Planning ahead for loved ones

Here’s what happens to OPERS benefits after a member’s death

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

Oct. 8, 2026 – No one likes to think about end-of-life matters, but understanding what happens to your OPERS benefits can help provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones. It also can make an already difficult time a little easier for the family members or caregivers who may need to act on your behalf.

OPERS provides a variety of survivor and death benefits, depending on your retirement plan, employment status and beneficiary designations. It’s helpful to understand these benefits, as well as how to report the death of a loved one to OPERS.

If an OPERS member dies before retirement

For members in the Traditional Pension Plan or Combined Plan, eligible survivors may qualify for survivor benefits if the member dies while actively employed or receiving a disability benefit.

Generally, the member must have at least 18 months of full-time service, including at least three months within the 2½ years before death. Depending on the circumstances, eligible beneficiaries may receive a monthly survivor benefit or a lump-sum payment of refundable account contributions.

Members in the Member-Directed Plan do not have a monthly survivor benefit. Instead, qualified survivors may receive the vested balance of the member’s account as a refund. Vested balances in Retiree Medical Accounts may be used by qualified dependents for the reimbursement of qualified health care expenses.

If an OPERS retiree dies

When a retiree dies, OPERS benefits and health care coverage stop. The benefits that may be payable afterward depend largely on the retirement payment plan the retiree selected.

Under a Single Life Plan, monthly pension payments end at death. Under Joint Life and Multiple Life plans, continuing pension benefits may be available to designated beneficiaries, and qualifying beneficiaries may also have access to available OPERS health care coverage.

Survivors of retired members or disability benefit recipients also may qualify for a one-time lump-sum death benefit based on the retiree’s years of service.

How to report a death to OPERS

It’s very important that OPERS be notified as soon as possible when an active member, retiree, disability benefit recipient or beneficiary dies. Prompt notification allows OPERS to stop benefit payments, prevent overpayments and begin the process of determining whether survivor or death benefits are payable.

Once OPERS receives notification, the account is secured, and online access is disabled to protect the member’s personal information. OPERS will then contact beneficiaries and provide any required forms and instructions. Outstanding overpayments must be resolved before any benefits can be released to beneficiaries.

A death can be reported to OPERS by phone, mail or in person. After all required documents have been received, survivor benefits generally take about 25 business days to process.

Information for caregivers

If you are helping care for an OPERS member or retiree, it’s important to make sure the proper documents are on file with OPERS before they are needed. Depending on your situation, that may include an Authorization for Release of Account Information form, a HIPAA authorization, a Durable Power of Attorney or Letters of Guardianship. Having these documents in place can help you access account information and assist with financial or health care decisions if your loved one becomes unable to manage their affairs.

For more information about any of this information, visit the Life Events/Death of an OPERS Member section of OPERS.org.