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GARS members have recently been targeted by a variety of phishing scams, including emails, phone calls, and text messages that attempt to impersonate or imply affiliation with GARS.

Emails
The fraudulent emails may provide links, including DocuSign, and allege to provide the member with the option to sign up and receive their monthly GARS benefit payments four days early by providing personal financial information, including bank account information.  GARS does not offer an early benefit payment option or request personal or banking information by email or use of DocuSign.  Please note that our emails are always sent from an srs.illinois.gov email address.

Phone calls and Text messages
Several members have recently reported receiving unsolicited phone calls and text messages from individuals claiming to be associated with GARS.  These individuals initially contact the member by phone call or text message and attempt to set up counseling appointments with the member, generally through a follow-up email and/or text message.  These phone calls have been received on State landlines and State issued cell phones.  GARS does not contract with anyone outside of the agency to contact members about retirement counseling appointments or other financial services. GARS does not cold call members for retirement consultations, and only schedules retirement counseling appointments at the request of the member.

If you receive a suspicious email, call, or text message that purports to be GARS that you suspect is a scam, please report this activity to the GARS call center at 217-785-7444. Information that you provide can help GARS prevent and detect schemes that impact our members. 

GARS Tier 2 Refunds

If you become an inactive participant by leaving legislative service, you may request a refund of your GARS contributions. If the contribution refund is issued directly to you, the funds are subject to federal withholding and considered taxable income in the year you receive them. Alternatively, you can rollover your taxable contributions to another qualified plan or IRA.

If You Leave Your Contributions in GARS

  • You must have eight years of service under GARS to qualify for a pension.
  • You may use service in other reciprocal systems to qualify for a pension under the Retirement Systems’ Reciprocal Act.

If You Have Your Contributions Refunded

  • You will receive no interest on your contributions.
  • You will forfeit all rights to GARS benefits for yourself and your beneficiaries.

When Refunds are Paid to You

  • You pay no state income tax.
  • You will pay federal tax on most benefits. Specific information will be provided when benefits are payable.

The best tax treatment for you depends on your individual financial situation. Check with a qualified tax consultant or financial planner before requesting a refund.

If you withdraw your GARS contributions and later return to service in the General Assembly

If you return to service in the General Assembly, you will be eligible to repay your refunded contributions plus 4% interest from the date of the refund to the date of repayment. Payments may be made in a lump sum, via a rollover from a qualified plan, or by installments on a pre-tax or post-tax basis.

If you become a participant in another reciprocal retirement system, you must establish two years of credited service before you will be eligible to repay your GARS refund. Service earned in any system covered under the Retirement System's Reciprocal Act can be used to meet this requirement.

The best tax treatment for you depends on your individual financial situation. GARS advises all members to check with a qualified tax consultant or financial planner before receiving benefits or refunds.

Contributions made before January 1, 1982 were taxed when you received them. Your contributions after January 1, 1982, were not included in your gross income and therefore are not immediately taxable. However, when you begin receiving benefits, you will be taxed on your contributions accordingly.


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SERS Contact Information

2101 S. Veterans Parkway
Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: 217-785-7444
Fax: 217-785-7019
Email SERS

Helpful Links

JRS/GARS Contact Information

2101 S. Veterans Parkway
Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: 217-782-8500
Fax: 217-524-9039
Email JRS
Email GARS

FOR JRS/GARS MEMBERS ONLY
JRS/GARS representatives do not have the ability or authorization to access SERS member data, or to assist SERS members.