• You must be a full-time employee of the Chicago Transit Authority,
• You must be at least 65 years of age,
•  and You must have at least 3 years continuous service (participation) in the Plan.

• You must be a full-time employee of the Chicago Transit Authority,
• You must be at least 55 years of age and have at least three (3) years of continuous (participation) service with the plan,
• or, You must have completed 25 years or more of continuous (participation) service with the Plan, regardless of your age.
• If you began your employment with the CTA after September 5, 2001, you must be at least 55 years old with 25 years of service to retire.

Disability allowance benefits are paid to an employee who has become disabled from performing his duties and from following his regular employment with the Authority due to an occupational or non-occupational accident or illness before becoming eligible for an old-age retirement allowance, provided that specific eligibility requirements are met.

A survivorship benefit is a post (after) retirement death benefit available to a plan participant’s spouse, provided that the participant (the retiree) meets specific eligibility requirements and providing that the participant elects (applies for) a survivorship benefit at the time he or she applies for their retirement or disability benefits.

Death Benefits shall be paid from the Fund to the designated beneficiary upon the death of a retiree who was receiving retirement or disability allowance benefits. This is a separate benefit from the Survivorship Option. The designated beneficiary does not have to be the spouse of the retiree.

The following tables indicate the monthly premiums for dependent health care benefits available through the Plan. Currently, healthcare coverage for retirees is provided for by the Plan.

The Dental benefits offered by the Plan are available to retirees up to age 65. You may continue to cover dependents who are under 65.

Employee’s contributions to the plan and the interest that their contributions have earned can only be refunded if the employee has become separated from the Authority. Contributions made by the Chicago Transit Authority to the Pension Plan are not refundable.

Employees having at least ten (10) years of continuous participation in the Plan are vested.