Payout Options

Lump-Sum Withdrawal
Your total account balance is paid in one payment. This includes rollovers to traditional IRAs or other employer plans. This is your only option if you are under age 50.

Members participating in the Combined Plan who are age 50 or older may withdraw the entire defined contribution portion of their account and retain the defined benefit portion with STRS Ohio for a monthly benefit payable at age 60 with five years of service credit. They may withdraw the defined benefit portion only if they are also withdrawing the defined contribution portion.

Important Note for Members Who Have Selected the STRS Total Guaranteed Return Choice as an Investment Option
Members who leave teaching and elect to “withdraw” their STRS Total Guaranteed Return Choice account before the end of a five-year term will be assessed an early-term withdrawal penalty of 10% of their net asset value (NAV) on all funds that did not go to term.