This month: We address disability issues, how to apply for your pension

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

June 25, 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: Do I have to come to Columbus to start to receive my pension?

A: You are not required to travel to Columbus to begin receiving your pension. We do offer virtual appointments and phone appointments for your convenience, or in-person counseling in our Columbus office if you need assistance. You also may apply through your online account on your own, and our representatives are available by phone to assist you with questions and guide you through the application process.

Q: I worked an OPERS position for 27 years and now am in a position with another Ohio pension fund. I have two years to retirement but after the two years I will be one quarter short of my 31 years due to the gap between positions. Is this an instance where I may purchase service for that quarter to shore up my time? And would that be through OPERS or the other system?

A: Service credit cannot be purchased to fill a gap in employment. However, you may be eligible to purchase service credit for other qualified purposes, depending on your circumstances. Please refer to the Service Credit and Contributing Months leaflet for detailed information on eligibility and the types of service credit that may be purchased under OPERS.

Q: Can disability recipients sign up to permanently have OPERS send us paper Employment & Earnings through the mail? It would save us having to ask for them.

A: OPERS does not offer an option to permanently mail the paper Employment and Earnings form automatically.

Q: Why does OPERS contribute the full amount of HRA benefits to pre-Medicare re-employed retirees if their employer pays for their health care? This practice seems unfair.

A: The Pre-Medicare HRA is an open HRA, meaning retirees are not required to enroll in a medical plan through the OPERS connector to receive their HRA deposit. In contrast, the Medicare HRA is a closed HRA, which requires retirees to enroll in a medical plan through the OPERS connector to receive their deposit.

Both Pre-Medicare and Medicare HRA participants may continue to receive their full eligible HRA deposit during a period of re-employment, provided all eligibility requirements are met. However, neither group may submit for reimbursement requests for expenses that they incurred during the re-employment period.

Q: Why is OPERS disability taxed whereas Social Security disability benefits generally are not?

A: Disability benefits from a state retirement system such as OPERS are taxed mainly because they are treated as a form of income earned through employment. These plans are funded by employer and employee contributions, many of which were not taxed when they were put in. As a result, when you receive disability payments, the IRS treats them like wages (before retirement age) or pension income (afterward), so they are generally taxable.

Social Security disability benefits are different because they come from a federal social insurance program, not an employer retirement plan. In simple terms, the difference comes down to purpose and design. State retirement system disability benefits are viewed as a replacement for your salary or retirement income, so they are taxed like other earnings. Social Security disability benefits, on the other hand, are meant to provide a basic financial safety net, so the federal tax system gives them more favorable treatment—especially for people with modest incomes.

Q: Are disability benefit recipients eligible for COLAs?

A: Yes, they are. Disability retirees follow the same COLA rules as all benefit recipients. While members with a retirement effective date prior to Jan. 7, 2013, automatically receive a 3 percent adjustment, those with a retirement effective date on or after that date have their COLAs based on the Consumer Price Index-W, the government’s inflation index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, not to exceed 3%.

Q: I’m under the Member Directed Plan. If I cash out my retirement when I retire, what happens to my HRA account?

A: As a Member-Directed Plan participant, you have a Retiree Medical Account, or RMA. This account may be used to reimburse eligible medical expenses and insurance premiums incurred after you begin receiving a distribution from the Member-Directed Plan, whether through a refund or a monthly benefit.

Once you are eligible to access the account, you may submit reimbursement claims through the third-party administrator OPERS uses to manage the RMA. You may continue to submit eligible expenses until the account balance is exhausted. Your vested percentage in the RMA is determined by your contributing service and your start date in the plan.

Colonial Life to offer policies, with enrollment beginning in July

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

June 18, 2026 – The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System has announced that the Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co. will offer term life and whole life insurance policies to OPERS members for the ninth consecutive year in 2026.

The policies will be available to active members, their spouses and children. The voluntary insurance would be in addition to life insurance that members’ employers might offer, and OPERS members would bear the cost.

The policies will be guaranteed issue, within certain limits. The open-enrollment period for the coverage will take place July 1-Sept. 22.

OPERS members can obtain a policy only by speaking with a Colonial Life benefits counselor through a virtual enrollment option. Virtual enrollment allows members the flexibility of connecting with their benefits counselor via conference call, video chat or screen-share, with one click of a link.

Three Colonial Life digital postcards scheduled to be emailed to OPERS members in 2026 contain more information about virtual enrollment. The postcards include a link to schedule a session with a local benefits counselor and other information about life insurance coverage.

For more information, refer to the first postcard.

You also can listen to a recorded webinar that provides additional details on the 2026 open enrollment period and the voluntary benefits that are available.

