This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and
universities.
| Rule |
Rule 145-2-01 | Service credit definitions.
Effective:
January 1, 2016
(A) For service purchased or restored in the traditional pension plan under sections 145.28, 145.295, 145.2911, 145.2913, 145.31, and 145.311 of the Revised Code, "eighteen months of contributing service credit in the system," means eighteen months of contributing service credit under the traditional pension plan, inclusive of service credit transferred from a prior plan to the traditional pension plan pursuant to rule 145-2-18 of the Administrative Code. (B) For purposes of division (H)(1) of section 145.01 of the Revised Code, "contributing service in this system" means contributing service credit under the traditional pension plan.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:13 AM
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Rule 145-2-02 | Additional liability for service purchases in the traditional pension plan.
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.29 of the Revised Code. (B) As used in this rule, "service credit" means both of the following: (1) Service credit that may be purchased or obtained under sections 145.20, 145.201, 145.28, 145.291, 145.292, 145.293, 145.299, and 145.47 of the Revised Code, as those sections existed on and after January 7, 2013. (2) Service credit that may be purchased or obtained under section 145.814 of the Revised Code or rule 145-2-18 of the Administrative Code for an election that is effective on or after August 1, 2013, under section 2.03 of the combined or member-directed plan document, as amended on January 7, 2013. (C) (1) Except as provided in this paragraph, the public employees retirement system shall calculate the cost to purchase service credit by using the greater of the member's final average salary or the member's earnable salary for the twelve months of contributing service under Chapter 145., 3307., or 3309. of the Revised Code immediately preceding the month in which the application to purchase is received by the system. If the member's election to purchase service described in paragraph (B)(2) of this rule occurs less than twelve months after the effective date of a plan change, the system shall calculate the cost to purchase service credit by using the final average salary or last twelve months of earnable salary in the prior plan. (2) The public employees retirement board shall, based upon its actuary's recommendation, establish the percentage rate for the cost of the service credit in the traditional pension plan. (D) Payments made by a member to purchase service credit under section 145.29 of the Revised Code and this rule shall be credited to the employees' savings fund and shall be considered the accumulated contributions of the member.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:13 AM
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Rule 145-2-03 | Purchase of workers' compensation service.
(A) A member is not eligible to purchase service under section 145.2915 of the Revised Code if any of the following circumstances apply: (1) Service credit for the period of receiving workers compensation was obtained by the member under the version of division (H) of section 145.01 of the Revised Code that existed prior to January 7, 2013; (2) The member is eligible to purchase the service under section 145.291 or division (G) of section 145.47 of the Revised Code; (3) Service credit for the period of receiving workers compensation was obtained under section 145.483 of the Revised Code; (4) The member has not made a redeposit of contributing service pursuant to section 145.31 of the Revised Code or rule 145-3-22 of the Administrative Code for which a member received a refund of the member's accumulated contributions pursuant to section 145.40 of the Revised Code or article VIII of the combined plan document, for any period of contributing service adjacent to the period of receiving workers compensation; or (5) The member received a benefit from the system for the period of receiving workers compensation. (B) The employer contributions due pursuant to section 145.2915 of the Revised Code shall be billed to the public employer after the member has paid all or part of the corresponding employee contributions. If the employer fails to remit the required payments, any employer contributions not paid shall be certified for collection and subject to the same penalty and interest described in section 145.51 of the Revised Code. (C) The limit described in paragraph (F) of section 145.2915 of the Revised Code also applies to service credit obtained under Chapter 742. or 5505. of the Revised Code for a period the member was out of service and reciving workers' compensation. (D) If a member is eligible to purchase more than one period of workers compensation service, the purchase shall be completed in the order of the most recent period to the earliest period.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:13 AM
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Rule 145-2-04 | Purchase of credit pursuant to section 145.293 of the Revised Code.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) For the purpose of section 145.293 of
the Revised Code "comparable position" means a comparable public
position that, if it had been performed for an Ohio public employer, would have
been covered by an Ohio state retirement system. (B) A member shall have at least twelve
months of contributing service for purposes of the calculation described in
rules 145-2-02 and 145-3-23 of the Administrative Code and shall apply for the
purchase of service credit on a form provided by the public employees
retirement system. (C) Service credit under section 145.293
of the Revised Code may be purchased if such credit cannot be purchased in
another Ohio state retirement system and will not exceed the limitations of
section 145.293 of the Revised Code.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:05 AM
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Rule 145-2-05 | Free credit for military service.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.30 of the Revised Code. (B) Definitions (1) "Maintained membership" means any of the following: (a) The member's contributions remained with the public employees retirement system during the military service; (b) The member's accumulated contributions before the member's military service were refunded pursuant to section 145.40 of the Revised Code and redeposited pursuant to section 145.31 of the Revised Code; or (c) The member was exempt from membership or not a contributor to the retirement system before the member's military service, but Chapter 145. of the Revised Code authorizes a retroactive payment to establish membership before the member's military service. (2) "Military service" means active duty in the branches of the armed forces as defined in section 145.30 of the Revised Code. (3) "Total service credit as defined in section 145.01 of the Revised Code of twenty years" means twenty years of Ohio credit exclusive of military or uniformed service. (4) "Was a member" means membership before the member's military service was established in the same manner as defined in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule. (5) "Was or is out of active service as a public employee by reason of having become a member of the armed forces" means: (a) On or before November 13, 1965, the member established membership in the retirement system with one deduction and no more than three months had elapsed between the termination of the member's contributing service and the date the member entered military service. (b) After November 13, 1965, the member established one year of service credit in the retirement system and no more than three months have elapsed between the termination of the member's contributing service and the date the member entered military service. (c) For military service that begins before November 13, 1965 and terminates after such date, free military service credit shall be granted if the member meets the eligibility requirements pursuant to section 145.30 of the Revised Code in effect during each period of military service before and after November 13, 1965 and not more than three months had elapsed between the termination of the member's contributing service and the date the member entered military service. (C) (1) The service credit to which a member is entitled shall be calculated from the date the member entered military service through the date the military service terminated. (2) The member shall submit report(s) of separation (form DD214) or other satisfactory documentation as evidence of military service and discharge to the retirement system.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-06 | Purchase of military service credit.
