If you would like to attend a SURS training session please direct your questions and comments to the Human Resources Benefit Services at (309) 438-8311.
If you haven't already done so, visit www.surs.org to request Member Access prior to attending the training session. Direct your questions and comments to the Human Resources Benefit Services at (309) 438-8311.
Illinois State University participates in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). Non-US citizens may not be eligible to participate in SURS if they hold a certain visa and have not yet established residency status for tax purposes. If you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa, you are encouraged to contact Brenda Banwart at 438-3106 for assistance in determining your eligibility.
A prospective employee should be aware that since Illinois State University does not participate in the retirement portion of Social Security, receipt of a SURS annuity may reduce, or eliminate entirely, his or her Social Security benefit at retirement under the Windfall Elimination Provision or the Government Pension Offset. If you receive an annual Social Security Statement, it does not take either of these provisions into account. The Social Security web site has an estimator that will estimate your Social Security benefit after the Windfall Elimination Provision has been taken into account. A fairly user-friendly on-line estimator is available, while a more detailed calculator is available, but it must be downloaded and installed on your computer. Under the Government Pension Offset, a Social Security benefit you receive as a result of your spouse's employment will be reduced by 2/3 of your SURS benefit. This may eliminate your spousal benefit entirely, but you may still be eligible for Medicare.
Newly hired faculty and staff at Illinois State University with an employment period of four months or more will participate in SURS in lieu of Social Security. A 1.45 percent Medicare deduction will be deducted, but there will be no deduction for the retirement portion of Social Security. An 8 percent mandatory contribution is deducted on a pre-tax basis from all earned income and contributed to SURS. The state of Illinois contributes to the retirement system based on actuarial studies and pertinent law.
New employees at Illinois State University have the choice of three different retirement plans: Traditional, Portable, and Self-Managed. Under the Self-Managed plan, employee and employer contributions are invested with TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments.
Upon beginning employment at Illinois State, employees receive a large, comprehensive packet of information from SURS about the three options - their similarities and their differences. New employees have six months from their first day of employment to choose one of the three plans. Failure to make an election in the required time will result in the employee's enrollment in the Traditional plan.
For more information, refer to your SURS Choice packet of information, contact Benefit Services at (309) 438-8311, contact the State Universities Retirement System at (800) 275-7877, or access the SURS Web page.
Contact SURS at (800) 275-7877 for Retirement Estimates, Purchasing Prior Service, Survivor Benefits, Retirement Application, or a Refund.