Four seats to be decided this year: Three for members, one for retirees

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

June 4, 2026 – Elections for four seats on the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees will be held Aug. 25 through Oct. 2. Those elected will serve four-year terms beginning in January 2027.

As a member of OPERS, you have a voice in decisions and policies affecting your retirement benefits. Every member is part of a specific group with representation on the Board of Trustees.

The Board is ultimately responsible for all administration and management of OPERS including setting retirement system policies, approving the overall investment plan and asset allocation strategy, reviewing and approving budgets and acting as fiduciaries of the system.

Elected Representatives

The OPERS Board is comprised of 11 trustees, including seven individuals who are elected by the specific group each represents. The seven elected positions on the board are designated for election on a staggered basis, ensuring that experience and organizational knowledge is stable from year to year. Three individuals with investment expertise are appointed by Ohio's governor, treasurer and jointly by the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and the president of the Ohio Senate. The director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services also serves on the Board of Trustees by virtue of office.

2026 Board of Trustees Election

The four seats up for election in 2026 include one representative for each of the following groups:

State Employees – Representing approximately 47,000 employees working at a job for the State of Ohio.

• View a complete list of OPERS State employers 

Municipal Employees – Representing approximately 59,100 employees working for one of Ohio's municipalities.

• View a complete list of OPERS Municipal employers 

College/University Employees – Representing approximately 56,300 non-teaching employees at state colleges and universities in Ohio.

• View a complete list of OPERS College/University employers 

Retirees – One of two seats representing approximately 190,800 age and service, disability, and defined contribution (DC) plan retirees. This group includes re-employed retirees.

For OPERS members and retirees interested in running for the Board

Active employee member – Any active OPERS member, with the exception of one receiving a disability benefit, is eligible for election to represent the members of their employee group on the OPERS Board of Trustees.

Retiree – Any OPERS retiree receiving an age and service benefit, disability benefit, or benefits under the DC plan is eligible to represent retirees. Beneficiaries, surviving family members, or POAs are not eligible to run for election or nominate candidates by signing a petition. Beneficiaries, surviving family members and POAs are also ineligible to vote. If a person is receiving age and service payment, the candidate may only run for a retiree position, even if re-employed. A retiree must reside in the state of Ohio in order to be eligible to run for a Board position.

The Nomination Process

Nominating petition packets were mailed to employers on Monday, June 1, 2026 for distribution to interested candidates. Packets are also available beginning June 1, 2026 at the OPERS office, 277 East Town Street, Columbus, Ohio and on this OPERS website, opers.org/elections. These packets contain official nominating petitions and all other necessary forms to be completed by the candidate. A single line petition form is provided for members concerned about their privacy.

Under Ohio law, a candidate seeking election to an employee member Board seat is required to obtain a minimum of 500 signatures from active members within their employee group. At least 10 different counties must be represented by a minimum of 20 signatures each. Employees signing petitions should indicate the county of their employment. A candidate seeking election to a retiree Board seat is required to obtain at least 250 signatures from OPERS retirees. At least five different counties must be represented by a minimum of 10 signatures each. Retirees signing petitions should indicate the county in which they reside. Signatures of a retiree's spouse or beneficiary do not count toward the signatures required.

Completed nominating petitions and forms are due at the OPERS office no later than 4:30 p.m. EDT, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. Petitions postmarked on or before this date, but received later, are invalid. Any candidate successfully meeting the nomination criteria will be placed on an official ballot.

Voting materials will be mailed on Aug. 25, 2026. All votes must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. The final results will be certified by the Ohio Secretary of State at the OPERS office on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.

Every vote counts

Members of the OPERS Board of Trustees are elected to four-year terms. While elected by a specific group, all members of the Board of Trustees have a fiduciary duty to act solely in the interest of all members of the system, not just those that elected them. It’s important that you participate in the selection of a member from your group. The member elected will help guide OPERS over the next four years and ensure those fiduciary obligations are met.

OPERS website link provides the basics, and more, about your pension system

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

May 28, 2026 – We often receive questions through our blog about the services OPERS provides, and in many cases, the answers can already be found on our website.

Our Member Library is an online hub filled with valuable information about how your pension system works. We encourage all OPERS members and retirees to explore this resource and become familiar with the materials it offers.

Within the library, you’ll find links to key pension topics including service credit, retirement savings and the OPERS Member Handbook. You also can access information on retirement-related matters such as terminating public employment, returning to work after retirement, survivor benefits and more. Resources on the Partial Lump Sum Option Payment and income taxes are available as well.

