Account Withdrawal

Overview

Upon termination of public employment in Ohio, STRS Ohio members may elect to withdraw their accounts.

Employers should be aware of the restrictions against withdrawal. Members cannot withdraw their STRS Ohio account if they are:

  • Under any form of teaching contract including substitute teaching with an STRS Ohio contributing employer;
  • Under any type of verbal or written agreement for future teaching with an STRS Ohio public employer under the retirement law;
  • On a leave of absence;
  • In the STRS Ohio Defined Benefit Plan and terminated their employment in an STRS Ohio-covered position but are now working with the same employer in an OPERS or SERS position;
  • Receiving a monthly service retirement or disability benefit from STRS Ohio; or
  • Currently contributing to a college or university alternative retirement plan (ARP). Only a transfer of STRS Ohio funds to the ARP is permitted — participants may not roll over their eligible distribution to an individual retirement account (IRA) or an employer plan.

Partial loans or withdrawals cannot be granted. Account withdrawal will cancel STRS Ohio membership, accumulated service credit and eligibility to qualify for STRS Ohio retirement benefits, including access to health care coverage, if eligible. Withdrawn accounts cannot be restored.

Members can find information about loss of service credit and benefits with account withdrawal, how withdrawal amounts are calculated, payment options and tax implications in the Account Withdrawal brochure on the STRS Ohio member website.

Employer Certification

To withdraw an account, members can log in to their Online Personal Account to complete the application.

If the member has taught during the last 18 months, all current-year employers must complete a withdrawal certification as soon as proper amounts of employee contributions and service credit can be accurately determined. Employers will report the final date of service for which STRS Ohio-contributing compensation was earned and the member’s last pay date. College and university employers are also required to report whether the member is currently participating in an ARP in an STRS Ohio-covered position, the plan provider and whether the plan can accept a 401(a) transfer.

STRS Ohio will notify the retirement reporting contact when a withdrawal certification is ready to complete in Employer Self Service (ESS). See the Withdrawal Certification section in the ESS instructions for details about completing this form.

If an employer completes a certification July through October and the member worked after June 30, employee contributions and service credit for both the prior and current fiscal years are required.

The amounts recorded on the certification must agree with the amounts reported on the annual report. Contributions and service credit should not be reported to STRS Ohio until the proper amounts can be accurately determined. Employers will be responsible for reimbursing STRS Ohio for any overpayments made to members or beneficiaries as a result of employer reporting errors.