Illinois law defines who is eligible for an IMRF surviving spouse pension—a QILDRO has no effect on who can receive a surviving spouse pension.
Active members
If you are an active member and you remarry, your new spouse may be eligible for a surviving spouse pension. Your new spouse will be eligible if:
- You are vested for an IMRF pension.
- You have been married to your new spouse for at least one year prior to your death.
- You named your new spouse as your only primary beneficiary on your IMRF Designation of Beneficiary form.
If your QILDRO states that your alternate payee must receive a portion of your IMRF lump sum death benefits, the amount the alternate payee receives will depend upon what type of payment your eligible surviving spouse chooses for the death benefit.
If your eligible surviving spouse chooses:
- A surviving spouse pension: Your alternate payee will only receive a portion of the $3,000 lump sum death benefit. Your alternate payee can receive no portion of a lump sum of your salary or contributions.
- A lump sum payment instead of a surviving spouse pension: Your alternate payee will receive their portion of all lump sum death benefits available, before any lump sum payments are made to your eligible spouse/other beneficiaries.
Retired Members
If you divorce after you retire and were married for at least one year before you terminated IMRF participation (and were still married on the effective date of your retirement), your ex-spouse remains eligible for your surviving spouse pension, even if you remarry.
For more information about death benefits and the surviving spouse pension, please review the benefit information for your IMRF plan and tier at www.imrf.org.