Surviving Spouse Pension

When a retired member dies, IMRF will pay a $3,000 death benefit to the beneficiary designated by the deceased retiree. IMRF also pays a pension to the member's spouse if the member and spouse were married or in a civil union for at least one year prior to the date the member stopped participating in IMRF.

If the eligible spouse dies and the retired member remarries or enters into a new civil union, the current spouse could be eligible for an IMRF spouse pension. Upon the retired member's death, IMRF will pay a surviving spouse pension to the current spouse if:

• the previous eligible spouse is deceased and
• the date of marriage or civil union between the current spouse and member is at least one year prior to the member's death and
• the member terminated IMRF participation on or after March 26, 1992.

If the member retired under Tier 1:

• the amount of the surviving spouse benefit is usually 50% of the (standard) pension, including the yearly 3% cost-of-living increase.
• If the retired Tier 1 member chose to receive the "optional pension" (a larger pension before age 62 and a smaller one thereafter), the surviving spouse benefit will be based on the standard plan, including the yearly 3% increase that would have been paid had the standard plan been chosen.
• If the member retired under the IMRF Early Retirement Incentive (ERI), the amount of the surviving spouse benefit is 50% of the ERI enhanced pension the retired member was receiving at date of death, including 3% yearly increases.

If the member retired under Tier 2:

• the amount of the surviving spouse benefit is 66-2/3% of the (standard) pension, including the increase of the lower of 3% or one-half of the increase in the Consumer Price Index (urban) for the preceding year of the original amount. If the CPI decreases or is zero, no increase is paid.

Additional questions for those receiving surviving spouse pensions:

What happens if I remarry or enter into a new civil union?

As a surviving spouse, do I have any death benefits?