40 ILCS 5/ Illinois Pension Code.

(40 ILCS 5/13-203) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-203)

Sec. 13-203. "Employer": The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, a unit of local government organized pursuant to the provisions of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act, hereinafter sometimes referred to as Water Reclamation District or District. With respect to those persons employed by the Retirement Board, the Retirement Board is the Employer.

(Source: P.A. 87-794.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-204) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-204)

Sec. 13-204. "Employee": (a) Any employee of the Water Reclamation District appointed to the classified civil service under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act or any employee exempt from civil service under that Act, including any person absent from such position due to assignment to any other position of employment for the District; (b) any temporary employee of the District; (c) all appointed officers or acting officers of the District; (d) any employee of the Retirement Board; and (e) any member of the Board of Commissioners of the District who elects to participate in the Fund within 90 days after becoming a member.

No person shall be an employee hereunder whose duties will not ordinarily permit 120 days of service during one calendar year.

A member of the Civil Service Board of the District who is first appointed to that office on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 is not, by virtue of holding that office, an "employee" for the purposes of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 90-12, eff. 6-13-97.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-205) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-205)

Sec. 13-205. "Retirement Board" or "Board": The Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Retirement Fund.

(Source: P.A. 87-794.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-206) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-206)

Sec. 13-206. "Service": Any employment for the District or the Board, excluding overtime or extra service for which an employee is entitled to receive salary.

(Source: P.A. 87-794.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-207) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-207)

Sec. 13-207. "Salary": The salary paid to an employee for service to the District or to the Board, including salary paid for vacation and sick leave and any amounts deferred under a deferred compensation plan established under this Code, but excluding (1) payment for unused vacation or sick leave, (2) overtime pay, (3) termination pay, and (4) any compensation in the form of benefits other than the salary.

(Source: P.A. 90-12, eff. 6-13-97.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-208) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-208)

Sec. 13-208. "Average final salary": The highest average monthly salary as calculated by accumulating the salary for the highest 520 consecutive paid days of service within the last 10 years of service immediately preceding the date of retirement and dividing by 24. If the employee is paid for any portion of a work day, the fraction of the day worked and the salary for that fraction of the day shall be counted in accordance with the Fund's administrative rules.

(Source: P.A. 101-339, eff. 8-9-19.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-209) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-209)

Sec. 13-209. "Disability": A physical or mental incapacity of an employee to perform assigned duties.

(Source: P.A. 87-794.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-209.5)

Sec. 13-209.5. Licensed health care professional. "Licensed health care professional" means any individual who has obtained a license through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 or under the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987 or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-523, eff. 1-1-24.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-210) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-210)

Sec. 13-210. "Withdraw" or "withdrawal": Discharge, termination or resignation of an employee.

(Source: P.A. 87-794.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-211) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-211)

Sec. 13-211. "Assets": The total value of cash, securities and other property held. Bonds shall be held at their amortized book values. Other investments shall be carried at book value in accordance with accounting procedures approved by the Board. Adjustments shall not be made in investment valuations for ordinary current market price fluctuation.

(Source: P.A. 87-794.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-212) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-212)

Sec. 13-212. "Age": Age at last birthday preceding the date on which ascertainment of age is necessary to any computation under this Article.

(Source: P.A. 87-794.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-213) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-213)

Sec. 13-213. "Contributions": Any moneys paid or payable to the Fund by the District or by any employee, or any salary deduction hereunder.

(Source: P.A. 92-53, eff. 7-12-01.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-214) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-214)

Sec. 13-214. "Accumulated employee contributions": The amounts, including interest credited thereon, contributed by the employee for retirement and surviving spouse's annuity to the date of the employee's withdrawal or death.

(Source: P.A. 87-794.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-215) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-215)

Sec. 13-215. "Retirement annuity": A benefit payable as an annuity for service as an employee. The annuity shall be payable in equal monthly installments for life, except as otherwise provided in this Article, beginning in the month after the effective date of the annuity, which shall not be prior to the date of withdrawal nor more than one year prior to the date of the employee's application for the annuity. A pro rata amount of the annuity shall be paid for part of a month when the annuity begins after the first day of the month or ends before the last day of the month.

Notwithstanding the above, all retirement annuity payments first payable on or after January 1, 2008, shall begin the first of the month following the effective date of retirement.

Effective January 1, 2008, benefits are payable for the full month if the annuitant was alive on the first day of the month.

(Source: P.A. 95-586, eff. 8-31-07.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-216) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-216)

Sec. 13-216. "Surviving spouse's annuity": The amount payable as a surviving spouse annuity commencing on the date of the employee's or retiree's death. The annuity shall be payable in equal monthly installments for life, except as otherwise provided in this Article, in the month after the effective date of the annuity. A pro rata amount of the annuity shall be paid for part of a month when the annuity begins after the first day of the month or ends before the last day of the month.

Notwithstanding the above, all surviving spouse annuity payments first payable on or after January 1, 2008, shall begin the first of the month following the employee's or annuitant's date of death.

