Membership

What It Means to Be a SERS Member

Membership

With few exceptions, anyone serving in a school position for which a teaching certificate is not required by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce must be a member. This includes secretaries, custodians, business managers, teacher aides, bus drivers, food service personnel, etc.

Also, people who perform a service common to the normal daily operation of a school district or educational unit, even though they may be paid by an outside contract company, must be members. Employees must become contributing members of the Retirement System from the first date of employment. Membership is optional only for employees with student status and school board members.

Combined Membership

This makes it possible to combine salary and service credit from multiple Ohio retirement systems into one benefit. Member accounts are transferred at retirement, with the system holding the most service credit actually handling processing and payment. Double service credit cannot be given if a member pays into more than one system in the same year.

Inactive Membership

Eligibility for disability retirement terminates if a member has been out of active service for two years, and eligibility for survivor benefits lapses after 27 months. Regular retirement pensions, however, become payable whenever a member meets the age and service qualifications.

Member Address Change

It is important to inform SERS of your mailing address. Not only does an annual statement go out by mail, but also board election ballots and our Future Matters newsletter. You can update your address online using Account Login.