When you begin receiving your surviving spouse pension, you will receive a new Certificate of Benefits from IMRF, which details all of the information specific to your surviving spouse pension. This green and white document, which is mailed separately, contains useful information and should be kept with your other important papers.

Your Certificate of Benefits includes:

• the amount of your monthly pension
• the effective date of your pension
• the annual increase you can expect to receive next January and every January thereafter

IMRF members are guaranteed the return of all pension contributions they made as an active member and the interest which was credited to the date of their retirement. The Certificate of Benefits explains this guaranteed amount. If you should die before you receive the guaranteed amount, the balance will be paid to the primary beneficiaries your spouse named on his or her IMRF Designation of beneficiary form.

The last section, "Income Tax Information," explains how your pension will be taxed.