The State Retirement Systems of Illinois administers three separate systems, each with its own board of trustees: SERS, the General Assembly Retirement System, and the Judges Retirement System. The systems share a common administrative staff. SERS administers a single employer pension plan and other benefits for state employees who do not qualify for membership in another state system. Assets are managed by the State Board of Investments.
Illinois State Employees Retirement System Basics, by Plan
| Plan |
Assets (millions) |
Total Members |
| Illinois SERS |
19,197.3 |
141,922 |
| Other Plans |
0.0 |
0 |
| Total |
19,197.3 |
141,922 |
Source: Public Plans Database (as of 2020)
Note: Illinois State Employees Retirement System has 0 other plans.
Assets
Assets at Year-End
Illinois State Employees Retirement System
2001-2020
| Fiscal Year |
Net Assets (billions) |
| 2001 |
8.3 |
| 2002 |
7.7 |
| 2003 |
7.5 |
| 2004 |
10.0 |
| 2005 |
10.5 |
| 2006 |
10.9 |
| 2007 |
12.1 |
| 2008 |
11.0 |
| 2009 |
8.5 |
| 2010 |
9.2 |
| 2011 |
11.0 |
| 2012 |
11.0 |
| 2013 |
12.4 |
| 2014 |
14.6 |
| 2015 |
15.3 |
| 2016 |
15.0 |
| 2017 |
16.5 |
| 2018 |
17.5 |
| 2019 |
18.5 |
| 2020 |
19.2 |
Membership
Ratio of Actives to Beneficiaries, 2001-2020
| Fiscal Year |
Illinois State Employees Retirement System |
US State and Local Pensions |
| 2001 |
1.9 |
2.4 |
| 2002 |
1.8 |
2.3 |
| 2003 |
1.3 |
2.2 |
| 2004 |
1.3 |
2.1 |
| 2005 |
1.3 |
2.1 |
| 2006 |
1.2 |
2.0 |
| 2007 |
1.2 |
2.0 |
| 2008 |
1.2 |
1.9 |
| 2009 |
1.1 |
1.9 |
| 2010 |
1.1 |
1.8 |
| 2011 |
1.1 |
1.7 |
| 2012 |
1.0 |
1.6 |
| 2013 |
0.9 |
1.5 |
| 2014 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
| 2015 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
| 2016 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
| 2017 |
0.8 |
1.4 |
| 2018 |
0.8 |
1.3 |
| 2019 |
0.8 |
1.3 |
| 2020 |
0.8 |
1.3 |
2020 Membership for Illinois State Employees Retirement System
| Actives |
Beneficiaries |
Inactive Vested |
Total Membership |
# of Participating Employers |
| 62,621 |
75,527 |
3,774 |
141,922 |
1 |
Cash Flows
Cash Flow vs. Total Assets (Millions)
Illinois State Employees Retirement System
2001-2020
| Fiscal Year |
Cash Flow |
Assets |
| 2001 |
-21.9 |
8,276.7 |
| 2002 |
-56.7 |
7,673.9 |
| 2003 |
-186.8 |
7,502.1 |
| 2004 |
1,066.2 |
9,990.2 |
| 2005 |
-449.6 |
10,494.1 |
| 2006 |
-707.5 |
10,899.9 |
| 2007 |
-600.9 |
12,078.9 |
| 2008 |
-402.8 |
10,995.4 |
| 2009 |
-308.6 |
8,477.9 |
| 2010 |
-75.9 |
9,201.8 |
| 2011 |
-161.3 |
10,970.8 |
| 2012 |
-16.0 |
10,960.7 |
| 2013 |
-61.6 |
12,400.3 |
| 2014 |
11.9 |
14,581.6 |
| 2015 |
-4.1 |
15,258.9 |
| 2016 |
-94.9 |
15,038.5 |
| 2017 |
-321.2 |
16,530.2 |
| 2018 |
-323.9 |
17,463.3 |
| 2019 |
-89.8 |
18,491.9 |
| 2020 |
-123.9 |
19,197.3 |
2020 Cash Flows for Illinois State Employees Retirement System (millions)
| Inflows |
Outflows |
Investment Gains (losses) |
Change in Net Assets |
| 2,640.7 |
2,764.6 |
829.3 |
705.4 |
Cash Flow as a Percentage of Assets
Illinois State Employees Retirement System
2001-2020
| Fiscal Year |
Illinois State Employees Retirement System |
National Average |
| 2001 |
-0.3 |
-2.1 |
| 2002 |
-0.7 |
-2.4 |
| 2003 |
-2.5 |
-2.6 |
| 2004 |
10.7 |
-2.0 |
| 2005 |
-4.3 |
-2.2 |
| 2006 |
-6.5 |
-2.2 |
| 2007 |
-5.0 |
-2.1 |
| 2008 |
-3.7 |
-2.3 |
| 2009 |
-3.6 |
-3.1 |
| 2010 |
-0.8 |
-3.2 |
| 2011 |
-1.5 |
-3.1 |
| 2012 |
-0.1 |
-3.3 |
| 2013 |
-0.5 |
-3.2 |
| 2014 |
0.1 |
-2.9 |
| 2015 |
0.0 |
-2.8 |
| 2016 |
-0.6 |
-3.0 |
| 2017 |
-1.9 |
-2.9 |
| 2018 |
-1.9 |
-2.6 |
| 2019 |
-0.5 |
-2.6 |
| 2020 |
-0.6 |
-2.4 |