Effective:
January 1, 2017
(A) This rule amplifies sections 145.301 and 145.302 of the Revised Code. (B) The member shall submit report(s) of separation (form DD214) or other satisfactory documentation to the public employees retirement system as evidence of the member's military service, active or inactive duty points, if applicable, and discharge. (C) If a member has been in military service more than once as evidenced by more than one report of separation or service and wishes to purchase credit under section 145.302 of the Revised Code for more than one period of military service, interest as set in rule 145-1-35 of the Administrative Code shall be charged from the date the member last terminated military service. (D) For military service purchased under section 145.301 of the Revised Code: (1) A member shall have at least twelve months of contributing service for purposes of the calculation described in paragraph (D)(2) of this rule; (2) The retirement system shall calculate the cost by using the greater of the member's final average salary or earnable salary for the twelve months of contributing service under Chapter 145., 3307., or 3309. of the Revised Code immediately preceding the month in which the application to purchase is received by the system. The public employees retirement board shall, based upon its actuary's recommendation, set the percentage rate for the cost of service allowed under section 145.301 of the Revised Code. (E) Where applicable, the member's public employer shall certify information including, but not limited to, the earnable salary the member would have earned during the member's military service on a form provided by the retirement system. (F) The employer contributions due pursuant to section 145.302 of the Revised Code shall be billed to the employer for payment after the member has paid all or part of the employee contributions due. If the employer fails to make the payments required, any employer amounts not paid shall be certified for collection and subject to the same penalty and interest described in section 145.51 of the Revised Code.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-07 | Additional service credit under section 145.201 of the Revised Code.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.201
of the Revised Code. (B) (1) For contributing
service that occurred prior to January 1, 2014, "full-time service"
does not include service computed as part-time pursuant to section 145.016 of
the Revised Code. For contributing service that occurred on and after January
1, 2014, "full-time service" means service for which the monthly
earnable salary, as reported for each month, equals or exceeds one thousand
dollars. (2) The public employees
retirement system shall prepare a statement of cost for the additional service
credit to be purchased based on the request of an eligible member. (3) The statement of cost shall be based
on thirty-five per cent of all eligible full-time service. (4) Each statement of cost issued under
section 145.201 of the Revised Code prior to July 7, 2013, shall include full
calendar years of eligible service; however, payment for the service credit may
be made in full or partial year increments, provided the system has issued a
full calendar year statement of cost for the service credit being purchased or
a partial calendar year statement of cost as provided in this rule. A statement
of cost may include a partial calendar year if the partial calendar year
is: (a) The only eligible service; (b) The first year of a term of eligible service; or (c) The last year of a term of eligible service. (5) Each statement of
cost issued under section 145.201 of the Revised Code on and after July 7,
2013, shall include the cost of full calendar years and any portion of a year
the member elects to purchase. (6) A member shall have at least twelve
months of contributing service for purposes of the calculation described in
rules 145-2-02 and 145-3-23 of the Administrative Code. (C) A member who purchased service under
section 145.201 of the Revised Code may elect to receive all or a portion of
the amount paid under that section if, in calculating the member's age
and service retirement allowance, either of the following apply: (1) In the case of a
member of the traditional pension plan whose retirement allowance is calculated
under division (A) of section 145.33 of the Revised Code, the member's
total annual single lifetime allowance exceeds the lesser of one hundred per
cent of the member's final average salary or the limit established by
section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C.A. 415. (2) In the case of a
participant in the combined plan, the participant's total annual single
lifetime allowance exceeds the lesser of the limits described in section
9.03(a) of the combined plan document. (D) (1) Upon the
member's election under paragraph (C) of this rule, the retirement system
shall refund to the member all or a portion of the amount paid to purchase
service. The retirement system shall refund the amounts paid to purchase
service credit in the reverse order of the member's purchase, with the
most recent service purchased being the first amount refunded. (2) The amount refunded
to the member shall not exceed the actual amount paid by the member for the
service credit to be refunded. No interest shall be paid on the amount
refunded. If applicable, the retirement system shall withhold taxes on amounts
paid to a member that have not yet been taxed. (3) The amount refunded
to the member shall not be paid prior to the issuance of the members retirement
benefit, as defined in rule 145-1-65 of the Administrative Code.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-08 | Purchase of school board member service.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.299 of the Revised Code. (B) (1) The member shall submit a written request that shall include a certification of the service on a form provided by the public employees retirement system. (2) A member shall purchase credit for such service only by a lump-sum payment as defined in rule 145-1-35 of the Administrative Code. (3) A member may purchase credit only for such qualified service that occurred prior to June 30, 1991.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:13 AM
