Benefits at a glance:
Actively participating IMRF members

The retirement plan IMRF offers is a defined benefit plan, which is an example of a traditional pension plan. In a defined benefit plan, the amount of the retirement benefit is based on a member’s final salary and his/her years of service credit.

But IMRF is more than just retirement benefits. We also provide Death and Disability benefits to active members.

The following is a brief summary of benefits available to you as an active member. An active member works for an IMRF employer and makes contributions to IMRF. This summary also includes the requirements to be eligible for those benefits.

The complete IMRF plan is found in the Illinois Pension Code.

Refund of member contributions

You may receive a refund of your member contributions if you terminate employment—that is, you stop working for your IMRF employer. If you take a refund, you give up all of your IMRF benefits.

Read more about contribution refunds

Retirement benefits

Upon retiring from an IMRF position and being vested with IMRF, you are eligible for a monthly pension for the rest of your life.

Vesting refers to the number of years of service credit you need to qualify for an IMRF pension. In IMRF, you qualify for an unreduced pension under the Regular IMRF Plan at age 60 (normal retirement age) if you have at least eight years of service credit or at age 55 if you have 35 or more years of service credit.

Exceptions to the normal retirement age exist but may affect the amount of your pension.

Read more about Regular Plan Retirement Benefits

Read more about SLEP Retirement Benefits

Read more about ECO Retirement Benefits

Disability benefits

You may be eligible for monthly payments up to 50% of your monthly earnings if you—

• Have at least 12 consecutive months of service credit,
• Are disabled for more than 30 days,
• Are unable to perform duties assigned by your employer because of illness or injury
• Are not receiving any earnings from any IMRF employer.
  

Read more about Disability benefits

Death benefits

IMRF protects your family by offering death benefits to our active members. The amount IMRF pays as a death benefit will vary depending on the amount of your service credit and whether your death is job related.

Read more about Regular and SLEP Plan Death benefits