FERS Retirement Help in Chicago, IL
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By the OnPAR Federal Retirement Education editorial team · Last updated
Illinois is one of the friendlier states for a FERS retiree because it lets you subtract your federal pension from state income. We help Chicago-area feds plan by phone or video, and we have no Chicago office.
Federal employers in the area
- Naval Station Great Lakes is the largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training station in the Navy. It supports more than 55 tenant commands, including Recruit Training Command, the Navy's only boot camp[12].
Benefits contacts
Navy civilians call the Navy Civilian Benefits Center at 1-888-320-2917[2]. For retirees, OPM's number is 1-888-767-6738[3]. Employees of other agencies should start with their agency HR office.
Illinois tax on your FERS annuity
On Form IL-1040, Line 5, Illinois lets you subtract the federally taxed part of a government retirement plan, along with Social Security, qualified plans like 401(k)s, and IRAs[13]. In practice, a FERS annuity and TSP withdrawals that qualify are not taxed by Illinois.
Cost of living
BEA puts the 2024 price level for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro at 103.6, where 100 is the U.S. average[1].
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