The Member Library also serves as a central source for health care information. It includes an overview of health care basics, along with more detailed guides on medical, vision, and dental coverage, Medicare, and the Retiree Medical Account.

The page includes links to member and retiree newsletters, along with resources covering disability benefits and specialized benefits for elected officials, law enforcement members and others.

Because we update the Member Library regularly, we recommend bookmarking the page so you can easily access the latest information whenever you need it.

U.S. systems have $6 trillion in assets, membership of more than 27 million

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

May 21, 2026 – A pension industry database reports that defined benefit plans wield significant economic influence in the United States, boasting assets totaling $6 trillion.

Public Plans Data, a website housing comprehensive information on state and local pensions and retiree health plans, says there are more than 5,000 public-sector retirement plans in the country dating back to the 19^th century. Their membership is substantial, with 15.3 million active workers and 12.4 million retirees. These retirees collectively receive about $393 billion annually in benefit distributions.

The website is a collaboration among the Government Finance Officers Association, the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, the National Association of State Retirement Administrators and the MissionSquare Research Institute. The data covers fiscal years 2001 to 2024.

Public Plans Data encompasses statistics from more than 250 state and local pension plans, representing 95% of U.S. state and local plan assets and members.

The database website offers "quick-fact" pages presenting data at national, state, retirement system and retirement plan levels. It has downloadable financial reports and actuarial valuations for all sample plans, alongside an advanced interactive data browser for tailored searches. There’s information on actuarial funding, costs, investments and cash flows.

Exploring the site reveals that state and local public employees account for between 10% and 15% of the U.S. workforce, with about a fourth of them not covered by Social Security. This group comprises almost half of all teachers and more than two-thirds of firefighters and public safety officers.

We’ve periodically been questioned about the number of public workers across the country who contribute either to a public pension, or to Social Security, or to both. There’s a map on the site that provides percentages, by state, of Social Security coverage for state and local employees.

In 2024, membership in state-and-local pension plans, such as OPERS, numbered 36.4 million. About one-fourth of state and local employees are not covered by Social Security, including nearly half of all teachers and more than two-thirds of firefighters and public safety workers.

The site also provides information on pension plans by state, facilitating comparisons among different systems and against national averages. For instance, examining Ohio in the "Quick Facts" section reveals data about the state's four largest statewide public pension plans, with OPERS boasting the highest funded ratio among the state plans, 6.2 percentage points higher than the national average.

OPERS opposes proposed Ohio House bill to create a ‘DROP’

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

May 14, 2026 – OPERS staff members have met regularly with members of the Ohio House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee, advocating in opposition to House Bill 73, which would require OPERS to implement a Deferred Retirement Option Plan, also referred to as a DROP program, for our Law Enforcement Division.

OPERS opposes this proposal because it would require us to unnecessarily devote money and resources toward building a new program that would be accessible only to a small percentage of our members.

OPERS Executive Director Karen Carraher has testified in opposition to HB 73, stating clearly that a proposal to create a Deferred Retirement Option Plan for law enforcement officers would be unnecessary, inefficient and costly to implement.

OPERS believes there is no need to create a program that is inferior to the options that we currently offer. OPERS law enforcement members can replace a greater percentage of their final average salary than the other public safety-focused systems. In addition, for retired members who are re-employed in an OPERS-covered position, a combination of a Partial Lump Sum Option Payment, or PLOP, at retirement and paying into a Money Purchase Annuity during reemployment is a better financial option than a DROP program.

During a hearing in late March before the House Public Insurance & Pensions Committee on House Bill 73, Carraher stated that the program could require about $10 million in system changes. Our technology is structured around active and retired members, and adding a DROP program would require extensive reprogramming, potentially affecting cost-of-living adjustments and survivor and disability benefits.

It was the third hearing of the legislation, which is sponsored by Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) and Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.).

Carraher also testified in opposition to House Bill 424, which would address how service credit is transferred between OPERS and the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund. Acknowledging the need for a resolution, OPERS opposes the bill and has proposed a better solution: eliminating the active-duty requirement to transfer service credit to OP&F. OPERS staff members continue to explore alternative solutions.

Help your child select the right retirement plan with OPERS

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

May 7, 2026 – If your child has a summer job with a public entity in Ohio, there’s a good chance that job is covered by OPERS.

That means your child will be earning money toward a pension in addition to picking up a salary for cutting grass, lifeguarding or other traditional summer jobs. Thus, it’s important that your child choose the right OPERS retirement plan. The choices they make today can impact their retirement future.

