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JRS 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 JRS.

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 JRS benefit payments four days early by providing personal financial information, including bank account information.  JRS 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 JRS.  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.  JRS does not contract with anyone outside of the agency to contact members about retirement counseling appointments or other financial services. JRS 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 JRS that you suspect is a scam, please report this activity to the JRS call center at 217-785-7444. Information that you provide can help JRS prevent and detect schemes that impact our members. 

JRS Tier 2 Refunds

In accordance with state law, the Illinois Department of Insurance annually determines certain annuity limitations for use in benefit determinations by the Retirement Systems and Pension Funds operating under the Illinois Pension Code. The calculations include:

If You Have Your Contributions Refunded

  • You will receive no interest on your contributions.
  • You will forfeit all rights to a JRS benefit for yourself and your beneficiaries.
  • You may be subject to additional tax withholding and penalties.

When Refunds are Paid to You

  • You pay no Illinois state income tax.
  • You will pay federal tax on most benefits. Specific information will be furnished when benefits are payable.
  • All benefits and refunds must be declared as income in the year in which they are received.
  • You may postpone taxation of refunds by ‘rolling-over’ the taxable portion of the payment to another employer plan that accepts it, or to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). JRS is a qualified retirement plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, you will not be taxed on your contributions until you receive them.

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

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