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Rule 145-2-09 | Purchase of exempted service credit.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
(A) (1) For service which would have been covered by Chapter 145. of the Revised Code, but was exempted, a member shall make a request to purchase credit for this service on a form provided by the public employees retirement system. (2) The employer for which the service was performed shall complete the certification of such service on the form and attach to the form a copy of each approved written exemption from membership on file with the employer for such member. (3) After receipt of the completed form, the retirement system shall determine the amount of service credit that would have been earned had the service not been exempted. (B) For service which would have been covered by Chapter 3307. or 3309. of the Revised Code, but was exempted and must be purchased in this system, this retirement system shall request certification from the other retirement system that such service was exempted and the amount of the credit for such service, which shall be determined from a certification of the employer for which the service was performed. (C) The service credit purchased pursuant to section 145.28 of the Revised Code and this rule shall be adjusted to the extent that one of the following apply: (1) The service is concurrent with any other service that will be used in calculating a benefit; (2) The purchase of the service credit results in more than twelve months of credit in a year.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-10 | Intersystem transfers with non-uniform systems.
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.37 of the Revised Code and applies to members who retire with an effective date of retirement on or after February 1, 2013. (B) For the purpose of this rule: (1) "State retirement system" and "retention percentage" have the same meanings as in section 145.37 of the Revised Code. (2) "Fiscal year" means, for the public employees retirement system, a calendar year and, for the school employees retirement system and state teachers retirement system, the twelve-month period beginning on July first and ending on June thirtieth. (C) For purposes of determining the amount transferred under division (B)(6)(a) of section 145.37 of the Revised Code, all of the following apply: (1) The amount contributed by the member includes any amounts paid to restore service credit under section 145.31 of the Revised Code. (2) The amount of employer contributions shall be determined using the lesser of the employer contribution rate in effect at the beginning of the fiscal year for each of the state retirement systems involved in the transfer, less the retention percentage. (3) Any amounts paid by the member to purchase service credit shall include, if applicable, any amounts paid by the employer to purchase service credit. (4) Except as provided in this paragraph, interest shall be calculated beginning on the first day of the fiscal year following the year in which the contributions were made and ending on the last day of the month in which the transfer occurs. If the amount to be transferred includes any amounts paid to purchase service credit, other than amounts paid to restore service credit under section 145.31 of the Revised Code, interest on the amounts paid to purchase service credit shall be calculated beginning on the first day of the month following the last payment to purchase the credit and ending on the last day of month in which the transfer occurs. For each year of service credit to be transferred, the interest rate shall be determined by using the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate in effect at the beginning of the fiscal year for each of the state retirement systems involved in the transfer. (D) If a member of the public employees retirement system has contributions to more than one employer division of the system, the employer contribution rate for the system shall be determined using the last division to which the member contributed. If the period of service and contributions to be transferred includes service that occurred prior to the date the member's most recent division was established, the other state retirement systems shall use the employer contribution rate for the other system for that year. (E) For purposes of calculating a retirement or disability benefit under division (B) of section 145.37 of the Revised Code, all of the following apply: (1) Except as provided in this paragraph, the service credit and contributions certified by the transferring system shall be divided equally over the number of months in the service credit period certified by the transferring system beginning on the first day of the service credit period and ending on the last day of the service credit period. (2) Service credit certified by the tranferring system shall be reduced for any month that the member earned full-time service credit in this system. If the member earned less than full-time service credit in this system for any month, the service credit certified by the transferring system may be added to the earned credit to equal full-time service credit. (3) Except as provided in division (B)(5)(c) of section 134.37 of the Revised Code, service credit certified by the transferring system shall not be reduced for any month that the member did not earn service credit in this system.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:14 AM
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Rule 145-2-11 | Police and fire or highway patrol service.
