6.40 Types of Past Service Credits/Member Account Corrections

Member's Situation

Type of Service
IMRF Form to Complete

Action the Employer Takes

Member took a refund of his or her IMRF contributions in the past. Now member wants to pay back the refund and reinstate the 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..

Reinstated Service

IMRF Form “Application to Reinstate Service Credit – Repaying a Refund”

None

Member’s position qualified for IMRF, but the employer did not enroll the member in IMRF.

Omitted Service

IMRF Form “Omitted Service Credit Verification”

• Verifies member's position qualified for IMRF.

• Then certify member's wages and omitted months of service on IMRF Form, "Omitted Service Credit Verification."

Member wishes to convert time served in the U.S. Military to IMRF service:
 

Under Federal Law:
Military leave interrupted IMRF participation and the member returned to the same IMRF employer.

Under Illinois Law:

• Military leave interrupted IMRF participation and member returned to any IMRF employer within 90 days of discharge.

OR

• Military leave earned before member joined IMRF OR member did not return to any IMRF employer within 90 days of discharge.

Military Service

Under Federal Law

Under Illinois Law

IMRF Form “Application for Military Service Credit"

Under Federal Law:
None

Under Illinois Law:

• Governing body must choose to pass a resolution authorizing the leave,

AND

• Complete IMRF Form “Resolution to Allow Service Credit for Military Leave – Participation Interrupted;"

OR

• Complete IMRF Form, "Military Leave Authorization for Military Service Prior to IMRF Participation."

Member was working for his or her employer when it joined IMRF. Member was granted the maximum free service

(20% of service up to five years) and wishes to purchase remaining service.

Prior Service

IMRF Form “Application for Prior Service Credit"

Certify member’s wages and months of qualifying service on IMRF Form, "Application for Prior Service Credit."

Member is an elected official who held an office qualifying for IMRF. Member now participates in IMRF and wishes to purchase up to 50 months of previous elected official service.

Retroactive Service

IMRF Form “Application for Retroactive Service Credit”

Governing body must choose to approve and file a resolution finding that the elected official position qualified for IMRF, if not previously filed,

AND

Certify member’s wages and months of qualifying elected official service on IMRF Form, "Application for Retroactive Service Credit."

Member is an elected official who held an office qualifying for IMRF. He or she now participates in IMRF and wishes to purchase more than 50 months of previous elected official service credit.

Retroactive Service

IMRF Form “Application for Retroactive Service Credit”

Governing body must choose to approve and file a resolution finding that the elected official position qualified for IMRF, if not previously filed,

AND

Before January 1, 2002, governing body must have passed a resolution allowing more than 50 months of retroactive service credit for elected officials,

AND

Certify member’s wages and qualifying elected official service on IMRF Form, "Application for Retroactive Service Credit."

Member will take a leave of absence from his or her job. While on leave, member wants to earn IMRF service credit and wants IMRF disability and death protection to continue.

Benefit Protection Leave

IMRF Form “IMRF Benefit Protection Leave”

(Note: Member should file this form before his or her leave begins.)

Governing Body must choose to authorize the leave and agree to pay the estimated employer costs. Certify member's wages and months of leave on IMRF Form, "IMRF Benefit Protection Leave."

Member has service credit with a public pension system in another state and wishes to convert it to IMRF service credit.

Out-of-State Service

IMRF Form “Out-of-State Credit Authorization”

Governing Body must choose to authorize purchase of service and the amount purchased on IMRF Form, "Out-of-State Credit Authorization."

Member participates in the Elected County Officials (ECO) plan and wants to convert his or her existing SLEP or Regular service credit to ECO service credit.

Conversion of service credit

IMRF Form "Conversion of Regular or SLEP Service Credit to Elected County Official -ECO - Service Credit"

None

SLEP member wants to convert up to 120 months of Regular Plan service to SLEP service if they joined before August 8, 2011.  Members who join the SLEP plan on or after August 8, 2011 are not eligible to upgrade Regular service credit to SLEP.

Conversion of Regular Service Credit SLEP

IMRF Form “Conversion of Regular Service Credit to SLEP Service Credit”

None

Police Chief elected to participate in SLEP and wishes to transfer service as a police officer

Election of Police Chief
to Participate as a SLEP Member

IMRF Form “Election of Police Chief to Participate as SLEP Member”

Certifies the date the police chief was appointed.