5.20 A. Eligibility for an IMRF Retirement Pension

(For information on IMRF's Early Retirement Incentive (ERI The IMRF Early Retirement Incentive. At the employer's option, a member can purchase up to five years of service credit. For each period of service credit purchased, the member's age is increased accordingly. The member must be at least age 50 and have at least 20 years of service credit (can include Reciprocal service).) refer to 5.20 C. IMRF Early Retirement Incentive [ERI].)

1. Under the Regular Plan Tier 1

   1. Age - Member must be at least 55 years old. (Under current federal tax law and the Illinois Pension Code, IMRF is required to begin a member's pension once the member reaches age 73 if the member is no longer working for an IMRF employer or for a participating in a reciprocal retirement system.)

   2. Service - Member must have at least 8 years of service. (A member with less than 8 years may be eligible if he or she has reciprocal service. Refer to 5.50 Reciprocity.)

   3. Employment status - Member must not be working in any position qualifying for IMRF coverage. For terminations on or after January 1, 2021, the member must not be working for any IMRF employer in any capacity, including part-time or independent contractor work. Members also may not prearrange a return to employment with an IMRF employer.

   4. Employment status of elected officials - Member may be working as an elected official if he or she has not earned service credit for that elected office and has chosen not to participate in IMRF with respect to that elected office.

2. Under the Regular Plan Tier 2

   1. Age - Member must be at least 62 years old. (Under current federal tax law and the Illinois Pension Code, IMRF is required to begin a member’s pension once the member reaches age 73 if the member is no longer working for an IMRF employer or participating in a reciprocal retirement system.

   2. Service - Member must have at least 10 years of service. (A member with less than 10 years may be eligible if he or she has reciprocal service. Refer to 5.50 Reciprocity.)

   3. Employment status - Member must not be working in any position qualifying for coverage in IMRF or hold any full-time employment covered by any other pension system established by the Illinois Pension Code. For terminations on or after January 1, 2021, the member must not be working for any IMRF employer in any capacity, including part-time or independent contractor work. Members also may not prearrange a return to employment with an IMRF employer.

   4. Employment status of elected officials - Member may be working as an elected official if he or she has not earned service credit for that elected office and has chosen not to participate in IMRF with respect to that elected office.

3. Under the SLEP IMRF’s Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Personnel plan is available to county sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, forest preserve rangers and airport police and certain police chiefs. IMRF’s Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Personnel plan was revised by P.A. 94-712, which resulted in the creation of two “tiers” as follows: SL01 SLEP Tier 1, members who terminated SLEP participation before July 1, 2004, and SL02 SLEP Tier 2. The contribution rate was increased to 7.50% effective on and after June 1, 2006. P.A. 94-712 also increased the SLEP formula to a flat 2.5%. The new formula applies to SLEP members who were actively participating on or after July 1, 2004. plan Tier 1

   1. Age - Member must be at least 50 years old.

   2. Service - Member must have at least 20 years of SLEP service. SLEP service is total service as a county sheriff, full-time deputy sheriff or forest preserve ranger, or certain service as a police chief or other qualified SLEP position. (See Section 3.80 for a complete listing of qualified SLEP positions.) SLEP service with more than one SLEP employer is combined.
      
      If a SLEP member retires with:

      • Less than 20 years’ SLEP service credit, but eight or more years of SLEP and/or Regular service credit, the service will be combined to determine a Regular plan pension at age 55.

The member’s SLEP contributions will be refunded with interest. (Certain SLEP members can convert up to 10 years of Regular plan service to SLEP. Refer to paragraph 6.40.12., Past Service Credits/Member Account Corrections, Conversion of Regular Service to SLEP Service)

2. 1. • 20 or more years’ SLEP service credit plus other periods of non-SLEP service credit under IMRF, he or she will receive a Regular plan pension in addition to a SLEP pension.

   3. Employment status - Member must not be working in any position qualifying for IMRF coverage. For terminations on or after January 1, 2021, the member must not be working for any IMRF employer in any capacity, including part-time or independent contractor work. Members also may not prearrange a return to employment with an IMRF employer.

   4. Employment status of elected officials - Member may be working as an elected official if he or she has not earned service credit for that elected office and has chosen not to participate in IMRF with respect to that elected office.

4. Under the SLEP IMRF’s Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Personnel plan is available to county sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, forest preserve rangers and airport police and certain police chiefs. IMRF’s Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Personnel plan was revised by P.A. 94-712, which resulted in the creation of two “tiers” as follows: SL01 SLEP Tier 1, members who terminated SLEP participation before July 1, 2004, and SL02 SLEP Tier 2. The contribution rate was increased to 7.50% effective on and after June 1, 2006. P.A. 94-712 also increased the SLEP formula to a flat 2.5%. The new formula applies to SLEP members who were actively participating on or after July 1, 2004. plan Tier 2

1. Age - Member must be at least 50 years old. If the member retires between age 50 and 55, the pension will be reduced by 1/2% for each month he/she is under age 55.

2. Service - Member must have at least 10 years of SLEP Tier 2 service. SLEP service is total service as a county sheriff, full-time deputy sheriff or forest preserve ranger, or certain service as a police chief or other qualified SLEP position. (See Section 3.10 for a complete listing of qualified SLEP positions.) SLEP service with more than one SLEP employer is combined.

If a SLEP member retires with:

SLEP Tier 2 service plus other IMRF service

• 10 or more years of SLEP Tier 2 service credit plus other Regular service, the member will receive a SLEP Tier 2 pension plus a Regular plan pension.

• Less than 10 years of SLEP Tier 2 service credit but have other Regular service:

1. Regular Tier 1 and SLEP Tier 2
   Eight or more years of total service, the service will be combined to determine a Regular Tier 1 pension. The member’s SLEP contributions will be refunded with interest.

2. Regular Tier 2 and SLEP Tier 2
   10 or more years of total service, the service will be combined to determine a Regular Tier 2 pension. The member’s SLEP contributions will be refunded with interest.

Certain SLEP members can convert up to 10 years of Regular plan service to SLEP. Refer to paragraph 6.40.12., Past Service Credits/Member Account Corrections, Conversion of Regular Service to SLEP Service.

Note:  Members who join the SLEP plan on or after August 8, 2011 are not eligible to upgrade Regular service credit to SLEP.

3. Employment Status - Member must not be working in any position qualifying for IMRF or SLEP coverage. For terminations on or after January 1, 2021, the member must not be working for any IMRF employer in any capacity, including part-time or independent contractor work. Members also may not prearrange a return to employment with an IMRF employer.

4. Employment Status of Elected Officials - Member may be working as an elected official but has not earned service credit for that elected office and has not elected to participate in IMRF with respect to that elected office.

Felony conviction

If an IMRF member is convicted of a felony in connection with his or her IMRF employment, the member is not eligible for an IMRF pension.

If a retired IMRF member receiving an IMRF pension is convicted of a felony in connection with his or her IMRF employment, the pension is terminated. The member may apply for a refund of his/her 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..

Related Topics