(A) This rule amplifies sections 145.295 and 145.2913 of the Revised Code. (B) Any payments made by a member to purchase credit pursuant to section 145.295 or 145.2913 of the Revised Code shall not be refunded to a member except as authorized or required under those sections or section 145.40 of the Revised Code. (C) A member who purchases or transfers credit under section 145.295 or 145.2913 of the Revised Code shall receive service credit in the public employees retirement system as follows: (1) For service earned as a police officer under Chapter 742. of the Revised Code or service earned under Chapter 5505. of the Revised Code, the service credit shall be treated as if it was earned in this system as a law enforcement officer. (2) For service earned as a firefighter under Chapter 742. of the Revised Code, the service credit shall be treated as if it was earned in this system as a member who is not a law enforcement or public safety officer. (D) This paragraph applies to purchases and transfers initiated after January 7, 2013. The member's effective date of retirement or disability benefit shall be no earlier than the first day of the month following receipt by the retirement system of the first partial payment or total payment, if paid in full in one payment. The member's effective date of retirement or disability benefit shall be no later than the first day of the month following the ninetieth day after receipt by the retirement system of the first partial payment or total payment, if paid in full by one payment. If the member fails to retire, or terminate employment for purposes of a disability benefit, before the ninetieth day after the first partial payment or total payment is received, the retirement system shall return the amount paid by the member to the member. If the payment was transmitted to the retirement system by a financial institution, the amount received by the retirement system shall be returned to the financial institution.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-12 | Purchase of optional service.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
For the purpose of section 145.292 of the Revised Code, a member shall have at least twelve months of contributing service for purposes of the calculation described in rules 145-2-02 and 145-3-23 of the Administrative Code.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:14 AM
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Rule 145-2-13 | Purchase of leave of absence.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.291
of the Revised Code. (B) A member can purchase service credit
for a leave of absence period that occurred during a period of contributing
service for which the member received a refund of contributions pursuant to
section 145.40 of the Revised Code, only if the member has made a redeposit of
the refund pursuant to section 145.31 of the Revised Code. (C) The service credit purchased pursuant
to section 145.291 of the Revised Code shall be adjusted to the
extent: (1) The service is
concurrent with any other service that will be used in calculating a
benefit; (2) The purchase of the
service credit results in more than twelve months of credit in a
year. (D) (1) The member's
employer at the time the member was off the payroll shall certify the
member's earnable salary for the period, and the member's authorized
leave or resignation. (2) A member purchasing
service credit for a period of time when the member was off the payroll due to
resignation because of pregnancy shall submit a certified copy of the
child's birth certificate or, because of adoption of a child, shall submit
evidence of such adoption. (3) A member described in
paragraphs (D)(1) and (2) of this rule shall submit the required information on
a form provided by the public employees retirement system.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:06 AM
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Rule 145-2-14 | Use of "Ohio service credit" in benefit calculations.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
Service credit that is purchased or obtained under section 145.295, 145.2911, 145.2913, 145.301, or 145.302 of the Revised Code that is, or is considered to be the equivalent of, Ohio service credit, shall be used in determining eligibility for a benefit as provided in Chapter 145. of the Revised Code, including the calculation of the member's final average salary and contributing service credit in the public employees retirement system.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:14 AM
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Rule 145-2-15 | Cincinnati retirement system.
Effective:
January 1, 2018
(A) This rule amplifies sections
145.2910, 145.2911, and 145.2912 of the Revised Code. (B) "Eligible service credit"
means service earned under this system or the Cincinnati retirement system or
military service credit purchased or obtained in this system or the Cincinnati
retirement system. (C) (1) A member of this
system, who is eligible to obtain eligible service credit in this system for
service credit with the Cincinnati retirement system, shall make a request to
obtain credit for such service on a form provided by this system. (2) Except as otherwise
provided in this rule, a member shall make payments required under division
(C)(4)(a) of section 145.2911 of the Revised Code pursuant to rule 145-1-35 or
145-1-38 of the Administrative Code. A member may use an eligible rollover
distribution for such payments as allowed by rule 145-1-37 of the
Administrative Code. (3) Service credit for a
member who obtains credit pursuant to section 145.2911 of the Revised Code and
this rule shall be the amount certified by the Cincinnati retirement system
upon payment of the following amounts: (a) Any required amounts due from the member under section
145.2911 of the Revised Code and this rule; and, (b) The required amounts due from the Cincinnati retirement
system under division (C)(4)(b) of section 145.2911 of the Revised
Code. (4) If the Cincinnati
retirement system fails to transfer those amounts required under division
(C)(4)(b) of section 145.2911 of the Revised Code, this system shall notify the
