How to designate beneficiaries at STRS Ohio

Covers 5 state-pension accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online

STRS Ohio

Subsidiary of State of Ohio

strsoh.org
STRS Ohio logo

STRS Ohio Member Services Center

Mailing Address

State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, 275 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215-3771

STRS Ohio Member Services Center

Mailing Address

State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, 275 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215-3771

STRS Ohio Member Services Center (Report a Death)

Mailing Address

State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, 275 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215-3771

Verified Jul 2026

Preparing your STRS Ohio benefits for your family means choosing the right retirement payment option and keeping your survivor and death-benefit beneficiaries current. The option you elect at retirement, and the beneficiary on file, control what STRS Ohio pays at death—these choices override your will.

STRS Ohio offers 5 pension benefits, each with its own transfer rules. The sections below cover how to set up beneficiaries, fund a trust, and which products support each approach.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from STRS Ohio primary sources (7 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these STRS Ohio instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against STRS Ohio primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

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