Disability Benefit Program
Reemployment
A member receiving disability benefit payments may not be employed as
a teacher. Employment as a teacher includes, but is not limited to,
tutors, substitutes and private-lesson providers, whether the service
is performed in a public or private school, in or outside of Ohio. Any
other employment normally related to or covered by STRS Ohio is prohibited.
If the disability benefit recipient is a member of STRS Ohio and has
never contributed to any other Ohio public retirement system, the member
is prohibited from employment covered by another public retirement system
for the first two months of benefits. After this two-month waiting period,
part-time or full-time employment in a position covered by any other
retirement system is permitted.
A member receiving disability benefits from STRS Ohio on a combined
basis with OPERS, SERS or both is ineligible for employment covered
by any system that participates in the combined disability benefit.
Disability benefit recipients who have received a benefit for at least
14 months are required to complete an Earnings and Employment form each
March. This form documents any earnings received from employment while
on disability. Employment on any basis while receiving disability benefits
may raise the issue of whether the member remains incapacitated from
teaching.