SUAA/SIUE Chapter

Helpful Links

Illinois Legislative Issues

• SUAA sponsored Seminar on the Graduated Income Tax - recording of a June 2020 Zoom seminar discussing the budgetary issues faced by Illinois and the Graduated Income Tax proposal that appeared on the November 2020 ballot.  The presentation was intended to be informational, not political. 
• SUAA Legislative Platform

Illinois Elected Officials Contact Information

• Illinois Government
• Illinois General Assembly
• Find Your Legislators – search for your currently elected officials using your address. 
  
  • Find Your 2022 US Congressional District - search this Washington Post site for your 2022 post-redistricting US Congressional District using your address. (Much of Edwardsville, for example, is now in District 13, not 15.)

Insights into the Pension Issues

• Illinois Pension Obligations – Khan Academy video explaining the repercussions of underfunded pension obligations in state budgeting using Illinois as an example.
• Center for Tax and Budget Accountability(CTBA) – CTBA is a preeminent source for objective, honest, reliable, and relevant information and analysis of local, state, and federal tax- and budget-related issues.
  • Debunking Illinois Pension Myths – Separating facts from myths.
  • Pension Changes in the FY2018 Budget: Short-Term Savings and Long-Term Costs – Report assessing the degree to which the 2018 Budget will be able to address the state’s underfunded pension obligations.
  • Setting the Record Straight on Illinois’ Fiscal Shortcomings - May 2020 report on how flawed tax policy created the current Illinois fiscal crisis which "cannot be eliminated without raising taxes."  (See also the SUAA sponsored Seminar on the Graduated Income Tax above.)

Benefits and System Information

• State Universities and Annuitants Association – the main website for SUAA.
  • SUAA Foundation - the website for SUAA foundation scholarship and professional development applications.
• State Universities Retirement System – the main website for SURS, where you can find information about insurance resources, retirement plans, and legislation.
• Central Management Services – CMS provides a wide range of programs and services to state agencies and the public. Information about employee and retiree benefits and health insurance can be found here. 
  
  • Total Retiree Advantage Illinois Program (TRAIL) - the Medicare Advantage Program with prescription drug coverage which retirees transition into once they qualify for Medicare.  Turning 65?  Do not miss your Medicare application deadline.  Follow the Medicare Checklist for State Retirees link on the TRAIL home page! 
• Social Security Administration – the main website for the SSA.
  •  "Understanding Social Security" - Zoom recording with Jack Myers, Public Affairs Specialist, SSA, and PowerPoint slides to accompany the recording.  This event was sponsored by the SIUE Staff Senate on June 14,  2022, with information that was accurate at that time.  Please refer directly to the Social Security Administration web site for the most timely information.  Disclaimer from the Social Security Administration:  Participation in this presentation does not constitute an endorsement by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or its employees of the organizations and information and products not provided by SSA.”  
  • "Understanding Social Security and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) " - Zoom  recording with Jack Myers, Public Affairs Specialist, SSA, with special emphasis on the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) for  SURS pension recipients or their spouses eligible to receive Social Security benefits.  This event was sponsored by SUAA, Region 3 on April 6, 2023, with information that was accurate at that time.  Please refer directly to the Social Security Administration web site for the most timely information.  Disclaimer from the Social Security Administration:  Participation in this presentation does not constitute an endorsement by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or its employees of the organizations and information and products not provided by SSA.”  
• Medicare - the main website for Medicare.   
• SIUE Human Resources – the main website for Human Resources at SIUE. Here you can find information about employee benefits, policies and employment opportunities.