Original Elected County Official (ECO) Benefit Plan

ECO stands for "Elected County Official Plan." This plan was signed into law on June 27, 1997 (Public Act 90-0032). This legislation provided for the original alternative benefit plan known as the Elected County Official (ECO) plan.

On January 26, 2000, Public Act 91-0685 revised the original ECO program. On January 1, 2011, a second tier of benefits was added to the revised ECO program. The ECO Plan was closed to all new participants on August 8, 2011 (PA 97-0273).

For detailed information regarding the Original ECO plan, read the publication, "IMRF Original Elected County Official Plan: Member Information: Eligibility, costs, and benefits under the IMRF Elected County Official Plan."

Features of the Original IMRF Elected County Official Plan:

• The IMRF Elected County Official plan (ECO) 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.

• Once an elected county official chooses to participate in the ECO plan, the official remains in the ECO plan as long as he or she works in any position qualifying for IMRF participation.

• ECO Plan members contribute 7.50% of earnings (including SLEP members) toward an enhanced pension formula

• An Original ECO member's Final Rate of Earnings (FRE)is the annual salary payable on the last day of participation as a member of the ECO plan divided by 12.

• ECO service credit is earned on the same basis and under the same conditions as service credit under the Regular and SLEP plans.

• Eligibility for disability benefits under the ECO plan differ from eligibility for disability benefits under the Regular IMRF or SLEP plans.

• Upon the death of an ECO member, survivor benefits may be payable to both the spouse and to minor children.