Reemployed Retiree Benefit Payment

Overview

Members continuing employment in an STRS Ohio-covered position after retirement and their employers both contribute to STRS Ohio. These contributions fund a benefit that reemployed retirees may collect as an additional annuity or a lump-sum payment after termination of employment, depending on the age of the reemployed retiree.

Employers should be aware of the restrictions against these benefit payments. Reemployed retirees cannot receive this payment 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; or
  • On a leave of absence.

Reemployed retirees can find information about contributions, interest, tax implications and rolling over lump sums to a qualified plan in the Employment After Retirement brochure on the STRS Ohio member website.

Employer Certification

After terminating employment, reemployed retirees can apply for their reemployment benefit by visiting the STRS Ohio member website to obtain an application, or logging in to the Online Personal Account area of the site to complete the application online.

If the reemployed retiree has taught during the last 18 months, all current-year employers must complete an employer certification as soon as proper amounts of employee contributions can be accurately determined. Employers will report the final date of service for which STRS Ohio-contributing compensation was earned and the last pay date.

STRS Ohio will notify the retirement reporting contact when an employer 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 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 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.