Upon the death of a retired member, IMRF
will pay a $3,000 employer death benefit to the primary beneficiary, or
if no primary beneficiary survives, to the secondary beneficiary designated
by the member.
Surviving
spouse benefits
You
were married for more than one year
A surviving spouse pension will be payable
if you and your spouse were married for at least one year prior to the
date you stopped participating in IMRF, your spouse will receive a surviving
spouse pension. If you have questions about your eligible spouse,
see "Changes in Marital Status".
You
were married for less than one year
If you and your spouse were married less
than one year prior to the date you stopped participating in IMRF, your
surviving spouse will not receive a surviving spouse pension. Upon retirement,
you were refunded your contributions designated for a surviving spouse
pension. Instead, your surviving spouse would receive any unpaid member
contributions plus interest and the $3,000 death benefit.
If there is no surviving spouse, your beneficiary
would receive any unpaid member contributions plus interest and the
$3,000 death benefit.
You
are not married
If there is no surviving spouse, your beneficiary
would receive any unpaid member contributions plus interest and the
$3,000 death benefit.
Examples:
John and Jane were married in 1955.
John stopped participating in IMRF on June 15, 1994; his pension
was effective July 1, 1994. John dies in 1997.
Jane is eligible
for a surviving spouse pension and the $3,000 death benefit.
Explanation: John and Jane
were married for more than one year prior to the date John stopped
participating in IMRF, and they were married at the time of
John's death.
John stopped participating in IMRF
on June 15, 1998; his pension was effective July 1, 1998. John and
Jane married the following year, on September 15, 1999. John dies
two years later, in 2001.
Jane is not eligible
to receive a surviving spouse pension but will receive the $3,000
death benefit.
Explanation: John and Jane
were married after John stopped participating in IMRF.
John and Jane were married October
1, 1988. John stopped participating in IMRF on June 15, 1989; but
chose a start date for his pension of January 1, 1991. John dies
November 10, 1997.
Jane is not eligible
to receive a surviving spouse pension but will receive the $3,000
death benefit.
Explanation: Although John
and Jane were married for more than a year prior to the effective
date of his pension, they were not married for more than one
year prior to when he stopped participating in IMRF
If you have questions regarding IMRF benefits,
contact us by email or call 1-800-ASK-IMRF
(1-800-275-4673)
IMRF Online provides
a brief summary of IMRF benefits and the administration of those benefits.
IMRF members' and employers' rights and obligations are governed by Article
7 of the Illinois Pension Code.