If you plan to retire before age 65, you will need to find
insurance coverage and budget for premiums. One option
is to purchase an individual health insurance policy. (The
IMRF Board of Trustees has endorsed several health
insurance programs. Information on these programs
can be found in the booklet titled “Are you looking for
information about IMRF-endorsed health insurance
programs?”)
Another option may be health insurance continuation.
Federal and state legislation may require your employer
to allow you to continue your health insurance. To learn
more, you should ask your employer the following
questions:
• Can I continue my group health insurance once
I retire?
• If I can continue it, what benefits will be provided,
and for how long?
• Can I continue coverage for my dependents?
• How much will the insurance cost?

Question: I am getting ready to retire and collect my IMRF pension. I was told that my Social Security benefits would be reduced because of my IMRF pension. Is this true?

Answer: No. When you participate in IMRF, you, like most members, also contribute to Social Security. Therefore, you are entitled to the benefits of both IMRF and Social Security. Your IMRF retirement benefits do not affect your Social Security benefits, or vice versa, in any way.

At retirement, you are entitled to full benefits from both. Your IMRF benefits are never reduced because you receive Social Security benefits, and your Social Security benefits generally are not reduced because you receive IMRF benefits. The only exception to this rule is if you earned service credit with IMRF during years that you did not also contribute to Social Security.

You should be aware that even though Social Security and IMRF do not affect each other, your pension benefits from other pension funds may be subject to a Social Security offset. If you are participating in a Reciprocal system, you should contact that system or the Social Security Administration to find out the rules that apply to that plan and Social Security.

Know someone looking for work or have you thought of changing jobs? Continually check the job vacancy notices located on the School District web site. You might be surprised at the number of positions available within 202. Check it out.

Unfortunately the web site only views 4 to 5 new posts depending on there length. Make sure that if you view the web site click on  load more posts to make sure you view all the most current information.