>>> COLLECTING A PENSION OF MORE THAN 1-DZ 14,000 A YEAR.

THAT'S BASED ON RECORDS OBTAINED BY WTTW NEWS.

OUR REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE JOINS US.

FORMER ALDER WOMAN RESIGNED IN MARCH.

HOW HAS HER PENSION BEEN CALCULATED?

>> THIS PENSION WOULD AMOUNT TO 9500 PER MONTH THE DAY AFTER SHE RESIGNED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S CALCULATED ON AN AVERAGE OF WHAT SHE EARNED IN HER FINAL FOUR YEARS OF WORK.

SHE CAN GET UP TO 80% OF HER SALARY.

NOW THAT IS BASED ON HER WORKING 20 YEARS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.

ON BOTH ACCOUNT THAT IS MORE GENEROUS THAN OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES WILL GET, AND IT MEANS THAT SHE WILL HAVE A NICE NEST EGG TO CARRY HER THROUGH HER RETIREMENT.

>> DOES IT MATTER THAT SHE'S FACING FEDERAL CHARGES?

>> IT DOES NOT.

SHE'S INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

SHE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TRIAL ON THESE CHARGES WHICH ACCUSE HER OF ACCEPTING BRIBES AND THEN LYING ABOUT IT.

>> NOW, SHE TOLD THE FEDERAL JUDGE IN HER CASE THAT SHE IS TOO ILL TO STAND TRIAL.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PENSION IF SHE DOES NOT?

>> IF SHE DOES NOT STAND TRIAL SHE WILL DRAW THAT PENSION UNTIL HER FINAL DAY.

AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT ANYBODY CAN DO ABOUT IT IF SHE IS CONVICTED.

THE BOARD CAN DECIDE TO REVOKE IT BECAUSE SHE IS ACCUSED OF OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT WHILE IN OFFICE.

>> WHAT'S NEXT FOR HER?

>> SHE IS DUE IN COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HER INDICTMENT SINCE JULY 2021 IN AUGUST.

IN THE MEANTIME, HER 34th WORD HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REDRAWN AFTER THE CENSUS.

IT'S NOW LOCATED IN THE WEST LOOP AND THE AREA SHE REPRESENTED IS NOW PART OF THE 21st WARD AND, OF COURSE, WE'VE REPORTED A LOT ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANT POPULATION DROP ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE, WHICH IS WHY THE 34th WARD, AS AUSTIN KNEW IT FOR MORE THAN 28 YEARS, DOESN'T EXIST.