member, and shall not grant the service credit. (D) (1) This system shall
transfer those amounts required under section 145.2912 of the Revised Code for
a member or former member of this system, who is eligible to obtain eligible
service credit in the Cincinnati retirement system for service credit with this
system pursuant to section 145.2912 of the Revised Code, after: (a) Receiving notification from the Cincinnati retirement system
that the member has requested such transfer; (b) The member has paid any required amounts to this system;
and, (c) This system has notified the member. (2) If a member's
request for a transfer under division (A)(4)(a) of section 145.2912 of the
Revised Code is for less than the member's total eligible service credit
with this system, any benefits or payments to which the member or the
member's beneficiary or beneficiaries may be entitled shall be based on
the remaining service credit with this system. (E) A member who purchases or transfers
credit under section 145.2912 of the Revised Code shall receive service credit
in the public employees retirement system as follows: (1) For service earned as
a police officer under the Cincinnati retirement system, the service credit
shall be treated as if it was earned in this system as a law enforcement
officer. (2) For all other service
earned under the Cincinnati retirement system, the service credit shall be
treated as if it was earned in this system as a member who is not a law
enforcement or public safety officer. (F) This paragraph applies to purchases
and transfers initiated after January 7, 2013. The member's effective
date of retirement or disability benefit shall be no earlier than the first day
of the month following receipt by the retirement system of the first partial
payment or total payment, if paid in full in one payment. The member's
effective date of retirement or disability benefit shall be no later than the
first day of the month following the ninetieth day after receipt by the
retirement system of the first partial payment or total payment, if paid in
full by one payment. If the member fails to retire, or terminate employment for
purposes of a disability benefit, before the ninetieth day after the first
partial payment or total payment is received, the retirement system shall
return the amount paid by the member to the member. If the payment was
transmitted to the retirement system by a financial institution, the amount
received by the retirement system shall be deposited in accordance with section
145.62 of the Revised Code or returned to the financial
institution. (G) Any payments made by a member to
purchase credit pursuant to section 145.2910, 145.2911, or 145.2912 of the
Revised Code shall not be refunded to a member except as authorized or required
under those sections or section 145.40 of the Revised Code.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-16 | Conversion or proration of service credit to law enforcement service credit.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) For purposes of this rule and section
145.2914 of the Revised Code: (1) "Law enforcement
service credit" means service earned as a PERS law enforcement officer, as
defined in section 145.01 of the Revised Code. (2) "Public safety
service credit" means service credit earned as a PERS public safety
officer, as defined in section 145.01 of the Revised Code. (3) "Regular service
credit" means service credit earned as a contributor under section 145.47
of the Revised Code that is not concurrent with any public safety or law
enforcement service credit, including service purchased under section 145.31,
145.312, or 145.814 of the Revised Code, or for which contributions should have
been deducted as described in section 145.483 of the Revised Code.
"Regular service credit" does not include any other type of service
credit that may be purchased or transferred under Chapter 145. of the Revised
Code. (4) "Notice of the
additional liability" is the cost statement provided to the member that
specifies the number of years, or portions of a year, the member may convert
and includes the amount of service credit that may be prorated under paragraph
(B)(1) of this rule, if applicable. (B) Subject to the requirements
described in section 145.2914 of the Revised Code and this rule, a member who
has contributed to the retirement system as a PERS public safety officer or
PERS law enforcement officer and has regular service credit or public safety
service credit that the member would like to be treated as law enforcement or
public safety service credit may elect to do one of the following: (1) To have the total
amount of the regular service credit and public safety service credit reduced
to an amount of public safety service credit or law enforcement service credit
that has no additional liability to the system, which shall be referred to as
proration; (2) To convert up to five
total years of regular service credit or public safety service credit, or a
combination of both types of credit. If the member is eligible to retire as a PERS law
enforcement officer or will be eligible to retire as a PERS law enforcement
officer as a result of the proration or conversion, the member may prorate or
convert regular service credit, public safety service credit, or both types of
service credit to law enforcement service credit. If the member is eligible to
retire as a PERS public safety officer or will be eligible to retire as a PERS
public safety officer as a result of the proration or conversion, the member
may prorate or convert regular service credit to public safety service
credit. (C) The cost to convert service credit
under paragraph (B)(2) of this rule shall be an amount specified by the public
employees retirement board that is not less than one hundred per cent of the
additional liability resulting from the conversion of a year, or portion of a
year, of service as recommended by the actuary for the board. The actuary shall
recommend to the board a cost calculation to convert each of the types of
service credit described in this rule. The cost calculation shall be based on