Comparing the plans

After children are hired they will have 180 days to select the one of the two OPERS retirement plans:

• Traditional Pension Plan
• Member-Directed Plan

The easiest way to compare the plans is to use the Plan Comparison Calculator. Your child can find it by logging into or creating an online account. The calculator allows OPERS participants to:

• Input personalized information, such as salary
• Find out what the retirement payments and refund amounts would be from all three plans

The Selecting Your Retirement Plan page includes the Plan Choice Video Quiz.

Things to consider

It's important to remember the Member-Directed plan has a monthly administrative fee of $6 charged to all accounts, regardless of balance. This fee may affect children’s account balance if they choose the Member-Directed plan and only work part of a year and are not contributing consistently to OPERS.

If they select the Traditional Pension Plan, they will not be charged the $6 monthly fee.

No matter which plan they choose, your child can leave the account on deposit with OPERS when the seasonal or part-time job ends. If they decide to return to the same job, or any other OPERS-covered position, they can pick up where they left off and continue contributing to the same plan.

You can search for OPERS-covered employers on the OPERS website.

Remember – it’s never too early to start saving for retirement.

Learn to win the caregiving marathon, one step at a time

By Betsy Butler, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

April 29, 2026 – Whether caring for children, aging parents, or someone dealing with health challenges, caregivers are often the unsung heroes of a difficult chapter of life.

Keeping track of appointments, managing medications, making phone calls, handling paperwork and juggling logistics can make you feel like you’re running a marathon with no end in sight.

Taking care of others at a constant pace can suddenly become a stumbling block. When something breaks, everything can give way.  At once, your ability to cope – indeed, your entire life - seems like it has disappeared.

That’s why it’s critical to protect and prepare yourself for the long haul.

Caregiving is isolating, stressful, exhausting and overwhelming, especially when you didn’t choose this vocation. It has a way of making you feel like you have to manage the weight of everything yourself. You weren’t meant to navigate this unfamiliar territory on your own. You have to try to find other ways to carry what you cannot.

Looking at your support network is a good start. One supportive person doesn’t usually meet every one of your needs, but you can probably identify several people who could be willing to help. Consider those relatives and friends who can help with practical things like chores and shopping, others who are good at giving advice and discussing issues, and those who can offer welcome distractions like taking a walk, sharing a meal or planning for a regular phone conversation. If help from loved ones is not available, identify community and volunteer organizations that can assist. Although it may be difficult to ask for help, social engagement can make a significant positive impact on well-being and reduce feelings of isolation.

Support can take other forms. Attend in-person or virtual support group meetings, allowing for sharing experiences with others who understand. Utilize temporary respite care services that can allow caregivers to rest and re-energize, even if just for a few hours. Seek professional counseling to manage anxiety and provide coping strategies.

Burnout is a caregiver’s worst enemy. Watch for signs like chronic fatigue, irritability and depression, and seek help immediately when these occur. Get in the habit of asking for help as soon as you need it. Don’t wait until a situation becomes unmanageable.

Caregivers frequently face a rollercoaster of emotions, including feelings of loss, guilt, anger and loneliness. These feelings are normal, and it’s critical to acknowledge and respond to them so you can continue your calling with strength and grace. When things get especially challenging, pause for a moment. Consider whether you have enough patience, empathy and even humor to forge ahead, or whether it’s better to give yourself some time to collect your thoughts and emotions. Protect the person you love, and yourself, from a moment going wrong. Ensure that the moment goes how you’d like it to go when you’re rested, positive and proud of what you’re doing. After the moment passes, consider making a game plan for the future so that those feelings of being overwhelmed, fed up, anxious and afraid stop catching you off guard and start signaling how you can move forward with peace and positivity.

Taking care of yourself is key. Maintain healthy eating habits, exercise regularly and get as much rest as you can. Seek out time for yourself, pursuing something you enjoy. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, practice deep breathing techniques, meditation and prayer to slow your heart rate, calm you down and help you think more clearly.

Finally, listen to podcasts from fellow caregivers and knowledgeable experts, such as Twenty-Four Seven: A Podcast About Caregiving from Texas Public Radio, the Dementia Care Partner Talk Show Podcastwith dementia educator Teepa Snow, and the Happy Healthy Caregiver Podcast with Certified Caregiving Consultant Elizabeth Miller.

Without moments that offer respite and perspective, this season can quietly turn once-loving relationships into feelings of resentment, exhaustion and regret. That’s the last thing you want for the present, and how you’ll remember it once it concludes.

When you look back on this season someday, it won’t be the tasks you remember. It will be the unexpected moments where you realize that caring for your loved one was a special gift. This season offers an opportunity to build the interior strength that the hard days demand, feel pride in what you’re doing, and look forward in hope to the future.

