RETIREMENT SYSTEM BENEFITS TECH1
Springfield, IL, US, 62704-6527
Job Requisition ID: 49182
Closing Date: 08/27/2025
Agency: State Employee Retirement System
Class Title: RETIREMENT SYSTEM BENEFITS TECH1
Skill Option: None
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: $4,954.00 - $6,894.00 monthly / CBA language applies
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 2
Bargaining Unit Code: RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME
Merit Comp Code:
This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.
All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.
Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.
We invite qualified applicants to apply for the position which serves as a Retirement System Benefits Technician I in the Pension Section of the Claims Division at State Retirement Systems (SRS). This position is responsible for determining the eligibility of, and performing calculations for, pension, survivor, and death benefits issued by SRS. The ideal candidate should be self-motivated, detail oriented, have excellent analytic, communication (both verbal and in writing), and organizational skills. They should enjoy complex mathematics, problem solving, and working in a fast-paced environment. SRS is conveniently located on the west side of Springfield with free parking on-site.
Why Work for Illinois?
Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.
No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.
Essential Functions
- Receive, analyze, and process requests for forms and relevant information for pension, death, and/or disability benefits payable to members, survivors, and/or beneficiaries. Determine if applicants meet eligibility criteria to include age, years of service, relationship to member, designation as beneficiary, termination of employment, and/or membership status as required by the relevant statutes, rules, regulations, and procedures. Initiate and coordinate accelerated, and other special benefit options made available.
- Prepare, track, image and verify forms sent to members. Determine, process, and review taxable and non-taxable contributions, total benefit amounts, overpaid benefits, eligibility for rollovers, and/or information provided by the Social Security Administration and/or the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission. Receive, analyze, and approve forms and benefit related correspondence received from members. Verify completed information to initiate payment of benefit claims. Review and process ceasing of benefit payments.
- Perform benefit related calculations to include final average compensation, average weekly wage, rate of pay, service time, benefit cease dates, offsets, beneficiary payment splits, and other benefit setup related items. Receive, initiate, and calculate requests for benefit estimates, to include level income, social security offsets, reversionary, service credit purchase, contribution refunds, and other benefit related items.
- Answer questions from members regarding the completion of forms and assist with benefit related inquiries. Work comfortably with, review, and properly apply power of attorney documents, small estate affidavits, trust documents, probate laws, Social Security Administration documents, Illinois Workers Compensation Commission documents, and other legal documents as they relate to benefit payments. Answer questions related to optional benefit programs such as level income, social security offset, offset removals, reversionary benefits, and other benefit options made available. Communicate with members, survivors, beneficiaries, and family members in situations requiring tact and sensitivity.
- Enter and review data in the necessary systems to initiate benefit related calculations to gain approval to submit for payment. Assist with the testing of changes and enhancements to the necessary systems required for these tasks.
- Participate in group meetings with staff and other groups to review benefits, procedures, and methods relative to existing and new legislative matters. Attend seminars and/or training classes relating to benefit eligibility calculations. Collaborate with management in development of improved methods and system enhancements. Review and verify data in preparation of benefit statements and related mailings.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
Minimum Qualifications
- Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to the completion of two years of college, with courses in mathematics, basic statistics, and/or business administration.
Preferred Qualifications
- Prefers extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, especially Excel, Word, and SharePoint or similar business applications.
- Prefers working knowledge of mathematics.
- Prefers elementary knowledge of the Social Security retirement, disability, and/or death benefit structure.
- Prefers elementary knowledge of Worker's Compensation Commission benefit laws.
- Prefers elementary knowledge of the Retirement Systems' Reciprocal Act.
- Prefers ability to perform detailed work involving written or numerical data and to make arithmetic calculations rapidly and accurately.
- Prefers ability to make decisions in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations governing the State Employees Retirement System.
- Prefers ability to examine, extract, and record pertinent claims information from a variety of source documents.
- Prefers ability to explain and interpret benefit procedures to state employees and their dependents.
- Prefers ability to learn and apply the eligibility requirements and calculations used to compute pension, disability, and/or death benefits.
Work Hours: 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m., Monday - Friday
Work Location: 2101 S Veterans Pkwy, Springfield, Illinois, 62704-6527
Agency Contact: Jenny Reichart
Email: Jenny.Reichart@srs.illinois.gov
Phone #: 217-785-6955
Posting Group: Fiscal, Finance & Procurement; Employee Services
This position DOES NOT contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs).
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.
If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.
State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.
Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.
If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:
State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid
Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.
The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:
- donotreply@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
- systems@SIL-P1.ns2cloud.com
STATE OF ILLINOIS BENEFITS
As a State of Illinois employee, you receive a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans.
- Flexible work schedules (when available and dependent upon position).
- 10 -25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment).
- 12 days of paid sick time annually which carryover year to year.
- 3 paid personal business days per year.
- 13-14 paid holidays per year dependent on election years.
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
- Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System.
- Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan.
- Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP).
- Tuition Reimbursement Program and Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility.
For more information regarding State of Illinois Benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx
The purpose of State Retirement Systems is to provide an orderly means whereby aged or disabled employees may be retired from active service, without prejudice or hardship, and to enable employees to accumulate reserves for themselves and their dependents for old age, disability, death and termination of employment, thus effecting economy and efficiency in the administration of the State Government.