the final average salary that will be used in calculating the member's
monthly benefit as determined at the time the cost statement is prepared. The
actuary may recommend modifications to the cost calculations if the actuary
determines it is necessary to mitigate any negative financial impact on the
retirement system. (D) (1) The retirement system
shall not accept any other payments for the purchase or transfer of service
credit after the issuance of the cost statement for proration or conversion of
service credit, except for payments made pursuant to an irrevocable, pre-tax
payroll deduction agreement. (2) If a member converts
only a portion of the service credit that is eligible for conversion or the
member has more than five years of service credit that is eligible for
conversion, the service credit that is converted shall be the most recent
regular service credit. (3) A member who elects
to prorate under paragraph (B)(1) of this rule shall prorate all regular
service credit or public safety service credit. (4) If a member has
regular or public safety service credit that is concurrent with the public
safety or law enforcement service credit and is not eligible for conversion or
proration, the accumulated contributions for the concurrent service shall be
paid as provided in section 145.332 of the Revised Code. (5) Service credit converted under this
rule shall be considered in determining the member's final average
salary. Service credit prorated under this rule shall not be considered in
determining the member's final average salary. (6) For service credit
prorated under this rule, contributing service credit, as defined in section
145.01 of the Revised Code, shall be determined based on the lesser of the
number of months of contributing service prior to the proration or the number
of months of contributing service after the proration. (E) Not later than ninety days after
receiving notice of the additional liability or of the prorated amount of
service credit, the member shall agree to retire by submitting to the
retirement system an executed cost statement and, if the member had elected
conversion, the first partial or total payment for the service credit. The
member may make direct payment to the retirement system for the cost of the
conversion or the member's financial institution may transmit the amount
directly to the retirement system. (F) If a member has elected conversion,
the member's effective date of retirement shall be no earlier than the
first day of the month following receipt by the retirement system of the first
partial payment or total payment, if paid in full in one payment. If the member
has elected proration, the member's effective date of retirement shall be
no earlier that the first day of the month following receipt by the retirement
system of the executed cost statement. In both instances, the member's
effective date of retirement shall be no later than the first day of the month
following the ninetieth day after receipt by the retirement system of the first
partial payment or total payment, if paid in full by one payment, or the
executed cost statement, whichever is applicable. If the member fails to retire
as described in this paragraph, the retirement system shall return the amount
paid by the member to the member. If the payment was transmitted to the
retirement system by a financial institution, the amount received by the
retirement system shall be returned to the financial institution. (G) Notwithstanding rule 145-1-71 of the
Administrative Code, a member who prorates or converts service credit and
retires as provided in this rule may not withdraw his or her retirement
application. (H) No amount paid under this rule to
convert service credit shall be used in calculating the additional payment
described in section 145.401 of the Revised Code.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:06 AM
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Rule 145-2-17 | Purchase of firefighter service.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
A firefighter employed before May 1, 1991, who is or becomes a member of the public employees retirement system on May 1, 1991, may purchase firefighter service before May 1, 1991 for any year of non-contributing service as a firefighter not covered by an approved exemption. A purchase under this rule shall be made in accordance with section 145.292 of the Revised Code and rule 145-2-12 of the Administrative Code.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:14 AM
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Rule 145-2-18 | Service credit in the traditional pension plan for participation in combined plan or member-directed plan.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.814
of the Revised Code and sections 2.03, 2.04, and 6.01 of the combined and
member-directed plan documents. (B) For each member participating in the
traditional pension plan who elects under division (D) of section 145.814 of
the Revised Code, the public employees retirement system shall prepare a
statement of cost for service credit to be purchased in the traditional pension
plan based on participation in the combined plan or member-directed plan, as
appropriate, at the request of an eligible member. An actuary employed by the
public employees retirement board shall determine the additional liability, as
defined in section 145.814 of the Revised Code, as described in rule 145-2-02
of the Administrative Code. (C) An eligible member shall purchase the
service credit only by a lump-sum payment of the amount on deposit, as defined
in rule 145-1-35 of the Administrative Code, except that a member described in
division (D)(1) of section 145.814 of the Revised Code may pay any additional
liability that exceeds the amount on deposit by initiating payroll deduction
under rule 145-1-38 of the Administrative Code or by direct partial payment.
For plan elections effective on or before July 1, 2015, the payroll deduction
must be initiated or direct partial payment shall be made not later than one
hundred eighty days after the effective date of an election to participate in
the traditional pension plan under section 2.03 of the combined plan document.
