Paper checks are mailed one business day before the direct deposit date. More than 97% of TRS members use direct deposit.
| Benefit month | Direct deposit | Check mailed |
|---|---|---|
| December 2025 | Fri, Jan 2 | Wed, Dec 31, 2025 |
| January 2026 | Mon, Feb 2 | Fri, Jan 30 |
| February 2026 | Mon, Mar 2 | Fri, Feb 27 |
| March 2026 | Wed, Apr 1 | Tue, Mar 31 |
| April 2026 | Fri, May 1 | Thu, Apr 30 |
| May 2026 | Mon, Jun 1 | Fri, May 29 |
| June 2026 | Wed, Jul 1 | Tue, Jun 30 |
| July 2026 | Mon, Aug 3 | Fri, Jul 31 |
| August 2026 | Tue, Sep 1 | Mon, Aug 31 |
| September 2026 | Thu, Oct 1 | Wed, Sep 30 |
| October 2026 | Mon, Nov 2 | Fri, Oct 30 |
| November 2026 | Tue, Dec 1 | Mon, Nov 30 |
| December 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 | Thu, Dec 31 |
Questions
When does Illinois TRS pay retirees?
Illinois TRS pays on the first business day of each month for the month before. The Illinois Comptroller issues the payments.
Why did my payment not arrive on the date shown?
Direct deposits usually post on the date shown, but some banks release funds a day later. Paper checks are mailed before the payment date and can take several days to arrive. If a payment is more than five business days late, contact the plan.
Does the December payment count for this year or next?
Illinois TRS pays the December benefit in early January, so it is reported as income on the next year's 1099-R.
Related
See the Illinois TRS COLA page for when your check goes up, and the Illinois TRS calculator to estimate the amount.