloading forms from your website. Can you help?

Answer: In order to view and print documents found on IMRF Online, you need a software application called Adobe Acrobat Reader. You will not be able to view and print our publications online if you do not have this software installed.

Most new computers have Acrobat Reader already loaded. However, if you don't have this software already installed, it can be downloaded 100% free of charge directly from Adobe. It will allow you to view and print the IMRF publications available online.

If you have the software installed and are still experiencing difficulties, we recommend that you check the Adobe site and make sure you have the most recent version of the software.

If you are still unable to view or print IMRF publications online, please call a Member Service Representative at 1-800-ASK-IMRF (1-800-275-4673) or email us and we can mail you a paper copy of the publication you are looking for.

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Designation of Beneficiary(ies)

Question: How do I change my designated beneficiary(ies) on my IMRF account?

Answer: To make any change (add or remove) to your beneficiary(ies), you must complete a new Form 6.11 (Designation of Beneficiary). You must sign, date, and file this form with IMRF. Your new Designation of Beneficiary form is valid upon receipt by IMRF. Please note that although we can accept the signature of a representative for name and address changes, we cannot accept the signature of anyone other than the member to change a beneficiary.

Also, please note that if you make any changes to the Designation of Beneficiary form, you must initial each change as you would for any other legal document. If you do not do this, the form will not be accepted.

You may obtain Form 6.11 from IMRF Online or by calling 1-800-ASK-IMRF (1-800-275-4673).

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Pension Estimates

Question: How can I find out how much I will receive from IMRF when I retire?

Answer: Your IMRF annual member statement includes this information once you have eight or more years of service credit. You may also request a pension estimate from IMRF by calling 1-800-ASK-IMRF (1-800-275-4673), or by completing and submitting Form BF-20 (Pension Estimate Request) to IMRF. You may also get a rough pension estimate by accessing our pension calculator.

You can get an online pension estimate based on your actual IMRF account information, or submit a BF-20 online, if you have a Member Access account.


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13th Payment

Question: What is the 13th Payment (Supplemental Benefit Payment)?

Answer: Eligible IMRF retired members (or their surviving spouses) receive a supplemental benefits payment, also called the "13th payment," every July. The 13th payment is normally mailed out by July 15 after the usual July payments are mailed.

Read more about the 13th Payment.

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IMRF and Social Security

Question: I am getting ready to retire and collect my IMRF pension. I was told that my Social Security benefits would be reduced because of my IMRF pension. Is this true?

Answer: No. When you participate in IMRF, you, like most members, also contribute to Social Security. Therefore, you are entitled to the benefits of both IMRF and Social Security. Your IMRF retirement benefits do not affect your Social Security benefits, or vice versa, in any way.

At retirement, you are entitled to full benefits from both. Your IMRF benefits are never reduced because you receive Social Security benefits, and your Social Security benefits generally are not reduced because you receive IMRF benefits. The only exception to this rule is if you earned service credit with IMRF during years that you did not also contribute to Social Security.

You should be aware that even though Social Security and IMRF do not affect each other, your pension benefits from other pension funds may be subject to a Social Security offset. If you are participating in a Reciprocal system, you should contact that system or the Social Security Administration to find out the rules that apply to that plan and Social Security.

Read more about IMRF and Social Security

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Unused, unpaid sick leave

Question: I am getting ready to retire. Can I use my unused, unpaid sick leave to earn additional service credit?

Answer: You may qualify for a maximum of one year of additional service credit for unused, unpaid sick leave accumulated with your last employer.

This additional service credit applies only if you are leaving employment for retirement. If you are leaving one IMRF employer and are not eligible for (or choose not to) retire, you cannot "bank" your sick leave for your future retirement date. The effective date of your pension must be within 60 days of your termination date.

The service credit is earned at the rate of one month for every 20 days of unused, unpaid sick leave or fraction thereof.

Unused, unpaid sick days	Additional months of service credit
22	2
68	4
136	7

Please note: converted sick leave service credit cannot be used to meet the:

• eight-year requirement for an IMRF pension,
• 35-year requirement for a non-discounted pension under age 60, or
• 20-year requirement for the IMRF Early Retirement Incentive.
  
  The sick leave must have been accumulated under an established sick leave plan available to all employees or a class of employees, and the effective date of your pension must be within 60 days of your termination.

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Leaving your IMRF Employer - "Transferring" Service credit

Question: What happens when I change jobs from one IMRF employer to another? Do I have to do anything to transfer the service?

Answer: The easy answer? You don’t have to do anything. Your new employer will submit a notice of enrollment in IMRF when you begin your new IMRF-participating position, deduct IMRF contributions from your wages, and report your monthly wages and contributions for you. And that’s all. No action is required on your part to make sure that your service credit “follows” you to your new employer.

Your service credit and member contributions will continue to accrue and will be credited to your Member Account. When you retire, each employer will be responsible for funding the portion of the pension you earned while working for them.