Service credit purchased under this rule shall be included in the member's
total service credit in the traditional pension plan but shall not be used in
the calculation of a benefit under section 145.332 of the Revised Code. If the
member elects to receive pro-rated service credit, the period of service upon
which contributing service is based shall be the member's earliest service
credit available to purchase under this rule. (D) Any funds remaining in an eligible
member's accounts, as defined in section 1.01 of the combined or
member-directed plan document, after the purchase of service credit under this
rule shall be deposited in an additional annuity account in accordance with
rule 145-2-43 of the Administrative Code. A member may also elect, at the time
of service purchase, to leave any remaining funds on deposit in the prior plan;
any funds remaining in the prior plan shall be credited to the member's
rollover account, as defined in section 1.35 of the combined plan document and
section 1.31 of the member-directed plan document, and treated as a
rollover. (E) (1) Service credit
purchased under this rule cancels the corresponding years of service credit in
the combined plan or years of participation in the member-directed plan, as
applicable. (2) For plan elections
effective on or before July 1, 2015, service credit that is not purchased under
this rule shall be cancelled immediately upon the expiration of the one hundred
eighty day period following the effective date of an election to participate in
the traditional pension plan under section 2.03 of the combined or
member-directed plan document. (F) For each member described in paragraph (B) of this rule who
transferred the member's accumulated contributions under section 145.191
of the Revised Code, the statement of cost shall include the cost to restore in
the traditional pension plan the accumulated contributions and service credit
cancelled under that section. The cost shall consist of the amount transferred,
with interest on such amount, compounded annually at a rate to be determined by
the public employees retirement board from the first day of the month of
transfer to and including the month of redeposit. The amount redeposited shall
be considered the accumulated contributions of the member and shall be credited
in the same manner as a redeposit under section 145.31 of the Revised
Code. (G) For each member described in paragraph (B) of this rule who
purchased service credit under rule 145-3-21 or rule 145-3-40 of the
Administrative Code, the statement of cost shall include, if applicable, the
difference between the amount paid in the combined plan to purchase the service
credit and the cost to purchase the service credit in the traditional pension
plan as determined at the time the statement of cost is issued under this rule.
Pursuant to section 6.01 of the combined plan document, if the amount paid in
the combined plan to purchase the service credit was less than the cost to
purchase the service credit in the traditional pension plan, the member may
elect to receive a pro-rated amount of service credit in the traditional
pension plan or may make an additional payment equal to the difference in order
to receive the full amount of service credit. (H) This paragraph applies to former member of the combined plan
who terminated service and received a refund under Article VIII of the combined
plan prior to January 1, 2022. If such former member returns to public
employment on or after January 1, 2022, and elects to participate in the
traditional pension plan, the member may purchase plan change service credit
for the amount of service credit that was refunded from the combined plan after
participating in the traditional pension plan for at least twelve contributing
months. Such former member shall be treated as if the former member was a
participant in the combined plan and elected to plan change to the traditional
pension plan. The public employees retirement system shall
prepare a statement of cost for service credit to be purchased in the
traditional pension plan based on participation in the combined plan at the
request of an eligible member. An actuary employed by the public employees
retirement board shall determine the additional liability, as defined in
section 145.814 of the Revised Code, as described in rule 145-2-02 of the
Administrative Code. Paragraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G) of this rule shall
apply to the purchase described in this paragraph.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:06 AM
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Rule 145-2-21 | Application for a disability benefit.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) For the purpose of sections 145.35, 145.36, 145.361, 145.362,
and 145.37 of the Revised Code and agency 145 of the Administrative
Code: (1) "Disability" means a
presumed permanent mental or physical incapacity for the performance of the
member's present or most recent public duty that is the result of a
disabling condition that has occurred or has increased since an individual
became a member. (2) "Has not attained the applicable
age " means a member has filed an application for a disability retirement
with the public employees retirement system and not become the applicable age
before the last day public service terminated. (3) "On-duty illness or injury"
means an illness or injury that: (a) occurred during or resulted from
performance of duties under the direct supervision of a member's public
employer, and (b) is not an exacerbation of an existing illness or injury
medically diagnosed before the first day of employment with the employer
reporting to the retirement system. (4) "Original disability plan"
means the plan that provides a benefit pursuant to section 145.36 of the
Revised Code. (5) "Revised disability plan"
means the plan that provides a benefit pursuant to section 145.361 of the
Revised Code. (6) "Medical examination" means
a physical or psychological examination, as appropriate, or an examination of
the entire disability application and medical reports. (7) "Rehabilitative services"
includes, but is not limited to, treatment, evaluations, or training, or any
combination of them, that is acceptable to the physician(s) selected by the
board. (8) "Receiving rehabilitative
services" means that the recipient has elected to participate in
rehabilitative services not less than six months prior to the beginning of the
third year following the benefit effective date. (9) "Regional job market"
means within a seventy-five mile radius of the member's address on file
with the retirement system. (B) A member shall make application for a disability benefit on a
form provided by the retirement system. (1) A complete disability application
shall consist of the member's disability benefit application, the report
of the employer, job description, and the report of physician that has been
completed by the member's physician and affirmatively indicates the
existence of the member's disability and the date on which the illness or
injury occurred. The application and supporting reports must be submitted on
forms provided by the retirement system. Medical information submitted in
support of a member's application shall not be accepted after the business
day immediately prior to the member's first or only medical
examination. (2) Consideration of a
member's application shall be limited to the disabling condition(s) listed
in the report of attending physician(s) that was completed by the member's
physician(s). (3) Upon receipt of a complete disability
application, as described in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule, the retirement
system's medical consultant(s) shall review all such documentation and
prepare a recommendation to the board. (a) Payment of any administrative fees or fees for the
preparation of the report of the member's physician(s) shall be the
responsibility of the member. (b) Payment of any fees for the preparation of the report of the
examining physician(s) shall be the responsibility of the retirement system.
