State Public Pensions in Ohio
Ohio public-employee retirement is run by five systems: OPERS (state and local government workers), STRS Ohio (teachers), SERS (non-teaching school employees), OP&F (police and fire), and HPRS (highway patrol). Survivor and death benefits depend on the system, on whether the member was active or retired, and on the payment option elected. Beneficiaries contact the specific system that covered the deceased.
Administering agency
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and other Ohio retirement systems
State Public Pensions in Ohio: key facts
- Main systems
- OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System), STRS Ohio (State Teachers Retirement System), SERS (School Employees Retirement System of Ohio), OP&F (Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund), and HPRS (Ohio Highway Patrol Retirement System).
- Retiree death
- The continuing benefit depends on the payment option the retiree elected — a single-life payment option leaves no continuing monthly benefit, while a joint or period-certain option may continue a benefit to a beneficiary.
- Pre-retirement death (OPERS)
- OPERS survivor benefits under the Traditional Pension and Combined plans require at least 18 months of full-time service at the time of death, with at least 3 of those months in the 2.5 years before death.
- STRS Ohio death benefit
- On the death of an STRS Ohio service-retirement or disability benefit recipient, STRS Ohio automatically pays a $1,000 tax-free death benefit to a designated or qualified beneficiary. Recipients may have purchased an additional $1,000 or $2,000 death benefit, which is taxable.
- System contacts
- OPERS Member Services 1-800-222-7377; STRS Ohio Member Services Center 1-888-227-7877.
Steps to take when someone dies
- Identify which Ohio retirement system covered the deceased — OPERS, STRS Ohio, SERS, OP&F, or HPRS.
- Report the death to that system as soon as possible so pension payments stop and overpayments are avoided.
- Confirm the beneficiary designation on file and ask what survivor or death benefit is payable.
- File the survivor or death-benefit claim with the documents the system requires, such as a certified death certificate.
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and other Ohio retirement systems
Phone: 1-800-222-7377
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
Contact the retirement system that covered the deceased. OPERS (state and local government workers) is reached at 1-800-222-7377; STRS Ohio (teachers) is reached at 1-888-227-7877. School employees are covered by SERS, police and fire by OP&F, and the highway patrol by HPRS.
The benefit that continues depends on the payment option the retiree elected. A single-life option leaves no continuing monthly benefit, while a joint-survivor or period-certain option may continue a benefit to the named beneficiary.
OPERS may pay a monthly survivor benefit under the Traditional Pension and Combined plans if the member had at least 18 months of full-time service, with at least 3 of those months in the 2.5 years before death. The beneficiary should contact OPERS to confirm eligibility.
Sources
Data sourced from State Public Pensions in Ohio primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) and other Ohio retirement systems