Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
Create a TrustSettle an EstateForms & ToolsFreeResources
OverviewEstate Law
OverviewEstate Law
Attorneys
All Illinois Attorneys
Forms
Revocable Living Trust for Illinois ResidentsIllinois Last Will and TestamentIllinois Pour-Over WillIllinois Healthcare Power of AttorneyIllinois Financial Power of AttorneyIllinois Transfer on Death DeedVehicle Transfer on DeathIllinois EIN ApplicationIllinois Petition for Probate and LettersIllinois Notice to CreditorsIllinois Small Estate AffidavitLetter of InstructionDigital Assets Recovery Letter
Getting Prepared
Illinois Estate Planning Cost CalculatorIllinois Revocable Living Trust Cost CalculatorIllinois Will Cost CalculatorIllinois Life Insurance CalculatorIllinois Beneficiary Designation CheckerIllinois Name a Guardian GuideIllinois Burial & Cremation Law GuideIllinois Signing Requirements CheckerIllinois Document Portability CheckerIllinois Trust Need AssessmentIllinois TOD Deed AssessmentIllinois Vehicle TOD AssessmentIllinois Trust or Will Decision Tool
Someone Just Passed Away
Illinois Death Certificate CalculatorIllinois Probate Decision ToolIllinois Estate Settlement Plan
I'm an Executor
Illinois Probate Cost CalculatorIllinois Executor Fee CalculatorIllinois Self-File Probate AssessmentIllinois Executor Appointment GuideIllinois Creditor Claims DeadlinesIllinois Personal Property Value Estimator
I'm a Trustee
Illinois Trustee Compensation CalculatorIllinois Trust Settlement Plan
Taxes & Inheritance
Illinois Who Inherits CalculatorIllinois Estate & Inheritance Tax CalculatorIllinois Inheritance Tax GuideIllinois Step-Up Basis CalculatorIllinois Post-Death Tax Filing Guide
Illinois Agencies
Medicaid Estate RecoveryUnclaimed PropertyUnemployment BenefitsPublic Pensions
Federal Agencies
Administration for Community Living (ACL)Black Lung Benefits ProgramBureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)Defense Health Agency (DHA)Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)DOD Casualty Assistance ProgramDrug Enforcement Administration (DEA)Energy Employees Occupational Illness Program (EEOICPA)Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Federal Communications Commission (FCC)Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)Federal Election Commission (FEC)Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Federal Student Aid (FSA)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Indian Health Service (IHS)Internal Revenue Service (IRS)National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)NOAA Commissioned Officer CorpsOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)Radiation Exposure Compensation Program (RECA)Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (9/11 VCF)Social Security Administration (SSA)Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)Transportation Security Administration (TSA)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)U.S. Coast Guard Casualty Assistance ProgramU.S. Copyright OfficeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of the TreasuryU.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS)U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)United States Postal Service (USPS)USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Home→Agencies→Public Pensions→Illinois→When someone dies

State Public Pensions in Illinois: when someone dies

A 4-step process for Illinois public retirement systems (SERS, TRS, IMRF, SURS) after a death in Illinois.

OverviewWhen someone dies

Public Pensions

Illinois

ilsrs.illinois.gov→

Administering agency

Illinois public retirement systems (SERS, TRS, IMRF, SURS)

WebsiteVisit website →
Verified Jul 2026

Steps to take

  1. Identify which system covered the deceased: SERS (state employees), TRS (teachers), IMRF (local government), or SURS (universities).
  2. Report the death to that system so the member's pension payments stop.
  3. Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and ask which survivor annuity or death benefit is payable.
  4. File the survivor or death-benefit claim with the documents that system requires, including a certified death certificate.

Illinois public retirement systems (SERS, TRS, IMRF, SURS)

Visit the agency website →

Frequently asked questions

Contact the system that covered the deceased: State Retirement Systems of Illinois (SERS) at 217-785-7444 for state employees, the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) at 877-927-5877, the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) at 800-275-4673 for local government, or the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) at 800-275-7877.

It depends on the survivor or payment option the retiree elected at retirement. A surviving spouse or designated beneficiary may receive a continuing monthly survivor annuity or a lump sum, and some options leave no continuing benefit. The covering system confirms what is payable.

The systems may pay a death benefit or survivor annuity to the designated beneficiary or surviving spouse when an active member dies before retirement. Under TRS Tier 1 rules, for example, beneficiaries of an active or inactive member receive a return of the member's retirement contributions plus interest, and dependent beneficiaries qualify for monthly survivor benefits if the member had 1.5 years of TRS service credit and at least 60 days of creditable service in the 18 months before death. The amount depends on the member's service and the rules of SERS, TRS, IMRF, or SURS.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 14, 2026

Sources

  • ilsrs.illinois.gov
  • imrf.org
  • surs.org
  • trsil.org

Data sourced from State Public Pensions in Illinois primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.

Public Pensions

Illinois

ilsrs.illinois.gov→

Administering agency

Illinois public retirement systems (SERS, TRS, IMRF, SURS)

WebsiteVisit website →
Verified Jul 2026
SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • EIN Application
  • Petition for Probate and Letters
  • Notice to Creditors
  • Small Estate Affidavit
  • Letter of Instruction
  • Digital Assets Recovery Letter

Tools

  • Do I Need Probate
  • Probate Calculator
  • Settle an Estate
  • Settle a Trust
  • Executor Fee Calculator
  • Trustee Compensation

Compare

  • Compare Services
  • vs LegalZoom
  • vs Trust & Will
  • vs Rocket Lawyer
  • vs Quicken WillMaker

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Articles
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Assets
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.