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Employers Manual

Disability Benefit Program

Continuing Eligibility Requirements & Termination

Requirements are the same under both disability programs:

  • Medical exams will be required when requested by STRS Ohio. If the member is found to be capable of returning to work, payments could end as early as the first of the month following the Retirement Board action terminating the member’s disability. The Retirement Board may act on these cases at any time throughout the year, not necessarily waiting until the end of the school year. STRS Ohio will notify the previous employer regardless of the status of their five-year leave of absence.
  • Payments will terminate if the member:  

    — is no longer disabled;
    — returns to teaching service; 
    — begins receiving an age-and-service pension;
    — is noncompliant with treatment;
    — is noncompliant with annual Employment and Earnings reports;
    — requests payments to stop.

  • If the member returns to teaching service and earns two years of service credit after the disability payment period, retirement service credit is given for the disability period.