IMRF Form 5.20 at a glance
What it is: IMRF Form 5.20 is the Application for IMRF Pension, for applying for IMRF retirement benefits.
Where and when to file: File this form one month before your retirement date.
What to bring and attach to IMRF Form 5.20
Include required documents (copies not originals) with your application. Print your Social Security number on all documents you attach to this form.
If you do not have all the required documents, submit your completed application without them. Send any missing documents to IMRF as soon as possible.
A filled-in IMRF Form 5.20 example: a member who has never married
How to fill out IMRF Form 5.20, box by box
Member's mailing address, birth date and last day of work
Print or type the member's first name, middle initial, last name and Jr., Sr., II, etc., the social security number, the member's mailing address, and the city, state and ZIP+4.
Enter the member's birth date (MM/DD/YY), the daytime telephone no. and the last day of work (MM/DD/YY).
Spouse
Mark the marital status: never married, married, civil union, divorced or widowed. If there is a spouse, mark the gender of the spouse and enter the spouse's first name, middle initial, last name and Jr., Sr., II, etc., the spouse's social security number, the date of marriage/civil union (MM/DD/YY) and the spouse's date of birth (MM/DD/YY).
Service with other Illinois public retirement systems
For service with other Illinois public retirement systems (such as State Employees', State Teachers', etc.), enter the name of system and dates from and to. If you are already receiving retirement benefits from the system, please do not list it here.
Early retirement incentive
If you will retire under IMRF Early Retirement Incentive, submit Form 5.21, “Notice to Retire Under ERI.” Indicate the years / months you wish to purchase.
Member's signature and date
Sign in the member's signature box (write; do not print or type) and enter the date, certifying that the information is correct to the best of your knowledge and belief.
More rules for IMRF Form 5.20
The name of the person who will receive the IMRF benefit payments must be on this account. A routing number is a nine-digit number, and is a completely separate number from your account number.
Enter the name of financial institution, the branch telephone number, the branch address (number, street), city, state and ZIP, and the account number.
Sign as Benefit Recipient, Power of Attorney or Guardian, and add the Date. Attach court documents if not already submitted for a Power of Attorney or Guardian.
Please complete both Form 5.20 and Form 1199 and return both forms together at the same time.
Be sure to sign both forms.
Direct Deposit of your monthly benefit payment is mandatory. Your payment must be directly deposited into your checking, savings or a brokerage account.
To release your payment, IMRF needs a properly-completed Form 5.20 (Application for IMRF Pension) from you and Form 6.41 (Notice of Termination) from your employer stating that you are no longer an employee. Once IMRF has these two items, it generally takes about two weeks to direct deposit your first pension payment.
Documents
Married or in a civil union for at least one year
Include your Birth Certificate and your Marriage Certificate or Civil Union Certificate.
Divorced
Include your Birth Certificate and your Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union (Divorce Decree), first page and Judge's signature page only.
Widowed, never married, or never in a civil union
Include your Birth Certificate.
Common questions about IMRF Form 5.20
Is there a deadline?
File this form one month before your retirement date.
Where do I file it?
You may mail or fax the form and materials to IMRF. Fax # (630) 706-4289. Completed form may be mailed to: Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund 2211 York Road, Suite 500, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-2337.
Sources
[1] IMRF Form 5.20 (Rev. 06/2012), Application for IMRF Pension, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (the Official source link on this page).