Plan
Cook County Employees
State
Illinois
Funded Ratio
N/A
Assets
$12.95B
Members
57,486
Health Grade: F — Critical — deeply underfunded, potential for benefit cuts
FY2023 data Grade F Public Plans Database

Cook County Employees

Funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, ARC coverage, and 23-year financial history for Cook County Employees — sourced from the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-checked against actuarial valuations.

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By · · Illinois · Municipal Plan · Data through FY2023

Funded Ratio: 0.0% (Critical) Cook County Employees funded ratio compared to national public pension benchmark. FUNDED RATIO 0.0% Critical Nat'l avg 73.5% 0% 60 70 80 100% Healthy > 80% · At-risk 70-80% · Critical < 60%
Cook County Employees funded ratio is 0.0 percent — classified as Critical. National public-pension benchmark is 73.5 percent.
F
Financial Health Grade
Critical — deeply underfunded, potential for benefit cuts

Funded Ratio

N/A

actuarial assets / liabilities

Unfunded Liability

N/A

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

57,486

active + retired + vested

Participant Composition

Participants: 18.7K active, 20.5K retired, 0 separated Plan participant breakdown showing active workers, retirees, and separated-vested members. PARTICIPANT MIX 57.5K total members 33% 36% Active 18.7K Retired 20.5K Separated 0 Active-to-Retiree 0.91 · Mature / At Risk
Plan participant breakdown: 18.7K active workers, 20.5K retirees, 0 separated-vested members. Sustainability rating: Mature / At Risk.

The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability — plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.

Investment Policy Mix

Asset Allocation: 55% equity, 25% fixed income, 17% alternatives Cook County Employees investment policy mix as reported in Form 5500 Schedule H disclosures. ASSET ALLOCATION $13.0B market assets · Form 5500 Schedule H 55% 25% 17% Equity 55.0% Fixed Inc. 25.0% Alternatives 17.0% Cash 3.0% Investment Stance: Growth-Tilted · Equity + Alts 72%
Cook County Employees asset allocation: 55% equity, 25% fixed income, 17% alternatives, 3% cash. Investment stance: Growth-Tilted.

Public pension plans report their asset allocation in Form 5500 Schedule H Part I disclosures. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.

Historical Funded Ratio

Year Funded Ratio
2023 N/A
2022 N/A
2021 N/A
2020 N/A
2019 N/A
2018 N/A
2017 N/A
2016 N/A
2015 N/A
2014 N/A
2013 N/A
2012 N/A
2011 N/A
2010 N/A
2009 N/A
2008 N/A
2007 N/A
2006 N/A
2005 N/A
2004 N/A

What the Data Says About Cook County Employees

Cook County Employees reports a funded ratio of N/A as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of F in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $12.95B in market assets against an unfunded liability of N/A. As a Municipal plan operating under Illinois sponsorship, it covers 57,486 members (18,686 active contributors, 20,504 retirees drawing benefits). These figures aggregate from Form 5500 filings submitted to the Department of Labor and actuarial valuations reported through NASRA.

A funded ratio below 60% reflects significant underfunding relative to the national average of 72–75%, which typically triggers escalating employer contributions or legislative reform conversations. Annual Required Contribution data was not reported for the latest cycle. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether the unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year.

For Illinois taxpayers and plan members, the N/A unfunded gap represents the actuarial shortfall that must eventually be closed through a combination of contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. Unlike private-sector pensions governed by ERISA and backstopped by the PBGC, public plans like Cook County Employees rely on the full faith and credit of Illinois — meaning funding shortfalls flow through to state and local budgets rather than a federal insurance program. This information summarizes official Public Plans Database disclosures and is provided for research and educational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or retirement-planning advice; active and retired members with specific benefit questions should consult their plan administrator directly.

Membership

18,686
Active Members
20,504
Retirees
57,486
Total Members

Plan Details

Plan Type
Municipal
State
Illinois
Market Assets
$12.95B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA

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Related Resources

Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cook County Employees fully funded?

Cook County Employees has a funded ratio of N/A as of FY2023, earning a health grade of F. A funded ratio of 100% means the plan has enough assets to cover all projected liabilities. Ratios above 80% are generally considered adequately funded; ratios below 60% indicate significant underfunding and risk to future benefits.

What happens if Cook County Employees runs out of money?

Public pension plans like Cook County Employees are backed by the sponsoring government entity — in this case Illinois. If a plan's assets are insufficient, the state or local government is typically required to make up the difference through increased contributions, benefit adjustments, or tax measures. Unlike private pensions, public pensions are not insured by the PBGC, but they do carry the full faith and credit of the sponsoring government.

What does a funded ratio of N/A mean?

A funded ratio of N/A means that Cook County Employees currently has assets equal to N/A of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability — the gap between assets and liabilities — stands at N/A. This level of underfunding typically requires corrective action such as increased contributions or benefit restructuring.

How does Cook County Employees compare to other public pensions?

Cook County Employees is a Municipal plan in Illinois serving 57,486 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 72–75%. Cook County Employees's funded ratio of N/A places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.

How many members does Cook County Employees have?

Cook County Employees covers 57,486 total members, including 18,686 active employees and 20,504 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability — when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.

What is the ARC payment percentage for Cook County Employees?

ARC payment data is not currently available for Cook County Employees. The Annual Required Contribution (ARC) is the actuarially determined amount a plan sponsor should contribute each year to keep the pension on track. Employer contribution patterns are tracked annually in the Public Plans Database.

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Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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