The LABF covers individuals who are employed by the City of Chicago in positions classified as "labor service," certain Board of Education employees under the labor service classification and individuals employed by the Laborers', Policemen's and Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Funds.
The LABF was created to provide retirement, disability and survivor benefits to its members and their beneficiaries. Your rights and obligation as a LABF member are governed by Chapter 40, Act 5, Articles 1 and 11, of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. The only way your participation in LABF will change is if you resign your position and take a refund of all your contributions.
Active Members
State law requires that you contribute a percentage of your gross salary every pay day. This deduction finances three separate benefits; a pension when you retire, a widow’s annuity after your death, and an annual cost of living increase during retirement.
Active members are classified by tiers- Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3.
If a member participated in the LABF or in an Illinois reciprocal retirement system (with the exception of the Judges’ Retirement System and the General Assembly Retirement System) before January 1, 2011, and participates in LABF after January 1, 2011, then the member is in Tier 1.
On April 14, 2010, the Illinois governor signed Senate Bill 1946 (Public Act 96-0889). The legislation created a “Second Tier” of pension benefits applicable to public employees who first participated in LABF or an Illinois reciprocal retirement system on or after January 1, 2011.
On July 6, 2017, the Illinois governor signed Senate Bill 42 (Public Act 100-0023). The legislation created a “Third Tier” of pension benefits applicable to public employees who first participated in LABF or a designated (see listing below) Illinois reciprocal retirement system1 on or after July 6, 2017.
Office Number
Each member is assigned a unique five-digit 'Office Number.' It is your account number with the LABF and will appear on all communications you receive from the Fund. Please use this Office Number when contacting the LABF.
Participant Statement
All active employees are sent an annual Participant Statement. This statement reflects the amount of money you have contributed toward your retirement as of the last day of the previous calendar year. It also includes important member data and lists your beneficiaries on file with the LABF.
Once received, please read your statement carefully. If there are any errors or omissions, resolving them immediately may save you time and trouble at the time of retirement. Please note, if you owe any money to the LABF, please contact the Fund immediately to arrange a payment plan.
Designated Beneficiary
If you or your survivors who may be entitled to an annuity die before all your contributions are depleted through withdrawal, retirement payments, or a survivor annuity, who would you like to receive your contributions?
As a member, you must have a completed and notarized Beneficiary Designation Form on file with the LABF. Your designated beneficiary may be anyone you choose. If you are married prior to retirement, state law establishes a surviving spouse’s annuity benefit for your eligible spouse immediately after your death regardless of whether a Beneficiary Designation Form is on file. However, if you do not have an eligible spouse or your spouse does not receive an annuity long enough to deplete your contributions, the person(s) you designate as your beneficiary(ies) will receive any remaining contributions.
Please check your annual Participant Statement to confirm your beneficiary designation. If you would like to change your designation(s), you can obtain a Beneficiary Designation Form from this website or by contacting the LABF office. This form must be notarized and on file with the LABF prior to your death to be valid.
Inactive Members
Please keep your contact information with the LABF current.
For information about inactive members, click here.