Disability Benefits

STRS Ohio has two disability benefit programs for members participating in the Defined Benefit Plan — disability allowance and disability retirement.

• Teachers who became members of STRS Ohio after July 29, 1992, participate under the disability allowance program and should read the Disability Allowance brochure for an explanation of their disability benefits.
• Teachers who were members of STRS Ohio on or before July 29, 1992, participate in either the disability allowance or the disability retirement program. Members who chose the disability allowance program should read the Disability Allowance brochure for an explanation of their disability benefits. Members who chose the disability retirement program should read the Disability Retirement brochure for an explanation of their disability benefits.

Teachers who are also members of OPERS and/or SERS must apply for disability benefits with the retirement system where they have the most service credit. The system with the most service will determine and pay the disability benefit.

Members who are unsure of their program selection should refer to their Annual Statement of Account.

Medical Criteria

The medical criteria for the disability allowance and disability retirement programs are as follows:

• A disabling medical condition prevents the individual from performing his or her most recent job duties; and
• The condition is expected to last at least 12 continuous months from the date STRS Ohio receives the completed Disability Application Packet; and
• The disability has occurred since membership began or, if the individual previously withdrew his or her STRS Ohio account, since returning to covered service with STRS Ohio. If the condition existed at the time the individual became a member, it must have increased in severity since that time as to make the condition disabling under the criteria above.

Disability Benefits Presentation

Access to Health Care Coverage

A disability benefit recipient may choose to participate in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program^* by paying a monthly premium for this coverage. Health care coverage (medical/prescription, dental and vision) may begin the first month following Retirement Board approval of disability benefits or the benefit effective date, whichever is later.

A disability benefit recipient’s eligible dependents may also enroll in an STRS Ohio health care plan for additional premiums. Eligibility, coverage levels and the cost of the STRS Ohio Health Care Program are determined by the Retirement Board.

Monthly premiums are automatically deducted from disability benefits and are deducted after taxes. If your monthly benefit payment is not large enough to cover the premiums, STRS Ohio will deduct as much as possible from your monthly benefit. The remaining balance must be paid by direct debit, which you are required to establish with your financial institution.

STRS Ohio offers a Health Care Assistance Program to help qualified benefit recipients who need financial assistance paying for their STRS Ohio health care plan. Eligibility is based on total family income and total liquid assets. Call toll-free 888‑227‑7877 for more information.

A disability recipient must have 15 or more years of service credit (or 20 years of service credit if granted disability benefits on or after Aug. 1, 2023) to have access to health care coverage if the recipient later applies for service retirement. Health care eligibility is based on the service credit used to calculate the service retirement benefit.

Medicare Enrollment

STRS Ohio requires all medical plan participants to enroll in Medicare Parts A & B at age 65 or when eligible. Medicare Part B is required for all enrollees. Medicare Part A is also required if it is available to you at no cost (premium free). If you decline Medicare Part B or premium-free Part A, you will not be eligible for STRS Ohio medical coverage.

Most people age 65 or older qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A based on their own or their current or former spouse's employment history. Even if you aren’t yet age 65, you may be eligible for Medicare coverage if you have a qualifying disability, end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Contact Medicare toll-free at 800‑633‑4227 or www.medicare.gov for eligibility determination.

After you’ve enrolled in Medicare, you must submit your Medicare information through your Online Personal Account. Your Medicare status determines your health care plan eligibility, the cost of your health plan and the percentage you will be responsible for paying when your medical claims are processed.

^*The STRS Ohio Health Care Program is not guaranteed. STRS Ohio may change or discontinue all or part of the program for all or a class of eligible benefit recipients and covered dependents at any time. Currently, members must have at least 15 years of service credit (or 20 years of service credit for retirement on or after Aug. 1, 2023) to qualify for access to the STRS Ohio Health Care program (medical/prescription, dental and vision).

Dental and Vision Coverage

STRS Ohio offers dental and vision plans to disability benefit recipients who are eligible to enroll in the STRS Ohio Health Care Program. A disability benefit recipient’s eligible dependents may also enroll. Enrollment in an STRS Ohio health care plan is not a requirement to enroll in the dental plan or the vision plan. Separate monthly premiums apply to the dental and the vision plans. For more information, contact STRS Ohio toll-free at 888‑227‑7877. You can view the current dental and vision plan information in the Health Care section.

Survivor Benefits

Disability Allowance

Qualified survivors may be eligible to receive a monthly benefit or to withdraw the account balance. This withdrawal payment consists of the member’s contributions only; no additional amounts are payable.

Disability Retirement

Qualified survivors may be eligible to receive a monthly benefit or to withdraw the remaining account balance. If a remaining account balance is available, a withdrawal payment would consist of the member’s contributions less monthly benefits received; no additional amounts would be payable.

For more information regarding survivor benefits, please refer to the Survivor Benefits brochure.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

New STRS Ohio benefit recipients are eligible to receive a COLA beginning on the fifth anniversary of their retirement date. The State Teachers Retirement Board will periodically evaluate whether a cost-of-living increase is payable in accordance with the law in effect at that time (Section 3307.67, Revised Code). If a COLA is granted, you will receive it on the anniversary of your retirement date.

Death Benefits

An automatic $1,000 death benefit is payable to a disability benefit recipient’s designated beneficiary. This automatic benefit is considered a nontaxable life insurance payment; therefore, it is a tax-free benefit to the beneficiary.

A disability benefit recipient may purchase an additional $1,000 or $2,000 death benefit for a monthly premium. This optional death benefit is subject to a six-month waiting period and is taxable when it is paid. For more information about this benefit, read the Death Benefits brochure.