WHILE YOU’RE WORKING

As an established member in SERS, we encourage you to take an active role in planning for your retirement. No matter if you are 18 or 48, the sooner you begin your retirement planning, the more financially secure you’ll be when your working career ends.

As a member of a defined benefit pension plan where you receive a lifetime pension benefit, it is tempting to ignore retirement planning. While SERS is managing your retirement contributions, however, there are other ways you can prepare for life after work.

Learn about Your SERS Benefits

The best way to keep an eye on your SERS account is to register for an online account. Once you register, you can keep track of your service time and the amount of money in your account 24/7.

We also recommend that you stay informed of changes to the pension system by reading your annual statement and newsletters. You can even sign up to have the Board Highlights sent to your email inbox following each Board meeting.

Another good source of information about your SERS benefits is the Member Benefits Guide. It contains detailed information about the benefits you are entitled to if you become disabled, and benefits your family is entitled to if you die while you are still working.

It also contains information about how your SERS pension affects your Social Security pension, and what options you have if you leave your SERS-covered job.

Keep Your SERS Account Information Up to Date

Please remember to contact SERS any time you experience a life change, such as moving to a new address, getting married, having or adopting a child, getting divorced, or losing a loved one who is a beneficiary of your SERS account. It is important that you keep your SERS account information updated. The best way to update your information is by using Account Login.

Account Login

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Retirement Basics

Invest in Yourself

Survivor Benefits

Disability Benefits

Service Credit

Social Security

Refunds

Life Events

INVEST IN YOURSELF

Like Social Security, a SERS pension alone may not provide all of the income you’ll need to live comfortably during retirement. While having a lifetime SERS pension provides a solid foundation for retirement security, having other sources of retirement income is usually necessary for most people to pay for basic needs, such as food, gas, and medical costs. While there are many different companies that offer supplemental retirement plans, Ohio Deferred Compensation is a good place to start. It was designed specifically for public employees, and it offers a variety of plan choices and competitive fees.

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Working Members