Effective January 1, 2008, benefits are payable for the full month if the annuitant was alive on the first day of the month.

(Source: P.A. 95-586, eff. 8-31-07.)

(40 ILCS 5/Art. 13 Pt. III heading) Part III. Annuities and Benefits.

(40 ILCS 5/13-301) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-301)

Sec. 13-301. Retirement annuity; eligibility. Any employee who withdraws from service and meets the age and service requirements and other conditions set forth in subsections (a), (b), (c) or (d) hereof is entitled to receive a retirement annuity.

(a) Withdrawal on or after age 60. Any employee, upon withdrawal from service on or after attainment of age 60 and having at least 5 years of service, is entitled to a retirement annuity.

(b) Withdrawal on or after attainment of minimum retirement qualifications and prior to age 60.

(1) Any employee, upon withdrawal from service on or after attainment of age 55 (age 50 if the employee first entered service before June 13, 1997) but prior to age 60 and having at least 10 years of service, is entitled to a retirement annuity as of the date of withdrawal or, at the option of the employee, at any time thereafter.

(2) Any employee who withdraws on or after attainment of age 55 (age 50 if the employee first entered service before June 13, 1997) and prior to age 60 having at least 5 years but less than 10 years of service is entitled to a retirement annuity upon attainment of age 62, subject to the other requirements of this Article.

(3) Any employee who withdraws from service on or after attainment of age 50 but prior to age 60 and is eligible for early retirement without discount under the Rule of 80 as provided in subsection (c) of Section 13-302 is entitled to a retirement annuity at the time of withdrawal.

(c) Withdrawal prior to minimum retirement age. Any employee, upon withdrawal from service prior to age 55 (age 50 if the employee first entered service before June 13, 1997) and having at least 10 years of service, shall become entitled to a retirement annuity upon attainment of age 55 (age 50 if the employee first entered service before June 13, 1997) or, at the option of the employee, at any time thereafter, subject to the other requirements of this Article.

(d) Withdrawal while disabled. Any employee having at least 5 years of service who has received ordinary disability benefits on or after January 1, 1986 for the maximum period of time hereinafter prescribed, and who continues to be disabled and withdraws from service, shall be entitled to a retirement annuity. In the case of an employee who enters service after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, the required 5 years of service is exclusive of service credit described in Section 13-313. The age and service conditions as to eligibility for such annuity shall be waived as to the employee, but the early retirement discount under Section 13-302(b) shall apply. If the employee is under age 55 on the date of withdrawal, the retirement annuity shall be computed by assuming that the employee is then age 55 and then reduced to its actuarial equivalent at his attained age on that date according to applicable mortality tables and interest rates. The retirement annuity shall not be payable for any period prior to the employee's attainment of age 55 during which the employee is able to return to gainful employment. Upon the employee's death while in receipt of a retirement annuity, a surviving spouse or minor children shall be entitled to receive a surviving spouse's annuity or child's annuity subject to the conditions hereinafter prescribed in Sections 13-305 through 13-308.

(Source: P.A. 94-621, eff. 8-18-05.)

(40 ILCS 5/13-302) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 13-302)

Sec. 13-302. Computation of retirement annuity.

(a) Computation of annuity. An employee who withdraws from service on or after July 1, 1989 and who has met the age and service requirements and other conditions for eligibility set forth in Section 13-301 of this Article is entitled to receive a retirement annuity for life equal to 2.2% of average final salary for each of the first 20 years of service, and 2.4% of average final salary for each year of service in excess of 20. The retirement annuity shall not exceed 80% of average final salary.

(b) Early retirement discount. If an employee retires prior to attainment of age 60 with less than 30 years of service, the annuity computed above shall be reduced by 1/2 of 1% for each full month between the date the annuity begins and attainment of age 60, or each full month by which the employee's service is less than 30 years, whichever is less. However, where the employee first enters service after June 13, 1997 and does not have at least 10 years of service exclusive of credit under Article 20, the annuity computed above shall be reduced by 1/2 of 1% for each full month between the date the annuity begins and attainment of age 60.

(c) Rule of 80 - Early retirement without discount. For an employee who retires on or after January 1, 2003 but on or before December 31, 2007, if the employee is eligible for a retirement annuity under Section 13-301 and has at least 10 years of service exclusive of credit under Article 20 and if at the date of withdrawal the employee's age when added to the number of years of his or her creditable service equals at least 80, the early retirement discount in subsection (b) of this Section does not apply. For purposes of this Rule of 80, portions of years shall be considered in whole months.

An employee who has terminated employment with the employer under this Article prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly and subsequently re-enters service must remain in service with the employer under this Article for at least 2 years after re-entry during the period beginning on January 1, 2003 and ending on December 31, 2007 to be entitled to early retirement without discount under this subsection (c).

In the case of an employee who retires under the terms of Article 20, eligibility for early retirement without discount under this subsection (c) shall be based upon the employee's age and service credit at the time of withdrawal from the final fund.

