6.40 Past Service Credits/Member Account Corrections

2. Military Leave - Application For Service Credit During Military Leave As Provided By The Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (IMRF Form, “Application for Military Service Credit”)

An IMRF member An employee who works in a position not excluded from IMRF coverage and whose position meets the annual hourly standard for IMRF coverage. For the purposes of an Authorized Agent submitting a petition or casting a ballot in an executive trustee election, an active member also includes an employee receiving an IMRF pension and working in position that does not qualify for IMRF participation or one that provides the employee the option of participating in IMRF, e.g., elected office. who leaves participating employment because he or she was drafted, enlisted for regular military service, or performed active duty in a reserve or national guard unit of the United States Armed Forces, may receive service credit Service credit is a member's total time under IMRF, stated in years and fractions. Service is credited monthly while a member is working, receiving IMRF disability benefits or while he or she is on IMRF's Benefit Protection Leave. A member earns one month of service credit for each month he or she: (1) works in a qualified position and makes a member contribution. (2) worked in a qualified position prior to his or her employer joining IMRF. (3) receives an IMRF disability benefit. (4) is on an IMRF Benefit Protection Leave (limited to 12 months). (5) purchases a month of past service credit. A member cannot earn more than one month of service credit for any given calendar month. for military leave under federal law by submitting IMRF Form entitled, "Application for Military Service Credit," if the member meets the following requirements.

1. The IMRF or reciprocal member does not qualify for service credit during the military leave under the IMRF statute because:

1. The employing governmental unit does not have on file with IMRF a resolution (IMRF Form Resolution, “Resolution to Allow Service Credit for Military Leave – Participation Interrupted”), nor does the governmental unit intend to adopt a resolution to allow service credit for periods of military, or

2. The employing governmental unit has filed a resolution, but the member certifies that the military service will be used in the computation of a pension or retirement pay from the United States government.

2. The member left and returned to participating employment with the same IMRF governmental unit. The federal law does not apply if an IMRF member returns to work for another IMRF employer A unit of government that joins IMRF..

3. The member returned to participating employment with the same governmental unit within the number of days required under the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act. IMRF must receive documentation from the member’s military service organization certifying the date the member was released to return to work.

4. The member pays the required member contributions Members who participate in the Regular Plan contribute 4.50% of salary toward a future IMRF pension: 3.75% for the member and 0.75% for a surviving spouse pension. Members who participate in the SLEP plan contribute 7.50% of salary (on and after June 1, 2006) toward a future SLEP pension: 6.75% for the member and 0.75% for a surviving spouse pension. Before June 1, 2006, SLEP members contributed 6.50 percent of salary; 5.75 percent for the member and 0.75 percent for a surviving spouse pension. Members in the ECO plan contribute 7.50 of salary toward a future ECO pension: 6.75% for the member and 0.75% for a surviving spouse pension.. The contributions shall be computed upon the assumption that earnings continued during the period of military leave at the rate in effect when the leave began. The member may purchase the service credit in a lump sum or on a payment plan. Refer to 6.40 C. Member Application and Payments for details.

5. No immediate payment is required of the employer. The cost will be reflected in the employer’s future contribution rate.

6. The member’s military period is for active duty service.

For access to the member forms, members can access this form by visiting the Member Access area on IMRF's website (www.imrf.org).

IMRF Form Resolution entitled, “Resolution to Allow Service Credit form Military Leave – Participation Interrupted” may be requested by the employer via secure message or by phone via the employer-only phone number at 1-800-728-7971.

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