A seasonal member is one whose position requires regular service for a period of at least six consecutive months but less than 12 months in a 12-month period. This does not refer to a calendar 12 months of January through December, but to any 12-month period.
"Seasonal" members hold positions that normally require less than 12 months of work during a 12-month period. Examples: a school district employee whose position normally requires him or her to work September through June, with July and August off. Or, a park district employee whose position normally requires him or her to work March through November, with December through February off. In seasonal positions, work is generally not required during specific months or periods of the year.
A seasonal member in an employment relationship for 12 months will receive service credit for the entire 12-month period. Otherwise, the member will receive service credit for the number of months actually worked in which a contribution was made. In other words, if a member is employed by the unit of government for 12 months (even if he or she is on ”seasonal leave”), the member will receive 12 months of service credit.
To indicate that the member will be seasonally employed, check ”yes” for the seasonal position question on the Online Enrollment screen
Seasonal employees will automatically receive seasonal service credit based upon the member’s ”seasonal pattern.” The seasonal pattern is determined by the type of employer:
School Districts, Educational Districts, and Educational Regions:
Seasonal employees will receive seasonal service credit for June, July, August, and September. (Employer can designate a different seasonal pattern for the member in Employer Access.)
Park Districts and Forest Preserve Districts:
Seasonal employees will receive seasonal service credit for October, November, December, January, February, and March. (Employer can designate a different seasonal pattern for the member in Employer Access.)
All other employers who have seasonal employees:
IMRF will contact the employer to determine the appropriate seasonal patterns. (Employer can designate a different seasonal pattern for the member in Employer Access.)
Once a seasonal pattern is determined, the member will automatically receive seasonal service credit for the seasonal months unless wages/service have not been reported for any months in the non-seasonal period or a Notice of Termination (Online Termination or paper Form) has been submitted for the member.
For an employee to receive this seasonal service credit automatically, he or she must be identified as seasonal on the Notice of Enrollment.