Active Member Frequently Asked Questions

*The following information is presented for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on as legal interpretation. The provision of Fund benefits is governed by the Illinois Pension Code (40 ILCS 5/1 et seq). Specific information relating to the Fund may be found in Article 6 of the Illinois Pension Code (40 ILCS 5/6) and expressly supersedes anything stated or implied herein to the contrary.

Participants may contact the Fund at any time concerning their benefits. Participants may request a written estimate of benefits prior to retirement. Detailed estimates of retirement benefits, based on a specific anticipated date of retirement, will be prepared for participants upon request. Because of the many variables that impact upon a member’s final retirement annuity, detailed estimates are not prepared for periods beyond two years of estimated retirement.Any estimates provided are merely “estimates” and are not binding on the Fund and should not be conclusively relied upon. All benefits must be actually granted by the Retirement Board in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

After having received an estimate of your retirement benefits based upon a fixed date of retirement, participants should contact The Chicago Fire Department Personnel division 1338 S. Clinton at 312-746-6964 to make an appointment to complete all necessary paperwork, including a formal resignation from the Chicago Fire Department. Upon receiving an appointment with CFD Personnel Dept., contact the Fund office at 312-726-5823 for an appointment to complete a formal application for retirement benefits. The appointment with the Fund must be after an employee’s appointment with CFD Personnel as documentation completed at the CFD exit interview is necessary for applying for annuity benefits with the Fund.

Participants retiring from active employment must bring a copy of the City of Chicago, “End of Employment Form” that is provided by the Chicago Fire Department Personnel Department at the time of resignation.

Normally, a participant receives their first annuity check at the end of the month immediately succeeding the month the participant actually left employment with the Chicago Fire Department. However, the Fund cannot calculate a final benefit amount until final payroll data is received from the City of Chicago. Upon receipt of final payroll data, staff completes final calculations based on this information and presents this information to the Board to grant the benefit application. The Board reviews and approves applications once a month at its regularly scheduled board meeting, generally the third Wednesday of every month.

Retirement Benefits are always paid on the last business day of each month.

Can participants purchase time lost during their careers with the Fire Department that affects pension contributions and service credit?

Under certain circumstances, time loss is eligible for purchase under applicable governing pension statutes. Upon request, Fund staff will advise participants of the amounts of eligible service available that may be purchased. Calculations of the required contributions and applicable interest will be included. Service Credit generally eligible for purchase include military service, the 23 days in 1980 which reflects strike time, periods of employment as a sworn Chicago Police Officer, periods of suspension from duty not to exceed a total of one year during the total period of service and previously unpaid refunds of contributions within certain timeframes.

Are pension deductions taken on all wages paid to participants?

Each participant’s total contribution percentage is currently 9 1/8% of salary broken
down as follows:
• 7 1/8% for Firefighter’s Annuity
• 1 ½% for Spouse’s Annuity
• 3/8 of 1% for the Increment after Retirement (Annuity Increment)
• 1/8 of 1% for Ordinary Disability Benefits (this is not refundable)

Beginning January 1, 1999, salary includes the additional compensation payable to participants by virtue of being licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Beginning January 16, 2004, and for any prior periods for which applicable contributions have been paid, salary shall include the classified career service rank of Ambulance Commander. Beginning January 16, 2004, and for any prior period for which applicable contributions have been paid, pensionable salary shall include duty availability pay received by the participant.

Beginning January 16, 2004, for the purpose of computing employee and City contributions, salary means the actual salary attached to the exempt rank position held by the participant. For the purpose of computing benefits, salary means the actual salary attached to the exempt rank position held by the participant if (1) the contributions on the exempt rank salary for all exempt periods after January 1, 1994 have been paid, (2) the participant held an exempt position for at least 5 consecutive years, (3) the participant held the rank of battalion chief or field officer for at least 5 years during the exempt period, and (4) the participant was born before 1955; otherwise salary means the salary attached to the career service rank held by the
participant.

Beginning January 1, 2011, for members hired on or after January 1, 2011, the annual salary shall not exceed $106,800; however, that amount shall be increased annually by the lesser of (1) 3% including all previous adjustments or (2) ½ of the annual unadjusted percentage increase (but not less than zero) in the consumer price index-u for the 12-month period ending with the September preceding each November 1st including all previous adjustments. Annual Salary Caps.

During years of active service, participant contributions are improved with 3% interest.

No; the City funded the plan by a multiplier until 2014. The funding requirement was legislatively changed to ‘Ramp Funding’ from 2015 to 2020. In 2020, the funding requirements were changed again to a ‘Statutory Actuarial Determined Contribution.’ The Employer’s Contribution history and detail is clarified in 40 ILCS 5/6-165 Financing; tax.

State statutes that govern the benefit provisions of the plan do not permit participant loans or partial withdrawals.

Only the amount participants contribute while active and statutory 3% interest on the retirement and spousal annuity portion are refundable to the participant. The 1/8th of 1% that participants contribute for ordinary disability benefits is not refundable to them.

If the spouse pre-deceases a participant or should the participant and spouse divorce after retirement, the contributions made on the spouse’s behalf are not refundable to the participant.

Generally, the benefits paid to retired participants will exceed the total amount of their contributions within two to three years of retirement. Upon the death of a participant, the balance of accumulated contributions that were not paid out, in either the form of an annuity for a participant, spouse or children, are refunded to the participant’s estate as named either in a Will, Small Estate Affidavit or Letters of Office. Participants should consult with their personal attorney to discuss this issue.

When the total value of an Illinois decedent’s estate is less than $100,000.00 AND the estate does not own any real estate, a small estate affidavit may be able to be used. If the estate is $100,000.00 and greater the executor will have to go to Court and get Letters of Office (Administration) naming an administrator of the estate.

Current federal law allows the transfer or rollover of 457 deferred compensation plan assets to this Fund in order to pay back a refund taken by a participant within the prescribed time frame.

Current federal law allows the fund to fund transfer or rollover of 457 deferred compensation plan assets to this Fund to purchase these service credits.

The Fund does not provide legal advice about proper division of marital and retirement assets. However, this Fund is subject to Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Orders (QILDRO's). A QILDRO may require this Fund to pay all or a portion of a participant’s retirement benefits to an “alternate payee”. An alternate payee is usually a participant’s former spouse, but may also be a current spouse, child or other dependent of the participant.

Any participant that has questions about a QILDRO should discuss it with their attorney. This Fund has an information booklet and required forms available upon request.

Does the Fund require any personal documentation identifying spouses and children?

For the protection of a participant’s family, it is very important for participants to submit the following documents. Upon request, this Fund will make copies and return the originals to you.

• A certified copy of their birth certificate
• Name and birthdate of spouse (or civil union partner) and a certified copy of the spouse's (or civil union partner's) birth certificate
• Certified copy of marriage certificate or certificate representing a valid Illinois civil union
• Names and birthdates of all children and a certified copy of the children's birth certificates and formal notices of legal adoption (if applicable)
• Certified copies of divorce decrees or death certificates from any previous marriages of the participant and spouse
• Documentation attesting to the disability of any permanently disabled child

If you need to obtain copies of these certificates, the following agencies can assist you.

To obtain a birth, death, or marriage certificate on file in Cook County:
Contact the Cook County Clerk’s Office
Phone 312-603-7790 www.cookcountyclerk.com

*Birth and death certificates may also be obtained, for an additional fee, at most local currency exchanges. To obtain a copy of a divorce decree, contact:

Contact the Cook County Clerk of the Court
Phone 312-603-6300
www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org