Reemployment in a public position in Ohio after retirement is restricted during the first two months following retirement. If you are employed by only one public employer at the time of retirement, you must wait two months after your date of retirement to return to public employment. Violating the two-month waiting period will result in the loss of one or two months of retirement benefits.

If you are employed at the time of retirement by more than one employer covered by STRS Ohio, OPERS or SERS, you may retire with the highest paying (primary) employer and continue to work with no waiting period with one or all of the lower paying (secondary) employers for which compensation is received in the month before and the month of service retirement. You must wait two months before returning to any other public employment.

Ohio law may require public notice if you are returning to a position with your former employer. Please contact your employer for details.

Members continuing public employment after retirement and their employers contribute to the applicable Ohio public retirement system. These contributions fund a benefit that is payable the first of the month following the last day of reemployment.

The following rules apply to a member employed in an STRS Ohio-covered position after retirement:

• If you elect a benefit before age 65, you will receive your contributions and interest on those contributions. This benefit is paid as a lump-sum. Click here to view a PDF version of the Application for Lump-Sum Payment form.

• If you elect a benefit at age 65 or after, you will receive your contributions and interest on those contributions plus a matching amount and interest. Member contributions made before July 1, 2005, are matched at 100%. Contributions made July 1, 2005, and after are matched at 50%. You may elect to receive the benefit as a lump-sum payment or a monthly annuity, provided the monthly annuity is $25 or greater. (The matching amount is subject to change.) Click here to view a PDF version of the Application for Monthly Annuity or Lump-Sum Payment form.

• Before benefits are payable, employment must be terminated.

• Upon your death, survivors receive any unpaid funds if you did not receive a lump-sum payment or monthly annuity payments equal to the lump-sum payment.

• Individuals continuing employment after retirement are not eligible for any benefits other than those described above.