Reemployment

Health Care Eligibility Rules Apply for Reemployed Retirees
Health care coverage for reemployed retirees in public or private positions may be limited under the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. Under State Teachers Retirement Board Rule 3307:1-11-02, reemployed retirees are eligible for only secondary health care coverage through STRS Ohio if they: (1) are eligible for health care coverage through their employer, or (2) hold a position for which other comparable employees are eligible for health care coverage at the same cost as full-time employees. The rule applies to all reemployed retirees who are not eligible for Medicare, regardless of hire date or type of employment. In addition, the rule applies only when the employer plan provides both medical and prescription drug coverage.

If you are employed and have access to employer-sponsored health care coverage, you must submit a Verification of Employment and Employer Health Care Access form. Failure to notify us could result in loss of coverage under the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. More information, including examples of reemployment positions and how they affect eligibility for primary health care coverage through STRS Ohio, is available in STRS Ohio’s Reemployment brochure.

Verification of Employment and Employer Health Care Access for 2009 form

Verification of Employment and Employer Health Care Access for 2010 form

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. Public employment or volunteering during the first two months 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, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or School Employees Retirement System (SERS), you may retire with the highest paying (primary) employer and continue to work with one or all of the lower paying (secondary) employers with no waiting period. A secondary employer is defined as any STRS Ohio, OPERS or SERS employer where you earned less compensation than you earned with your highest paying employer (in that fiscal year or in the previous 12-month period) and you are continuing employment in that position with that employer in the first month of retirement. To be eligible to continue to work with a secondary employer, you must earn wages from that employer the month before and the month of retirement. You may have more than one secondary employer.

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:

You may collect a lump-sum payment the first of the month following your last day of service or 12 months after the payment of a previous reemployed retiree benefit payment, whichever is later.
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. (No interest is payable after age 65 if you are no longer contributing to STRS Ohio.) 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. Lump-sum payments can be paid directly to you, or rolled over to a qualified plan.
Before benefits are payable, employment must be terminated.
Upon your death, survivors receive a lump-sum payment of 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.