5.40 D. Disability Benefit Payment Procedures

4. Employer’s Notice of Trial Work Period, Termination of Disability Benefits, Other Benefits

IMRF should be advised immediately if a member starts a trial work period or returns to work. IMRF requires IMRF Form entitled, “Employer’s Notice of Termination of Disability or Trial Work / Light Duty Period.”  

To gain access to this form, please send a secure message to request it or contact IMRF on the employer-only phone number at 1-800-728-7971.

If payment of disability benefits stops, the member is not eligible for IMRF total and permanent disability benefits, and does not return to IMRF participating employment:

If the member is participating in Tier 1 and is -

1. Younger than age 55 or does not have at least eight years of IMRF service credit, he or she can receive a refund of his or her IMRF 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. without interest.

2. At least age 55 and has at least eight years of IMRF 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., he or she will be eligible for an IMRF pension Also known as an annuity. An IMRF pension is paid as long as the member lives. It is increased by 3% of the original amount each year. A member must have at least eight years of service credit and be age 55 to apply for an IMRF pension under the Regular and ECO plans. A member must be age 50 and have at least 20 years of SLEP service credit to apply for a SLEP pension..

3. At least age 55 and has reciprocal service or past service A member can receive past service credit for service performed and earnings paid for a period prior to January 1 of the current year (January 1 through December 31). Past service falls into three categories of authorization: Requires Governing Body approval or prior resolution on file: Military leave provided by Illinois Pension Code, Retroactive service for elected officials, Application for prior service IMRF Benefit Protection Leave, and Out-of-state service credit authorization. Requires approval of Authorized Agent: Application for retroactive service credit, Omitted service credit verification, General Assembly application for service, and Certification of Sheriff’s Law Enforcement service. Requires application by member only: Application for reinstatement of service (repay a refund), Military leave provided under Federal law, and Conversion of up to 120 months of Regular plan service to SLEP. he or she may purchase, the member may be eligible for an IMRF pension. (Note: the application for past service must be made before disability benefits stop.)

If the member is participating in Tier 2 and is -

1. Younger than age 62 or does not have at least 10 years of IMRF service credit, he or she can receive a refund of his or her IMRF member contributions without interest.

2. At least age 62 and has at least 10 years of IMRF service credit, he or she will be eligible for an IMRF pension.

3. At least age 62 and has reciprocal service or past service he or she may purchase, the member may be eligible for an IMRF pension. (Note: the application for past service must be made before disability benefits stop.)

If the member is no longer disabled but does not return to work immediately and the employer has not terminated the member's employment, he or she may be eligible for an IMRF Benefit Protection Leave (IMRF Form entitled, "IMRF Benefit Protection Leave").

If the employer wishes to provide the member with IMRF service credit and IMRF disability and death benefit protection when IMRF disability benefits terminate and the member is not working, the employer’s governing body would grant and file with IMRF an IMRF Benefit Protection Leave (IMRF Form entitled, "IMRF Benefit Protection Leave").

The total service a member can establish under the IMRF leave is limited to a maximum of 12 months during the member’s lifetime, e.g., he or she may be granted a one-time leave of 12 months or several leaves totaling no more than 12 months. To establish the service, the member must pay the member contributions that would be due on his or her unpaid earnings.

Local leave policy without formal action on the part of the governing body does not protect the member. Without the proper IMRF form being filed, the member’s future IMRF benefits can be affected.

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