at State Employee Retirement System in Springfield, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Essential Functions
Under general supervision, obtains, reviews, and verifies benefit applications, agency certifications, birth and death certificates, and Social Security information to determine eligibility for retirement, survivors, widows, occupational and non-occupational death or death benefits after retirement pursuant to the statutes governing the State Employees’ Retirement System.  Applies eligibility requirements to all distinct employment groups and special formulas within the statutes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures in effect at the time of the individual’s employment. Determines eligibility for benefit payment, in conjunction with the section supervisor, in cases not specifically covered by statutes or rules.
Calculates and/or verifies calculations for numerous types of retirement, death benefits, and disability benefits pursuant to the Illinois State statutes. Applies benefit calculation requirements to all pension, death, survivor, disability, COLA, and Total buyouts and QILDRO payments. Calculates final average compensation. Computes and verifies service credit, including service purchases, regular and permissive service. Applies optional benefits to pensions including level income, reversionary, Social Security offset removal. Reviews, interprets, and applies offsets to survivor and death benefits from information received by the Social Security Administration and Worker’s Compensation. Calculates and verifies atypical benefits.
Corresponds, exchanges, and certifies information with twelve other public retirement systems in the State of Illinois regarding the coordination and calculation of retirement and death benefits between systems. Certifies and exchanges employment service and earnings information with other public retirement systems. Verifies reciprocal retirement and death calculations. Calculates retirement and death benefits pursuant to the Retirement Systems’ Reciprocal Act. Attends the annual Reciprocal Training Conference to review new developments with other retirement systems.
Communicates with internal accounting staff and external agency payroll and/or retirement coordinators to obtain payroll and employment data. Provides guidance and assistance to state employees and dependents concerning retirement and death benefits. Interviews benefit recipients and communicates with special retirement formula groups to provide specialized, timely, and accurate information unique to each group. Answers and processes routine and/or complex telephone inquiries from employees and dependents.
Participates in group meetings with internal staff and other interested groups to review benefits, procedures, and methods relative to new legislation measures. Attends seminars and/or training classes relating to pension, death, and disability eligibility and calculations. Collaborates with the Section Supervisor and data processing personnel in the development of improved methods for the automated calculations system. Coordinates with the Section Supervisor the accumulation of test case materials used to verify the accuracy of new or revised system applications. Selects and verifies unique types of calculation data in preparation for the issuance of active and inactive benefit statements produced annually.
- Performs other duties as assigned or required which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
- Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion of four years of college, with courses in mathematics, basic statistics, and/or business administration.
- Requires one year of experience as a Retirement System Benefits Technician I in the Pension Section.
- Prefers extensive knowledge of the Illinois Pension Code and the applicable procedures and methods used to calculate pension, death, and/or disability benefits.
- Prefers extensive knowledge of the special employee groups, eligibility requirements, and formulas used for benefit calculations.
- Prefers extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel, Word, and SharePoint or similar business applications.
- Prefers working knowledge of the procedures and methods used to calculate state employees’ pension, disability, and/or death benefits.
- Prefers working knowledge of the Social Security retirement, disability, and/or death benefit structure.
- Prefers working knowledge of the Retirement Systems’ Reciprocal Act.
- Prefers working knowledge of Workers’ Compensation Commission benefit laws.
- Prefers working knowledge of SSA benefits, Retirement Systems’ Reciprocal Act, other retirement systems, federal tax laws applying to public pension funds, and IWCC benefit laws.
- Prefers ability to independently calculate benefits for all member groups, and to explain and interpret benefit procedures.
- Prefers ability to perform detailed work involving benefit calculations and performing the necessary math quickly and accurately.
