Answers to OPERS member questions
This month: We address death benefits, income taxes and our customer service
By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
Feb. 5, 2026 – Members and retirees often ask us questions through our social media channels that others could benefit from. Periodically we post these questions and answers in our PERSpective blog.
Q: How long does it take OPERS to pay a death benefit to survivors?
A: Application processing times vary depending on the type of death benefit the beneficiary is applying for. Applications are typically processed within 4-6 business days after the receipt of all required documents.
Q: I have attempted multiple times to log in to my online OPERS account only to be “kicked out” every time saying that my username or password is not recognized. When I attempt to change my username and password, it tells me to call 800-222-7377. I have not had success getting through. What can I do?
A: We recently experienced a system issue that resulted in some members not being able to access their OPERS online account, which resulted in increased call volumes. The system issue that affected the online account login has been resolved, and call volumes have returned to normal. If you are having trouble accessing your account you should first click on “Forgot Username or Password.” If that does not work, your registration may have been deleted, and you should be able to use the “Create account” link.
Q: I need to talk to someone about opening an online account. I have a vision impairment that make it hard to understand all the text. Thank you
A: Please call OPERS at 800-222-7377 for assistance with registering for the online account.
Q: I am just applying for retirement with 40 credits with Social Security and an OPERS retirement. I just learned today that I should notify each of the other. Neither the Social Security Administration nor the OPERS retirement application ask anything about the other. What do I need to do?
A: Receiving a Social Security benefit does not impact your OPERS service retirement benefits. After the passing of the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2025, the Windfall Elimination Provision no longer impacts the Social Security benefit for individuals who also are receiving a public pension in Ohio.
Q: Where can I find the 2026 schedule of benefits for retirees in a format that I can print without the wording at the top?
A: Refer to our Winter 2025 retiree newsletter. It has a “clippable” benefits payment schedule for 2026. You could take a screen shot of that schedule and print it out.
Q: The direct-deposit bank account I used for my OPERS monthly benefit was hacked. How can I tell you the new account number?
A: You can make updates to the bank account information for monthly benefit payments through your OPERS online account. We cannot make changes to your bank account information over the phone.
Q: Since the price of healthcare has skyrocketed this year, why didn’t OPERS increase our monthly stipend to help us pay for healthcare? Why did it stay the same?
A: The HRA is an account that is funded by OPERS. Covering the entire cost of health insurance is not the intention of the OPERS health care program. It’s designed to help offset the cost of heath expenses. The HRA allowance that OPERS provides to qualified retirees is annually monitored relative to health-care costs and funding. The current allowance levels are expected to continue through 2030. Future changes in the HRA allowance level could be considered earlier than 2031, depending on funding.
Michael Pramik
Michael Pramik is communication strategist for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and editor of the PERSpective blog. As an experienced business journalist, he clarifies complex pension policies and helps members make smart choices to secure their retirement.
{“Q: Since the price of healthcare has skyrocketed this year, why didn’t OPERS increase our monthly stipend to help us pay for healthcare? Why did it stay the same?
A: The HRA is an account that is funded by OPERS. Covering the entire cost of health insurance is not the intention of the OPERS health care program. It’s designed to help offset the cost of heath expenses. The HRA allowance that OPERS provides to qualified retirees is annually monitored relative to health-care costs and funding. The current allowance levels are expected to continue through 2030. Future changes in the HRA allowance level could be considered earlier than 2031, depending on funding.”}
Mr. Pramik: The above verbiage was copied from the latest Q/A segment. The question asked raises a very valid point. Your (OPERS) point is valid as well. However, as OPERS retirees, it would be nice if we could at least count on just KEEPING UP with increasing health care costs. For example, the recent increase in monthly Medicare PartB premiums for CY2026 is quite substantial. This is just ONE example of the ever increasing upward drift in prices. It seems that for retirees, there is NO “keeping up”, only moving backwards as far as financing medical and other costs go. It seems retirees are constantly “robbing Peter to pay Paul” these days.
Your statement regarding future changes to HRA funding PRIOR to 2031 is not particularly encouraging. I would urge OPERS to consider any increase to HRA funding amounts with greater urgency currently, not in 2031! That is five years out. FIVE YEARS! While I am VERY grateful to receive the existing HRA funding amounts, WHAT do we as retirees supposed to DO in the meantime?
Joe,
Thank you for your comment. The trustees approved the increase in the base allowance amount in 2024, setting it at $400 monthly through 2030. One thing to keep in mind is that by law, only the employer contribution, and not the member contribution, can be applied toward health care. With the current funding situation of the Defined Benefit Fund, all of the employer contribution must go toward pensions. As you noted, the HRA allowance is monitored relative to health care costs and funding, and future changes in the HRA allowance level could be considered earlier than 2031 depending on funding levels.
Hi Michael,
With the rising cost of our premiums going up every year and I do appreciate the amount given to me to help offset my cost I have this question. Why does OPERS give a stipend to workers who retire from an OPERS job and then go back to work ( I believe it’s called double dipping) and receive full healthcare benefits from that same employer? I know plenty of workers who have retired and return to a OPERS job with benefits and getting a stipend of like $800 or more a month and it’s being banked into their HRA account. Some of these workers have been doing this for the last 5 year and if you add that up that’s $9,600.00 a year X that by 5 years that’s $48,000 in their HRA account and still working. I think that OPERS should look at giving a larger stipend to the people who retire and don’t go back to work in a OPERS job, and the ones that do go back to a OPERS job with benefits they would forfeit their HRA stipend until they are actually retired. That would definitely help keep more money in the OPERS Healthcare Account.
Thank you for your time
Franco