Thank you for visiting the Web site of the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS). The information we receive from your visit depends on the services you use and the information you reveal during your visit. TRS is committed to protecting the confidentiality of the retirement records of TRS members. These rights are protected by federal and state law and TRS administrative rule.

Browsing

As you browse through this Web site and look at, print, and download forms, publications, and general information, no personally identifying information will be revealed or recorded about you, although we do automatically collect and maintain the following information about your visit:

• The domain and name of the service provider from which you accessed our Web site. The domain indicates what type of service provider you are connecting from, e.g., a commercial carrier, a governmental entity, or university. The name of the service provider tells us which provider you are using without disclosing any of your personal information or your individual e-mail address.
• The date and time you accessed our Web site.
• The Internet address of the Web site from which you linked directly to us.

This information is used solely to help us improve our online services by determining how often our Web site is visited and which areas of the site are visited most to gauge overall interest. We do make limited use of cookies, but only to maintain your Web site visit. All information is used exclusively by TRS, except as may be shared with other State agencies to perform the duties and obligations imposed by the Illinois Pension Code. None of the information we collect is sold or disclosed to third parties except as may be required to fulfill a request made pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act or in response to audit inquiries.

Accessing Member Account Information

As a service, we provide our members with online access to their own member account information. We require user IDs and passwords, and use data encryption and third-party verification to protect your member account information. In order to access your member account information through our Web site, you will need to provide your user ID and password. In order to establish your user ID and password, you must provide your Social Security number and birth date. Accessing your member account information online is voluntary. If you choose not to utilize our online member account information service, you will still be able to use all other features of our Web site.

If you believe that personal information that you provided to TRS contains inaccuracies or needs to be updated, please contact TRS and provide updated information.

Sending Messages

When you send an e-mail from our Web site to get in touch with TRS, the information we receive depends on the information you reveal to us in your message. Depending on the content of your e-mail, the information you submit may be used by TRS staff to respond appropriately, either by responding to you, by addressing issues you identify, by making improvements to our Web site that you suggest, or by forwarding your e-mail to another agency for appropriate action. TRS is not responsible for unauthorized access by third parties to personal information you reveal in your e-mail messages.

Using Web Links

If you leave our Web site by linking to a different Web address you will be subject to the privacy policy of that site.

Security

It is the policy of TRS to safeguard the integrity of its communications and computing infrastructure through reasonable and appropriate means. Your TRS member account information accessible via online access is protected through security measures including authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. E-mail communications to and from TRS are not protected by these security measures. TRS does not warrant the security of information on other Web sites that you may visit by linking to a different Web address.

Accuracy of Data

We make every effort to provide you with the most current and accurate information. Your account information is subject to change because of an audit or because of new or different data provided by you or your employer.

It is our policy to comply with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. If there is a conflict between information contained on this Web site and the applicable law, rule, or regulation, the law, rule, or regulation prevails.

Unauthorized Use

This Web site is the official site of the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois. We are an agency of the State of Illinois subject to all the protections afforded agencies of the state. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this Web site, tampering with or modification of this system, including supporting hardware or software, are strictly prohibited and may be subject to criminal prosecution under federal and state law, including without limitation, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Illinois Computer Crime Prevention Law.

If you are under the age of 13, you are not authorized to provide us with personally identifying information. Collection of information volunteered by children online or by e-mail will be treated the same as information given by an adult.

Back to top

12/04