Survivor Benefits

Overview

STRS Ohio’s survivor benefits program is available to those members enrolled in the Defined Benefit and Combined Plans. Members enrolled in the Defined Contribution Plan are ineligible for STRS Ohio’s survivor benefits program. However, the beneficiaries have the defined contribution account balance available to them.

There are three types of monthly benefits available to a member’s qualified survivors. The amount payable to qualified survivors depends on specific eligibility requirements. They are:

  1. Dependent-based benefit,
  2. Service-based benefit, and
  3. Retirement-based benefit.

Qualified survivors are automatically eligible for the calculation that provides the greater survivor benefit.

Qualified Survivors

Only qualified survivors are eligible for monthly benefits assuming all other eligibility requirements for monthly benefits are met. Qualified survivors are as follows:

Spouse

For dependent-based or service-based benefits, the spouse of a deceased member is a qualified survivor if the:

  1. Member had 10 or more years of credit (for dependent-based benefits); or
  2. Spouse cares for the deceased member’s qualified children; or
  3. Spouse is at least 62 years old; or
  4. Spouse is mentally or physically incapacitated.

For retirement-based benefits, the spouse of a deceased member is a qualified survivor if the member was eligible for service retirement before the date of death.

Children

Children (including legally adopted children) of a deceased member are qualified survivors if they are:

  • Under age 22 and never married; or
  • Any age, never married, physically or mentally incapacitated before age 22 and have remained continuously incapacitated.

Dependent Parent

A parent of a deceased member is a qualified survivor if the parent is at least age 65 and received at least one-half of his or her support from the member during the 12-month period before the member’s death.

Effective Date of Benefit

For qualified survivors, benefits are effective the first of the month after the date of death unless the application is filed more than 12 months after the date of death, then benefits are effective the first of the month after the application is received.

Dependent-Based Benefit

The dependent-based benefit is payable to qualified survivors when the member dies after meeting the following member requirements:

Existing member as of June 30, 2013

  • Has 1.50 years of qualifying service credit* before death, and
  • Earned a quarter of a year of service credit within the 30-month period preceding death, or was receiving a disability benefit at the time of death; or received a disability benefit within the last 12 months and was contributing to STRS Ohio, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or School Employees Retirement System (SERS) at the time of death.
  • Provided the account has not been withdrawn, eligibility for dependent-based monthly benefits for qualified survivors continues for up to 27 months following the member’s last contributing service.

New member on or after July 1, 2013

  • Has 5.00 years of qualifying service credit* before death, and
  • Date of death is no more than one year from the last date of service; or was receiving a disability benefit at the time of death; or received a disability benefit within the last 12 months and was contributing to STRS Ohio, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or School Employees Retirement System (SERS) at the time of death.
  • Provided the account has not been withdrawn, eligibility for dependent-based monthly benefits for qualified survivors continues for up to 12 months following the member’s last contributing service.

Monthly survivor benefits are determined according to the number of qualified survivors. These benefits are payable as a percentage of final average salary (FAS), which is the average of the member’s five highest fiscal years of earnings, regardless of when they occur.

If contributions were made for less than the FAS period, total compensation is divided by the total number of years of service in the member’s account to calculate the FAS.

The surviving spouse receives 25% of the FAS and the balance of the total survivor benefit is divided equally among the remaining qualified survivors. If there is no surviving spouse, the benefit is divided equally among the qualified survivors.

*Qualifying service credit includes earned credit with STRS Ohio, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or School Employees Retirement System (SERS); restoration of withdrawn credit with STRS Ohio, OPERS or SERS; interrupted Ohio public service due to military service; and earned and restored credit that transfers from Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund, Highway Patrol Retirement System or Cincinnati Retirement System.

Service-Based Benefit

The service-based benefit is payable to qualified survivors when the member dies after meeting the following member requirements:

Existing member as of June 30, 2013

  • Has 20 or more years of service credit before death, and
  • Earned a quarter of a year of service credit within the 30-month period preceding death, or was receiving a disability benefit at the time of death; or received a disability benefit within the last 12 months and was contributing to STRS Ohio, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or School Employees Retirement Systems (SERS) at the time of death.
  • Provided the account has not been withdrawn, eligibility for service-based monthly benefits for qualified survivors continues for up to 27 months following the member's last contributing service.

New member on or after July 1, 2013

  • Has 20 or more years of service credit before death, and
  • Date of death is no more than one year from the last date of service; or was receiving a disability benefit at the time of death; or received a disability benefit within the last 12 months and was contributing to STRS Ohio, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) or School Employees Retirement Systems (SERS) at the time of death.
  • Provided the account has not been withdrawn, eligibility for service-based monthly benefits for qualified survivors continues for up to 12 months following the member’s last contributing service.

Monthly survivor benefits are determined according to the number of years of service credit. These benefits are payable as a percentage of final average salary (FAS), which is the average of the member's five highest fiscal years of earnings, regardless of when they occur.

Retirement-Based Benefit

The retirement-based benefit is payable when the member dies after qualifying for service retirement (but before actually retiring with STRS Ohio) and there are no children who are qualified survivors.

If there are one or more children who are qualified survivors, the primary beneficiary must select between the dependent-based and the service-based benefit. However, once the children no longer qualify for benefits (due to age or marital status, for example), the primary beneficiary may change to the retirement-based benefit.

There is no time restriction to apply for this benefit; however, some benefits will be lost if the application is received more than 12 months after the date of the member's death. If a member stops contributing and dies after meeting eligibility, a retirement-based benefit is payable to a qualified survivor.

Qualifying Survivors

The following individuals are eligible for a retirement-based benefit:

  • A surviving spouse.
  • A designated financially dependent beneficiary. To qualify for benefits, this individual must have received at least one-half of his or her support from the member during the 12-month period before the member’s death. Proof of dependency must be substantiated before benefits are paid.
  • A designated qualified child who is the member’s sole beneficiary following the termination of dependent-based or service-based survivor benefits.

The retirement-based benefit is determined using the service retirement benefit calculation. The benefit is calculated as if the member had actually retired and provided the maximum joint and survivor benefit to the qualified survivor.

Employer Procedures

Employers may report the death of a member by calling toll-free 888‑227‑7877. Survivors should be advised to contact STRS Ohio as soon as possible to receive information about available benefits. STRS Ohio will need a copy of the death certificate and copies of the birth certificate for any dependent children.

Employers will be asked to complete a deposit and service report for the deceased member. Contributions should be remitted on all earnings prior to the date of death, including payments made after death. Further information about completing this report is available here.