Retirement Preparation
Find out when you are eligible to retire
To find out when you will be eligible for a retirement annuity, you may:
6 to 12 months prior to your retirement
-
Request an estimate of your benefits. This estimate will include:
-
A calculation of your retirement annuity and years of pension service credit.
-
The option to repay a refund and/or to pay for any service time in which deductions were not withheld from your paycheck (if any). (see Service Credit Payments for more information)
-
A checklist of required documents.
-
Obtain information about leaving City employment. See “Leaving City Service” on the City's website or contact your department for more information.
3 to 6 months prior to retirement
-
Review possible retirement dates.
-
Review annuitant insurance options by contacting the City of Chicago’s Benefits Service Center at (877) 299-5111.
-
Ensure you have all required documents to submit with your retirement application. Call the Fund office at (312) 236-2065 with any questions.
Upon resignation from your Department
-
Submit resignation to your department.
-
Upon receipt of your resignation acceptance letter from your department, contact the Fund office at (312) 236-2065 to schedule a retirement appointment.
-
If you are applying for a combined annuity with service from another Illinois pension fund(s) under the Reciprocal Act, contact the other fund(s) regarding your retirement.
Important Tips
Benefits are payable the 1st day of the month following resignation regardless of which day you resign in a month. Even if you resign prior to the last working day of the month, your annuity does not become payable until the 1st day of the month following your resignation.
It may take at least 2 months from resignation to receive your first annuity check, and may take up to 3 months if you are retiring under a Reciprocal system. Remember to plan ahead in consideration of this transition period.