Employment of Retirees

A retiree of SERS or another Ohio system may be employed by a school in a position in which SERS contributions are required without limitation on the number of days or earnings.

All reemployed retirees are required to contribute to SERS if employed in a SERS-covered position.

A retiree of SERS or another Ohio state retirement system should wait two months from the effective date of retirement before public reemployment. A retiree who is employed in a SERS position within the first two months of retirement loses the retirement payment for each month worked during the two-month waiting period.

If the retiree holds multiple positions prior to retirement, he or she may then continue working in the lesser-paying position(s) without forfeiting these two months of pension payments.

If a school hires a retiree to the same position the retiree had before retiring, and that position is filled by vote of a board or commission, Ohio law requires public notice of the reemployment to be given at least 60 days prior to the start of the reemployment.

A public hearing also must be conducted between 15 and 30 days prior to the reemployed employee’s first day of work. Information on the hearing must be included in the public notice. To certify that the requirements of this law were met, complete a Reemployed Retiree Notification Form and submit a copy to SERS.

You must certify to SERS that, as the employer, you have complied.

Once a retiree is enrolled in eSERS, remit contributions and reports, along with any other required information, in the same manner as for a non-retired employee.


Health Care Eligibility Changes for Reemployed Retirees

Individuals who retire and then take a new job or go back to work for a public or private employer, may temporarily lose their eligibility for SERS’ health care coverage while they are reemployed. Once reemployment ends, their eligibility will be restored.

This affects individuals who began employment on or after January 1, 2016, and are:

  • Under age 65 and not yet eligible for Medicare, or
  • Eligible but not enrolled in Medicare Part B

Individuals not affected are:

  • Enrolled in Medicare Part A and B, or Medicare Part B only, or
  • Began current employment before January 1, 2016

SERS’ health care eligibility is lost when an individual:

  • Is eligible for medical and prescription coverage through his or her new employer, or
  • Is not eligible for medical and prescription coverage through his or her new employer, but other employees in comparable positions are eligible for coverage. The coverage available to employees in comparable positions must be at the same cost as full-time employees.

Individuals will not lose eligibility for SERS’ coverage if they do not have access to the employer coverage or it costs employees in comparable positions more than what full-time employees pay. This also applies to spouses, but not children.

If you have questions, please call Health Care Services at 1-800-878-5853.


Disability Benefit Recipients

A SERS disability benefit recipient cannot be employed by a SERS-covered employer. If the recipient is employed, the disability benefit ends.

Schools that hire a disability benefit recipient must file notice of the employment, including the date of employment, with SERS.

If you employ a disability recipient before you notify SERS, the total amount of disability benefits paid during the period of employment prior to the notice shall be paid.

A letter from SERS will be sent to you for the balance of the amount owed. The district will have 30 days to issue payment.

If an Employee’s Disability Benefits are Terminated

If an employee is on leave of absence status when their disability benefits are terminated, the employer shall restore the employee to their previous position and salary or a similar position and salary, unless the employee was dismissed or resigned in lieu of dismissal for dishonesty, misfeasance, malfeasance, or conviction of a felony.

A disability benefit recipient of another Ohio retirement system should contact the other system to determine any restrictions on returning to other public employment. A member is not eligible to apply for a SERS disability benefit if the person is receiving a disability benefit from another Ohio retirement system.

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