Pre-Retirement Workshop Webinars
IMRF's Pre-Retirement Workshops are for IMRF members who are within five years of retirement. They will address the steps you must take before and during the IMRF retirement application process. These webinars are FREE for IMRF members.

Pre-Retirement Workshop webinar dates:
  • Thursday, November 5, 11 am - 12 pm (central time)
  • Saturday, November 14, 9 am -10 am (central time)
  • Thursday, December 3, 1 pm - 2 pm (central time)
  • Tuesday, December 15, 11 am - 12 pm (central time)

There is a cap on the number of participants for each webinar, so register today to ensure your spot! For more information, or to register for a Pre-Retirement Workshop webinar, click here.
IMRF Bounces Back From Market Changes Related to COVID-19
Leading into 2020, IMRF was enjoying very strong investment returns from 2019 and assets that had grown to $44.8 billion.

Changes in the market in the first quarter of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, caused IMRF’s investment portfolio to fall 14.0%.

However, markets improved during the second and third quarters, and the first quarter loss has already been recovered and exceeded. Assets were at $45.2 billion at the end of September.

As a long-term investor, IMRF has planned for downturns in the market and has sufficient resources to meet all benefit payment requirements. You can count
on IMRF to fulfill its pension promises to you.

Member Access - Did You Know?
You Can Get Instant Online Pension Estimates, As Often As You Want!
Member Access has a pension calculator that allows you to run different retirement scenarios and recalculate your pension estimate as often as you want.

To use the pension calculator, log into your Member Access account. Under Quick Links, in the right column, click on Pension Calculator and fill in your anticipated age at retirement, last day of work, average annual wage increase, unused sick days, and your Member Tier. The calculator will do the rest!

Need to sign up for a Member Access account? Click here.

Refunds and the CARES Act!
As a vested IMRF member, you are eligible for a pension upon retirement. Although you are currently not working for an IMRF employer, you can leave your IMRF contributions on file with IMRF, to remain eligible for your pension.

You are not required to take a separation refund when you leave your IMRF employer.

Think carefully before taking a separation refund. 

If you take a refund:

  • You give up your right to any retirement or disability benefits.

  • Your beneficiary(ies) will not be entitled to any death benefits.

  • You lose all of the service credit you have earned. 

In almost all cases, vested members stand to gain much more financially from their IMRF pension than from taking a refund of their IMRF contributions, which forfeits the right to an IMRF pension.

For more information on refunds, click here for Tier 1 or click here for Tier 2 .
Refunds Taken for Coronavirus-Related Purposes are Exempt from Early Withdrawal Penalty
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act makes refunds of IMRF contributions requested for a "coronavirus-related" purpose exempt from the 10% early withdrawal penalty. It also requires IMRF to withhold only 10% of the taxable amount (instead of the usual 20%). You can also choose to have no tax withheld.
 
There are specific requirements for this type of refund, and not all vested IMRF members qualify. For more information on whether you qualify and how to apply for this type of refund, click here.
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