Illinois Administrative Code
Title 80 - PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
Part 1650 - THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF THE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Subpart F - ANNUITANTS AND BENEFICIARIES
Section 1650.575 - Full-time Student - Receipt of Survivors Benefits Until Age 22

a) For purposes of 40 ILCS 5/16-140(4), a full-time student shall be one who is enrolled in a course of study in an accredited educational institution (other than a program of study by correspondence), and who is carrying a full-time workload as determined by the educational institution during the regular school year for the course of study the student is pursuing.

b) Accredited educational institutions include schools, colleges, universities, and post-secondary vocational institutions whose courses of study are approved by appropriate state or federal educational accreditation authorities.

c) A regular school year is the eight to nine months which includes two semester terms or three quarter terms (or their equivalent), excluding the summer term. Terms that begin after April 15 and end before September 16 are considered summer terms.

d) Survivors benefits shall be payable during the period between regular school years if the benefit recipient was a full-time student the preceding semester term or quarter term (or their equivalent).

e) To verify that an eligible child is a full-time student, the System must receive a certification signed by an official of the educational institution confirming that the student is a full-time student as provided in subsection (a) above.

f) Payment of survivor benefits under this Section will begin on the 15th of the month preceding the start of the full-time student's first semester or quarter of matriculation.