Knowing When to Apply for Your

IMRF Benefits

While you are no longer working for an IMRF employer, you still have met the requirements to qualify for an IMRF pension. This means that you are able to begin receiving retirement benefits as soon as you reach the age required of your pension tier.

Here are some resources you can use as you prepare to fully use the pension benefits:

Learn about your Tier 1 or Tier 2 retirement benefits.
Watch "Your Road to Retirement: Navigating the Retirement Process."
Find answers to some of the frequently asked questions about retirement.

Most importantly, keep track of when you will become eligible to receive your pension based on your pension tier in order to use all of the benefits you earned.

Create Your Member Access Account

Having a Member Access account allows you to get important documents and connect with IMRF on your schedule.

Create an account today to safely and securely send messages to IMRF, download important documents, and request a refund.

Visit the Member Access Learning Center for "How To" guides to learn more.

Download Individualized Documents from Member Access

Looking for the documents you'll need for retirement?

If you need any documents as you get ready to retire, be sure to create and download them from YOUR Member Access account.

These documents are individualized and contain a barcode to help make entering this data faster.

Learn more about how to create your documents in the Member Access Learning Center.

Upcoming Changes to Death Benefits

The governor recently signed legislation into law that will increase the lump sum death benefit that an IMRF member’s beneficiaries receive after their death.

Under the new law, the lump sum death benefit increases from $3,000 to $8,000. This applies to certain members currently working for an IMRF employer and certain vested IMRF members who are not currently working for an IMRF employer.

The law goes into effective January 1, 2027. This means that the lump sum death benefit for anyone who first retire on or after January 1, 2027, will be $8,000.

If you first retire on or before December 31, 2026, your beneficiaries will still receive the current $3,000 lump sum death benefit.

Meet IMRF's New Executive Director

The IMRF Board of Trustees recently appointed Vladimir Shuliga as IMRF’s next executive director, following a nationwide search.

Shuliga joined IMRF in 2017 as associate general counsel, was promoted to general counsel in 2023, and most recently served as interim executive director. He brings extensive knowledge of IMRF and a strong commitment to serving IMRF employers and members.

In his new role, Shuliga will work with the Board and IMRF staff to continue improving the service IMRF provides to employers and members.

Read the full announcement to learn more about his experience and appointment.

IMRF Achieves 97.4% Actuarial Funded Status

Every year IMRF publishes its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), which provides a look at its financial health.

One of the key take aways is that IMRF is 97.4% funded. This means that IMRF has over 97 cents for every dollar it will pay to current and future retirees and members.

Most importantly, this means that IMRF members do not need to worry about whether their retirement contributions will be there in the future.

Some other highlights from the report include:

IMRF had a net return rate of 14.2%
Its portfolio grew by $6.4 billion to $61.7 billion.

IMRF Website

Member Access

IMRF News

800 COMMERCE DR, OAK BROOK IL 60523-2196 (Main Office)

3000 PROFESSIONAL DR, STE 101, SPRINGFIELD IL 62703

Member-only Phone: 1-800-ASK-IMRF (275-4673)