40 ILCS 5/9-146.1

(40 ILCS 5/9-146.1) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 9-146.1)

Sec. 9-146.1. Minimum annuities for widows. The widow of an employee who retires from service or dies while in the service subsequent to June 11, 1965, who is otherwise eligible for widow's annuity under this Article and for whom the amount of widow's annuity and widow's prior service annuity combined, fixed or provided for such widow under other provisions of this Article 9 is less than the amount hereinafter provided in this Section, shall, from and after the date her otherwise provided annuity would begin, in lieu of such otherwise provided widow's and widow's prior service annuity, be entitled to the following indicated amount of annuity:

(a) The widow of any employee who dies while in the service on or after the date on which he attains the age of 60 or more years with at least 20 years of service, or 10 or more years of service if death occurs on or after attainment of age 65 and on or after January 1, 1982, shall be entitled to an annuity equal to one-half of the amount of annuity which her deceased husband would have been entitled to receive had he withdrawn from the service on the day immediately preceding the date of his death, conditional upon such widow having attained the age of 60 or more years on such date. Such amount of widow's annuity shall not, however, exceed the sum of $500 a month if death in service occurs before July 1, 1985.

If such widow of such described employee shall not be 60 or more years of age on such date of death, the amount provided in the immediately preceding paragraph for a widow 60 or more years of age, shall, in the case of such younger widow, be reduced by 1/2 of 1 per cent for each month that her then attained age is less than 60 years; except that such younger widow of an employee who dies while in service on or after July 1, 1985 with at least 30 years of service, shall not be subject to the reduction in widow's annuity because of her age less than 60 on the date of the employee's death.

(b) The widow, of any employee who dies subsequent to the date of his retirement on annuity, and who so retired on or after the date on which he attained the age of 60 or more years with at least 20 years of service, or 10 or more years of service if retirement occurs on or after attainment of age 65 and on or after January 1, 1982, shall be entitled to an annuity equal to one-half of the amount of annuity which her deceased husband received as of the date of his retirement on annuity, conditional upon such widow having attained the age of 60 or more years on the date of her husband's retirement on annuity. Such amount of widow's annuity shall not, however, exceed the sum of $500 a month if the death occurs before the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1991.

If such widow of such described employee shall not have attained such age of 60 or more years on such date of her husband's retirement on annuity, the amount provided in the immediately preceding paragraph for a widow 60 or more years of age on the date of her husband's retirement on annuity, shall, in the case of such then younger widow, be reduced by 1/2 of 1 per cent for each month that her then attained age was less than 60 years; except that such younger widow of an employee retiring on or after July 1, 1985 with at least 30 years of service, shall not be subject to the reduction in widow's annuity because of her age less than 60 on the date of the employee's retirement.

(c) The foregoing provisions relating to minimum annuities for widows shall not apply to the widow of any former county employee receiving an annuity from the Fund on June 11, 1965, who re-enters service as a county employee, unless such employee renders at least 3 years of additional service after the date of re-entry.

(d) An annuity being paid to a surviving spouse on January 1, 1984 shall be increased by 10% and shall thereafter be paid at the increased rate until the termination of the annuity by death or other cause. The annuity for a qualifying widow shall not exceed $500 per month.

(e) The widow of any employee who dies while in service on or after July 1, 1985 but prior to January 1, 1988, and the widow of an employee who retires on or after July 1, 1985 but prior to January 1, 1988 with at least 10 years of service, and the widow of an employee who retires on or after January 1, 1984 but prior to July 1, 1985 with at least 30 years of service, shall be entitled to an annuity equal to one-half of the amount of annuity which her deceased husband would have received had he retired immediately prior to his death or one-half the amount of the originally granted retirement annuity, whichever is applicable. Such widow's annuity will be reduced 0.5% for each month that the widow's attained age is less than age 60 on the date of the employee's death in service or retirement if the employee's death in service or retirement is before January 1, 1988; except that such younger widow of an employee with at least 30 years of service shall not be subject to the reduction in widow's annuity because of her age less than 60 on the date of the employee's death in service or retirement.

The widow of an employee who dies in service on or after January 1, 1988, or retires on or after January 1, 1988 with at least 10 years of service, shall be entitled to an annuity equal to 1/2 of the amount of annuity which her deceased husband would have received had he retired immediately prior to his death or 1/2 of the amount of the annuity which her deceased husband received as of the date of his death, whichever is applicable. Such widow's annuity shall be reduced 0.5% for each month that the widow's attained age is less than age 60 on the date of the employee's death if employee's death in service or retirement is after January 1, 1988; except that such younger widow of an employee with at least 30 years of service shall not be subject to the reduction in widow's annuity because of her age on the date of the employee's death.

In lieu of any other annuity provided by this Article, the widow of an employee who dies in service on or after January 1, 1992, or retires on or after January 1, 1992 with at least 10 years of service, shall be entitled to an annuity equal to 1/2 of the amount of annuity which her deceased husband would have received had he retired immediately prior to his death or 1/2 of the amount of the annuity which her deceased husband received as of the date of his death, whichever is applicable. Such widow's annuity shall be reduced 0.5% for each month that the widow's attained age is less than age 55 on the date of the employee's death; except that such younger widow of an employee with at least 30 years of service shall not be subject to the reduction in widow's annuity because of her age on the date of the employee's death.

In lieu of any other annuity provided by this Article, the widow of an employee who dies in service or withdraws from service on or after January 1, 1992 but before January 1, 1993 at age 55 or over with at least 5 but less than 10 years of service, shall be entitled to an annuity equal to half of the amount of annuity which her deceased husband would have received had he retired immediately prior to his death or half of the amount of the annuity which her deceased husband received as of the date of his death, whichever is applicable. This widow's annuity shall be reduced 0.5% for each month that the widow's attained age is less than 60 on the date of the employee's death.

However, in the case of an employee dying in service, the amount of widow's annuity shall not be less than 10% of the highest average annual salary for any 4 consecutive years within the last 10 years of service immediately preceding the date of withdrawal. The maximum amount of annuity under this paragraph shall not be limited to a dollar maximum. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to the widow of any former County employee receiving an annuity from the fund who re-enters service as a County employee, unless such employee renders at least 3 years of additional service after the date of re-entry.

(f) An annuity being paid to a surviving spouse on July 1, 1988, shall be increased on that date by 1% for each full year that has elapsed from the date the annuity began.

(g) In lieu of any other annuity provided under this Article, if the deceased employee was receiving a retirement annuity at the time of his death and that death occurs on or after January 1, 1993, the widow's annuity shall be 50% of the deceased employee's retirement annuity at the time of death, reduced by 0.5% for each month that the widow's age on the date of death is less than 55, except that the reduction does not apply if the deceased employee had at least 30 years of service.

(h) In lieu of any other annuity provided under this Article, the widow of an employee who dies in service on or after July 1, 2002 or has at least 10 years of service and dies on or after July 1, 2002 while receiving an annuity shall be entitled to a widow's annuity equal to 65% of the amount of annuity which her deceased husband would have received had he retired immediately prior to his death or 65% of the amount of the annuity which her deceased husband received as of the date of his death, whichever is applicable. This widow's annuity shall be reduced by 0.5% for each month that the widow's age on the date of the employee's death is less than 55, unless the deceased husband had at least 30 years of service.

(Source: P.A. 92-599, eff. 6-28-02.)