This month: We address required minimum distribution, health care issues

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

April 23, 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: I will turn 73 soon. As a rehired retiree, I received an OPERS Money Purchase account during my re-employment. Is the money accrued in this account subject to the required minimum distribution requirement?

A: Yes. You will be subject to the RMD if you are not actively contributing and you reach the applicable age established by the Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(9).

Q: I took an OPERS partial lump-sum option payment, and now I receive my normal pension. Do I have a required minimum distribution amount I need to take out every month? I’ve used my PLOP money elsewhere, and the IRS is asking what the RMD amount is that I am getting from OPERS.

A: You are subject to the RMD only if you are not receiving a distribution and you reach the applicable age established by the Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(9).

Q: I was working outside of the system before becoming an OPERS member. How can I tell which retirement group I’m in – A, B or C?

A: Your retirement group is listed on the Annual Statement of Estimated Benefits that OPERS prepares for you. After signing in to your online account, click “View My Annual Statement Now” under Notifications on the account home page. You also can locate the statement under the “Documents, Document History” section in your account. Unless you have set your correspondence preference to electronic, you should receive a printed copy in the mail between now and the end of April. The estimates shared in your Annual Statement are calculated based on your group.

Q: When I retired I elected to have my beneficiary – my wife – receive half my pension. Is that amount determined when I retired or the date that I should pass on?

A: The joint life percentage amount was calculated at retirement. The amount is based on the percentage of the benefit amount when you pass.

Q: Will my monthly HRA benefit continue to my husband, who is the joint beneficiary on my OPERS benefit, if I precede him in death? Thank you.

A: Your HRA deposits will end upon your passing, and your spouse as the joint-life beneficiary will not receive additional deposits. However, if there is a remaining HRA balance it will be available for reimbursement claims for up to 24 months after your passing. Your surviving spouse and eligible dependent(s) may submit claims for any eligible expenses incurred by you prior to the date of death or any ongoing expenses incurred by your spouse or eligible dependent(s). Any remaining balance after the 24-month period will be forfeited and will be returned to the OPERS Health Care Fund. 

Q: Where can I find the Statement of Employment and Earnings form for disability beneficiaries?

A: The Statement of Employment and Earnings form is now electronic and can be found on the home page of your online account, under the Notifications section, or under the Documents, Document History menu.

Q: Does OPERS have a list of vision providers?

A: Individual vision providers are available on MetLife’s website, at www.metlife.com/opers

Q: I start my retirement soon. When should I receive my first benefit payment?

A: The issuance of your first benefit payment is within eight business days from the date that we receive all required paperwork for processing, or the benefit effective date, whichever is later.

National Financial Literacy Month highlights pathways toward smart decisions

By Michael Pramik, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

April 16, 2026 – April is recognized nationwide as National Financial Literacy Month, a time set aside to encourage people to take a closer look at their finances and build the knowledge needed to make informed decisions. At OPERS, we know our members are focused on long-term financial security. Whether you’re early in your career, approaching retirement or already retired, April can be a useful reminder to pause and review where you stand.

Financial literacy doesn’t require a major overhaul of your finances. Sometimes it simply means taking a few minutes to check your savings progress, revisit a retirement plan or explore tools that help clarify financial decisions. OPERS provides a pension that serves as a foundation for retirement security, but many members supplement that benefit with personal savings and additional retirement plans.

One place members can explore additional retirement planning resources is Ohio Deferred Compensation, which is now part of OPERS. The program offers several tools designed to help members better understand their financial picture and make adjustments as needed.

No matter where you are in life, Ohio DC has resources that can help answer important questions.

Already saving and want to learn more?

Members can explore the Enrich financial wellness platform along with a variety of calculators and planning tools. These resources can help you review your financial goals, estimate savings needs and consider ways to strengthen your overall plan.

Approaching retirement?

Members who are 50 or older may be eligible for catch-up contributions, allowing them to increase the amount they set aside each year. It can also be a good time to begin thinking about how savings will be used in retirement and to consider strategies for managing withdrawals.

Already retired?

Some retirees choose to keep their savings with Ohio DC to continue benefiting from the plan’s low fees and growth potential. Retirement can also be a good time to review beneficiary designations to make sure they reflect your current wishes.

Financial Literacy Month also can be a good opportunity to explore other reputable sources of financial education. Websites such as Investor.gov and MyMoney.gov offer free information about budgeting, saving, investing and retirement planning.

Ultimately, financial literacy isn’t about becoming an expert overnight. It’s about staying informed, asking questions and using the tools available to make thoughtful decisions over time. Small steps today can help support long-term financial confidence—and a more secure retirement tomorrow.