Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear, accessible answers about PAG, pension advocacy, trustee engagement, and the issues that matter to new members and retirees.
General Questions
Start here for general info about PAG, our mission, how we support pension advocacy, and how members and supporters can get involved.
PAG serves members, retirees, educators, supporters, and community stakeholders who care about protecting defined benefit pensions and strengthening retirement security. In addition to supporting the recruitment and retention of subject matter experts to teach in the Chicago Public Schools. PAG’s work is especially focused on providing clear information and advocacy support for those connected to public pension systems.
A defined benefit pension is a retirement plan that provides eligible members with a guaranteed set monthly benefit, usually based on factors such as years of service, salary, and age at retirement. Unlike individual retirement accounts, such as Defined Contribution plans (401k and 403 B) that depend heavily on personal investment choices, defined benefit pensions are designed to provide stable retirement income.
Pension advocacy matters because retirement benefits are earned over years of service and can be affected by policy decisions, funding choices, legislation, and public understanding. Advocacy helps protect the integrity of pension systems, promote transparency, and ensure members have access to clear information about issues that may affect their retirement security. In short, defend teachers hard earned defered compensation and inheritance from wage theft.
Members can stay informed by joining PAG’s mailing list, attending events, reading educational resources and updates, and following PAG’s communications. PAG shares information designed to help members better understand pension-related topics, advocacy priorities, and opportunities to stay engaged. Such as the Teacher trustee training and ambassador program.
You can learn more by exploring PAG’s Pension Education resources, attending educational events, following on socials, and using suggested external resources. You can also enroll in PAG’s Teacher Trustee training and ambassador program. Our goal is to make complex pension topics easier to understand through clear, accessible information.
You can support PAG by attending events, sharing resources, joining the mailing list, volunteering, making a donation, and helping others stay informed. Every form of support helps PAG continue its mission to educate, protect, and restore confidence in pension advocacy. We’d love for you to be part of our journey to build a community of informed consumers! Join us in whatever way works for you!
Yes. Pension Advocacy Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Donations to PAG may be tax-deductible as allowed by law. Please consult a tax professional for guidance based on your individual situation.
Upcoming PAG events are listed on the Events page. Each event listing includes available details such as date, time, location, registration information, and ticket or RSVP instructions when applicable.
Contact Tina Padilla at pensionadvocacygroup@gmail.com or 773-350-3648.
Trustee Questions
These questions can help members engage with CTPF trustees about transparency, fiduciary responsibility, fund oversight, and long-term pension protection.
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New Members
These questions can help new CTPF members better understand their benefits, the fund’s long-term health, and the importance of staying informed early in their careers.
New members should understand that the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund has been part of Chicago public education since 1895. It was created to support educators and help strengthen the public school system by providing retirement security for those who dedicate their careers to teaching and service.
The pension is deferred compensation. It is not a bonus or a gift; it is part of what educators earn through their work. For eligible members, CTPF provides a defined benefit pension designed to offer a reliable income in retirement, along with important protections such as old age and disability annuity insurance, and survivor benefits.
The first step for new members is to learn how the system works, what benefits they may earn, and why their participation and awareness matter from the beginning of their careers.
Member contributions are one part of the overall funding structure that supports CTPF. Contributions are added to the fund’s investment pool, where they are managed as part of a long-term strategy designed to help pay benefits over time.
Pension benefits are supported through a combination of member contributions, employer and state contributions, and investment income. This shared funding structure helps provide retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible members and beneficiaries.
Teachers are not eligible for a future CTPF pension benefit unless they are vested. Vesting means earning the right to receive a pension after meeting retirement requirements.
Tier 1 members (hired before January 1, 2011) become vested after five years of service, while Tier 2 members (hired on or after January 1, 2011) become vested after ten years of service.
Many variables determine your future pension. The best first step would be to enter your unique details in the pension calculator that can be found by following this link: https://www.ctpf.org/member-resources/monthly-pension-calculator.
LOREM IPSUM
New and old members should be aware of long-term risks such as the fund’s funding ratio, investment performance, and contribution levels. A low funding ratio means the fund may not have enough assets to meet future obligations, while poor investment returns or insufficient employer and state contributions could further impact the financial health of the system.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 refer to different sets of pension eligibility rules. In general, CTPF members who joined CTPF or a qualified reciprocal system before January 1, 2011, are Tier 1. Members who joined on or after January 1, 2011, are Tier 2.
According to CTPF, the pension calculation formula is the same for both tiers, but key requirements are different, including retirement age, vesting requirements, final average salary calculations, and salary caps for Tier 2 members.
PAG believes Tier 2 raises serious fairness and retirement-security concerns for newer educators. Understanding these differences is important because pension rules can affect when members are eligible to retire, how benefits are calculated, and what long-term protections members may need to advocate for.
For a deeper explanation, members can watch Faith Marie Ruiz and Tina Padilla discuss defined benefit and defined contribution plans in PAG’s Season 1, Episode 2 video. Members can also review CTPF’s Tier 1 vs. Tier 2 pension information.
New members can stay informed and involved by participating in trustee training opportunities, such as those offered through PAG, and by becoming a pension representative at their school. They can also attend or watch CTPF board meetings, follow updates on social media, and regularly check the PAG website for new information. Additionally, members are encouraged to reach out with questions by contacting their CTPF trustees or PAG.
Retiree Questions
Retirees have earned their benefits through years of service. These questions can help them stay informed, engaged, and confident in the systems that support their retirement security.
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