PREP Seminar

SERS offers PREP seminars for members who are in the early to middle stage of their career.  Any member can attend; however, early planning for your future retirement will be most helpful.

The half-day seminar program covers important aspects of retirement planning: pension payment information, health care, Social Security, life transition issues, and financial planning (Ohio Deferred Compensation). There is no registration fee to attend. Space for these meetings is limited, and advance registration is required. Once maximum capacity has been reached, that location will be closed to further registrations.

Registration is now open and can be completed on the Events section of Account Login. You will need to login to register.  You also can call our office toll-free at 800-878-5853 to register. 

Retirement Conference, Webinar, or Video

If you are planning to retire in the next five years, try attending a Retirement Conference.

Although there are question-and-answer opportunities, the conferences do not provide one-on-one counseling.  Contact SERS at toll-free at 800-878-5853 to register. 

Required documents include:

• Copies of birth certificates for:
  • Yourself
  • Your spouse (for Joint Survivor Plans A, C, D, or F)
  • Your non-spouse beneficiary (for Joint Survivor Plans C, D, or F)
  • Your spouse and dependents covered by SERS' health care
• Copy of your marriage certificate, if you are married
• Direct Deposit Form
• Health Care Application
• Partial Lump Sum Application
• Spousal Consent Form
• Copy of your and your spouse's Medicare Card

Be aware of these common mistakes that would make the application incomplete:

• The application was not signed.
• SERS received a copy of the marriage license instead of the marriage certificate. You can contact the probate court in the county in which you were married to request a copy of the marriage certificate. 
• An effective date was not included on application.
• A beneficiary was not named when selecting a plan of payment.
• The required spousal consent form was not completed and returned, and payment plans B, C, D, E, or F were selected.

If you are considering the buy-up option, you need to contact us immediately for an official cost. The payment for buy-up must be received by 4:30 p.m. on August 1, 2017. Remember, the buy-up option is not the same as a service credit purchase. A buy-up only allows you to retire under the current age and service credit eligibility requirements.

SERS is urging members and retirees to contact their U.S. Senators and ask them to oppose legislative efforts which:

1. Reduces Medicaid by capping or reducing the Medicaid subsidies to states because it will hurt people who need affordable health care the most. Medicaid is essential to older Ohioans in nursing homes, families whose loved ones are struggling with opioid addiction and low income retirees.
2. Cuts taxes on high income workers because it will result in less money being paid into Medicare. The solvency of Medicare is essential. Ending these taxes that support Medicare will place more financial burdens on seniors who are over 65 and can no longer work. 
3. Raises premiums and cost sharing for people between the ages of 50 and 64 because it will cause many to make a choice between paying for health care and buying other necessities like groceries.
4. Separate people with pre-existing conditions from the same insurance pool as younger, healthier people because it will make it more difficult for them to find affordable coverage. People with pre-existing conditions should not be treated differently because of their previous illnesses.

The term for this Board seat runs through June 30, 2019. Click here to see the full Special Election timeline.

If you have questions about this Special Election, please contact Tim Barbour, External Communications Supervisor, by phone at 614-222-5901 or by email at tbarbour@ohsers.org.