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State Employees Retirement System staff walks members through website, iLogin and pension calculators
Summary
A State Employees Retirement System staff member demonstrated how to access the SERS member services website, use iLogin to create an account, and run pension and Social Security estimate calculators available to tier 2 members.
A State Employees Retirement System staff member led a workshop demonstrating how members can use SERS online tools to view account details and generate pension estimates.
The presentation explained how to reach the SERS member page at srs.illinois.gov and how to use the member services portal accessed via iLogin to view account information such as member name, redacted Social Security number (last four digits), member ID and tabs for account details, benefits and calculators. The staff member said, "When you type in srs.illinois.gov, it lands you on this website. You'll see the SCRS in the upper left hand corner and the banner that reads state employees retirement system. This identifies to you that you are on your SCRS member homepage." (Presenter identified in transcript as a SERS staff member.)
Why it matters: the member services portal contains tools members use to estimate retirement eligibility, check posted payroll and service credit, and download retirement estimate letters for planning and verification.
Key details reported in the workshop: - Login and registration: New users must use the member services login instructions and sign up via iLogin using a personal email, name and password; returning users sign in with their email username and password. - What the member homepage shows: the portal displays the member's name, last four of their Social Security number and a member ID that SERS staff can use to research accounts. The account tab shows accrued service credit, total contributions, and a current final average compensation (FAC) calculation. - Calculators: The portal links to a Social Security estimate on the SSA website and offers several SERS tools: a service-credit calculator (interactive), a sick-leave and vacation chart, and a pension benefit calculator. The presenter noted that the pension estimate calculator is on the member services site (not the public SERS homepage) and that the pension calculator can include optional inputs such as sick and vacation balances and level-income options when the user enters them on that tool. - Using the pension estimate tool: the presenter walked through the process starting with an acknowledgement screen, then entering separation/retirement dates (retirements must take effect the first of a month with the separation date on the last day of the preceding month) and optional inputs such as sick and vacation time and level-income options. Members can download a retirement estimate letter that records the calculation for their files.
Quotations in context: the presenter cautioned that online estimates are based on the data posted to SERS at the time the member accesses the tool and that future pay changes are not predicted: "This pension benefit is based on the presumption that they work out from whatever date this is accessed out through June of 56 with no pay increases because we can't calculate things that are not posted on your account." The presenter also described where to find calculators: "Clicking on that calculators button will reveal this list of items."
Members who need help were reminded that SERS offers one-on-one counseling by appointment in Springfield and Chicago or by phone.
The workshop covered additional topics (service purchases, reciprocity, disability and survivor benefits) in later sections; this article summarizes the website, login and calculator guidance portions of the presentation.
