Employment of Retirees

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 an employer filling a position customarily filled by a vote of the members of a board or commission intends to continue the employment of the person who currently holds the position as a reemployed retiree, or to rehire a person who retired from the position as a reemployed retiree, in accordance with section 3309.345 of the Revised Code the employer must first do both of the following:

1. Provide public notice that the person is, or will be, retired and seeking employment. The notice must be provided not less than sixty days – thirty if there is an urgent need to fill the position – before the employment is to begin. (This public notice requirement does not apply if the person will have been retired for a least a year when the person’s employment as a reemployed retiree begins.)
2. Hold a public meeting on the issue of the person being employed as a reemployed retiree between fifteen and thirty days before the reemployment as a reemployed retiree is to begin.

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 does not impact individuals enrolled in Medicare Part B.

SERS’ health care eligibility is lost when:

• You are eligible for medical and prescription coverage through your new employer, or
• You are not eligible for medical and prescription coverage through your 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.

You will not lose your eligibility for SERS’ coverage if they do not have access to the employer coverage or it costs employees in comparable positions more than 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.