STRS Ohio Pre-2013 vs Post-2013 Survivor Rules
What Senate Bill 342 Changed for Survivors
Ohio's pension reform under Senate Bill 342, effective July 1, 2013, restructured survivor benefit eligibility for STRS Ohio members. The changes created two distinct membership tiers with different service credit requirements, eligibility windows, and salary calculations.
If you're claiming survivor benefits after an active teacher's death, the deceased member's hire date determines which rules apply to your claim.
Eligibility Windows: 27 Months vs 12 Months
One of the sharpest differences between the two tiers is how long survivor benefit eligibility lasts after a member stops teaching.
Members hired before July 1, 2013 retain active survivor benefit eligibility for up to 27 months after their last contributing service. If the member's last contributing service ended in June 2025, the 27-month window reaches September 2027; ask STRS Ohio to confirm the exact final eligibility date.
Members hired on or after July 1, 2013 have a 12-month window. Once 12 months pass without contributing service, monthly survivor benefit eligibility expires. The family's only option at that point is an account refund of accumulated contributions — unless the member had already met age and service requirements for retirement at the time of death.
This matters most for teachers who left the profession mid-career, took extended leave, or were on unpaid sabbatical. The difference between a 27-month and 12-month window can mean the difference between a lifetime monthly annuity and a one-time refund.
Service Credit Requirements
Senate Bill 342 also raised the minimum service credit needed for survivors to qualify for monthly benefits.
| Rule | Pre-July 2013 Members | Post-July 2013 Members |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum service credit for survivor eligibility | 5 years | 5 years |
| Additional requirement | None | Death must occur within 1 year of contributing service |
| Extended eligibility after leaving service | 27 months | 12 months |
| Unreduced retirement (2025–2035) | 32 years or age 65 with 5 years | Same (but later phases escalate to 33–34 years) |
Both tiers require 5 years of qualifying service credit. The critical difference is the post-2013 recency requirement: the member must have been actively contributing or within 12 months of their last contribution at the time of death.
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Final Average Salary Calculation
The Final Average Salary determines the base amount for service-based and dependent-based survivor benefit calculations under ORC 3307.66.
Under current rules, FAS is calculated as the average of the member's five highest fiscal years of earned compensation. This applies to all members regardless of hire date, though pre-SB 342 members originally had a three-year FAS calculation that was later standardized.
For survivors, FAS directly affects monthly benefit amounts. A member with 25 years of service credit qualifies their survivors for 54% of FAS under the service-based formula. The higher the FAS, the higher the monthly check.
How This Affects Survivor Benefit Choices
When an active DB member meets the applicable service-credit and timing rules, qualified survivors compare the benefit formulas that apply to the member's account:
- Dependent-based: 25%–60% of FAS, depending on the number of qualified survivors
- Service-based: 29%–60% of FAS, available only with 20+ years of service
- Retirement-based: Calculated as if the member retired and selected Plan II Option 1 (100% continuation), available only if the member met retirement eligibility at death
Post-2013 members who die more than 12 months after their last contributing service and hadn't yet met retirement eligibility leave their survivors with only the account refund option — accumulated contributions plus statutory interest and the 50% match (if the member had 3+ years of service).
What to Do If You're Unsure Which Tier Applies
STRS Ohio's Survivor Benefit Packet, issued after you report the death, specifies which eligibility rules apply to the deceased member's account. Call STRS Ohio at 888-227-7877 to confirm the member's hire date, total service credit, and last contributing service date.
If the member was hired close to the July 1, 2013 cutoff, ask STRS Ohio to confirm the official membership start date. Administrative processing delays and retroactive service credit purchases can sometimes shift which tier applies.
For the complete decision framework — including how Plans of Payment affect retiree death claims, health care continuation rules, and the step-by-step claim workflow — see The STRS Ohio Survivor Benefits Guide.
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