IMRF Service Delivery During COVID-19 IMRF has reacted swiftly and proactively to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please be assured: IMRF will continue to deliver all of its critical business processes and services. IMRF has sufficient resources to meet all benefit payment requirements. Your online Member Access account is the best way to do business with IMRF at this time. Use Member Access to send a Secure Message or manage your account.  For more information on IMRF's response to COVID-19, click here.

IMRF Financial Update IMRF had strong investment returns of 19.57% in 2019, bringing our assets to $44.8 billion. At the end of 2019, IMRF was 91% funded, which makes it by far the best funded statewide public pension in Illinois and puts it among the top in the nation. 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 April, when the IMRF portfolio grew 8.3% to $41.7 billion. To read more and watch the video of IMRF Executive Director Brian Collins discussing the 2019 Investment Returns & Funded Status, click h ere.

Should I Apply for a Refund of my IMRF Contributions?

If you have left your IMRF employer and will not continue to participate in IMRF, you can leave your contributions on deposit with IMRF, or you may be able take a refund. Leaving your contributions on deposit with IMRF would make sense if you are vested or if you think you may work for another IMRF or reciprocal system employer in the future. When you take a refund of your IMRF contributions, you lose all of your service credit, and you give up your right to any future IMRF pension and death benefits. For more information on whether taking a separation refund or leaving your contributions on deposit is right for you, click here for Tier 1 members or click here for Tier 2 members .

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 IMRF members qualify. For more information on whether you qualify and how to apply for this type of refund, click her e.

Member Access - Did You Know?

For Inactive IMRF Members, a Member Access Account is Important With a Member Access account, you can: View your annual Member Statement View your account balance and service credit Keep your contact information up to date Apply for a refund of your contributions If you need to create a Member Access account, click here . 

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