(c-1) Early retirement without discount; retirement after June 29, 1997 and before January 1, 2003. An employee who (i) has attained age 55 (age 50 if the employee first entered service before June 13, 1997), (ii) has at least 10 years of service exclusive of credit under Article 20, (iii) retires after June 29, 1997 and before January 1, 2003, and (iv) retires within 6 months of the last day for which retirement contributions were required, may elect at the time of application to make a one-time employee contribution to the Fund and thereby avoid the early retirement reduction specified in subsection (b). The exercise of the election shall also obligate the employer to make a one-time nonrefundable contribution to the Fund.

The one-time employee and employer contributions shall be a percentage of the retiring employee's highest full-time annual salary, calculated as the total amount of salary included in the highest 26 consecutive pay periods as used in the average final salary calculation, and based on the employee's age and service at retirement. The employee rate shall be 7% multiplied by the lesser of the following 2 numbers: (1) the number of years, or portion thereof, that the employee is less than age 60; or (2) the number of years, or portion thereof, that the employee's service is less than 30 years. The employer contribution shall be at the rate of 20% for each year, or portion thereof, that the participant is less than age 60.

Upon receipt of the application, the Board shall determine the corresponding employee and employer contributions. The annuity shall not be payable under this subsection until both the required contributions have been received by the Fund. However, the date the contributions are received shall not be considered in determining the effective date of retirement.

The number of employees who may retire under this Section in any year may be limited at the option of the District to a specified percentage of those eligible, not lower than 30%, with the right to participate to be allocated among those applying on the basis of seniority in the service of the employer.

An employee who has terminated employment and subsequently re-enters service shall not be entitled to early retirement without discount under this subsection unless the employee continues in service for at least 4 years after re-entry.

(d) Annual increase. Except for employees retiring and receiving a term annuity, an employee who retires on or after July 1, 1985 but before July 12, 2001, shall, upon the first payment date following the first anniversary of the date of retirement, have the monthly annuity increased by 3% of the amount of the monthly annuity fixed at the date of retirement. Except for employees retiring and receiving a term annuity, an employee who retires on or after July 12, 2001 shall, on the first day of the month in which the first anniversary of the date of retirement occurs, have the monthly annuity increased by 3% of the amount of the monthly annuity fixed at the date of retirement. The monthly annuity shall be increased by an additional 3% on the same date each year thereafter. Beginning January 1, 1993, all annual increases payable under this subsection (or any predecessor provision, regardless of the date of retirement) shall be calculated at the rate of 3% of the monthly annuity payable at the time of the increase, including any increases previously granted under this Article.

Any employee who (i) retired before July 1, 1985 with at least 10 years of creditable service, (ii) is receiving a retirement annuity under this Article, other than a term annuity, and (iii) has not received any annual increase under this subsection, shall begin receiving the annual increases provided under this subsection (d) beginning on the next annuity payment date following June 13, 1997.

(e) Minimum retirement annuity. Beginning January 1, 1993, the minimum monthly retirement annuity shall be $500 for any annuitant having at least 10 years of service under this Article, other than a term annuitant or an annuitant who began receiving the annuity before attaining age 60. Any such annuitant who is receiving a monthly annuity of less than $500 shall have the annuity increased to $500 on that date.

Beginning January 1, 1993, the minimum monthly retirement annuity shall be $250 for any annuitant (other than a term or reciprocal annuitant or an annuitant under subsection (d) of Section 13-301) having less than 10 years of service under this Article, and for any annuitant (other than a term annuitant) having at least 10 years of service under this Article who began receiving the annuity before attaining age 60. Any such annuitant who is receiving a monthly annuity of less than $250 shall have the annuity increased to $250 on that date.

Beginning August 1, 2001 (and without regard to whether the annuitant was in service on or after that effective date), the minimum monthly retirement annuity for any annuitant having at least 10 years of service, other than an annuitant whose annuity is subject to an early retirement discount, shall be $500 plus $25 for each year of service in excess of 10, not to exceed $750 for an annuitant with 20 or more years of service. In the case of a reciprocal annuity, this minimum shall apply only if the annuitant has at least 10 years of service under this Article, and the amount of the minimum annuity shall be reduced by the sum of all the reciprocal annuities payable to the annuitant by other participating systems under Article 20 of this Code.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, beginning on the first annuity payment date following July 12, 2001, an employee who retired before August 23, 1989 with at least 10 years of service under this Article but before attaining age 60 (regardless of whether the retirement annuity was subject to an early retirement discount) shall be entitled to the same minimum monthly retirement annuity under this subsection as an employee who retired with at least 10 years of service under this Article and after attaining age 60.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, beginning on the first day of the month following the month in which this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly takes effect (and without regard to whether the annuitant was in service on or after that effective date), an employee who retired on or after August 23, 1989 with at least 10 years of service under this Article but before attaining age 60 (regardless of whether the retirement annuity was subject to an early retirement discount), except for an employee who is eligible for an annuity under Section 13-301(d), shall be entitled to the same minimum monthly retirement annuity under this subsection as an employee who retired with at least 10 years of service under this Article and after attaining age 60.

(Source: P.A. 94-621, eff. 8-18-05.)