Active Members

Benefits While Teaching
All information displayed only relates to the Defined Benefit Plan. Click on Defined Contribution Plan or Combined Plan for information on these retirement plan options.

Disability Protection

With 5.00 years of service credit, you may apply for disability benefits if the disability is expected to last more than 12 months from the time you apply. If you are receiving service retirement benefits, you cannot apply for disability benefits. Applicants who are denied disability benefits may appeal the decision to the State Teachers Retirement Board.

Two Types of Disability Benefits
Members who joined STRS Ohio after July 29, 1992, are covered under the Disability Allowance Program. Members who joined STRS Ohio on or before July 29, 1992, chose to participate in either the Disability Allowance or Disability Retirement Program. Your Annual Statement of Account will state under which plan you are covered.

Disability Retirement:
To qualify for disability retirement benefits, an STRS Ohio member must:

  • Have 5.00 or more years of Ohio service credit.
  • File an application with STRS Ohio within two years of the last date of earned service. This deadline does not apply if the State Teachers Retirement Board determines that the member’s medical records demonstrate conclusively that at the time the two-year period expired, the member was physically or mentally incapacitated from regular duty and unable to apply for disability.
  • Not be receiving service retirement benefits.
  • Have most recently contributed to STRS Ohio (versus OPERS or SERS).
  • Be younger than age 60 when the disability application is filed.
  • Terminate teaching before reaching age 60.

In lieu of receiving monthly disability benefits from STRS Ohio, members may terminate employment and withdraw their account.

Click here to estimate your disability retirement benefit

Disability Allowance:
To qualify for disability allowance benefits, an STRS Ohio member must:

  • Have 5.00 or more years of Ohio service credit.
  • File an application with STRS Ohio within two years of the last date of earned service. This deadline does not apply if the State Teachers Retirement Board determines that the member’s medical records demonstrate conclusively that at the time the two-year period expired, the member was physically or mentally incapacitated from regular duty and unable to apply for disability.
  • Not be receiving service retirement benefits.
  • Have most recently contributed to STRS Ohio (versus OPERS or SERS).

In lieu of receiving monthly disability benefits from STRS Ohio, members may terminate employment and withdraw their account.

Click here to estimate your disability allowance benefit.

Disability allowance payments terminate at age 65 (or later if payments begin after age 60). Once disability allowance terminates, you can apply for service retirement.

Disability Benefit Recipients Qualify for:

Optional Health Care Coverage
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
Death Benefits
Supplemental Benefit