Fees assessed by the examining physician(s) due to the member's
cancellation of an examination are the responsibility of the
member. (C) The board shall review disability applications and the
written recommendations of its medical consultant at its regular meetings. The
determination by the board on any application is final. The board may approve a member's application
contingent on the following conditions. (1) The medical consultant determines
that: (a) The member has a disability as defined in section 145.35 of
the Revised Code and this rule, and whichever of the following
apply: (b) (i) For disability
benefit applications received before January 7, 2013, and for disability
benefit recipients whose applications were received on or after January 7,
2013, and who are on leave of absence as defined in section 145.362 of the
Revised Code, additional medical treatment offers an expectation of improvement
of the disabling condition to the extent a member may return to the
member's previous or similar job duties; or (ii) For disability
benefit recipients whose application is received on or after January 7, 2013,
and who are not on leave of absence as defined in section 145.362 of the
Revised Code, additional medical treatment or rehabilitative services offers an
expectation of improvement of the disabling condition to the extent a member
may return to work in any position described in division (B) of that
section. (2) Such additional
medical treatment shall be of common medical acceptance and readily available,
and may include, but is not limited to, medicine, alcohol or drug
rehabilitation, or mechanical devices but would exclude surgery or other
invasive procedures. (3) The member, prior to receipt of
disability benefits, shall agree in writing on a form provided by the board to
obtain the recommended treatment and submit required medical reports during the
treatment period. (4) The member terminates public
employment not later than the end of the month following the month in which the
board made its decision to approve the disability benefit application. If a
member fails to terminate public employment within this time frame, the
disability application is void and the disability benefit shall not be paid and
is forfeited. If eligible, the member may file a new disability
application. (D) A member may withdraw an application for a disability benefit
prior to receipt of the initial benefit payment in the same method as described
in rule 145-1-65 of the Administrative Code. (E) The following apply to disability applications filed after
the board's decision is final: (1) Any subsequent
applications for a disability benefit filed within the two years following the
board's final decision of denial shall be submitted with medical evidence
supporting progression of the disabling condition or evidence of a new
disabling condition. (2) The retirement board
shall not consider an application under this paragraph if the medical
consultant or examining physician concludes there is no evidence of progression
or a new disabling condition and the application shall be voided. (3) Notwithstanding
paragraphs (E)(1) and (E)(2) of this rule, a member may file a new disability
application without showing progression or a new condition if the member has
changed his or her position of public employment since the board's
decision became final. (4) If two years have
elapsed since the date the member's contributing service terminated, no
subsequent application shall be accepted.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:06 AM
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Rule 145-2-22 | Receipt of disability benefits.
Effective:
January 1, 2020
(A) The public employees retirement
system shall notify, by regular mail, the member and the member's last
employer reporting to the retirement system or other retirement system, as
applicable, of an approval or denial of an application for a disability
benefit. (B) The board may require a member to
submit to medical examination(s) by an examining physician(s) provided the
medical consultant recommends such examination(s) in order to evaluate
continued eligibility for disability benefits. The board's consideration
shall remain limited to the disabling condition(s) described in paragraph
(B)(2) of rule 145-2-21 of the Administrative Code or as described in paragraph
(G) of this rule. (C) The board may waive the periodic
medical examination as described in section 145.362 of the Revised Code upon
the recommendation of the board's medical consultant or when the
recipient of a disability allowance is within twelve months of becoming
eligible for a benefit under section 145.331 of the Revised Code. A waiver of
the periodic medical examination does not prohibit the board from requiring the
member to submit to future medical examinations. (D) Continued medical
treatment (1) A member whose
disability benefit is approved with the requirement of continued medical
treatment must submit required medical treatment reports on a form provided by
the retirement system. If the member fails to submit a required report or does
not continue the required treatment, the member's disability benefit
shall be suspended until such report is received by the retirement system or
the member resumes treatment. If such failure continues for one year, the
disability benefit shall be terminated in accordance with section 145.35 of the
Revised Code and is not subject to appeal to the public employees retirement
board. (2) The medical
consultant may waive the requirement for continued medical treatment if the
medical consultant determines that the treatment is no longer helpful or
advisable. (3) A disability benefit
recipient enrolled in the rehabilitative services program shall comply with the
continued medical treatment as described in paragraph (F) of this
rule. (E) Reemployment of or public service
provided by a disability benefit recipient (1) If a disability
benefit recipient is restored to service by a public employer as defined in
this rule, the disability benefit shall cease in accordance with section
145.362 of the Revised Code and is not subject to appeal to the public
employees retirement board. (2) Subject to paragraph
(E)(3) of this rule, "restored to service" means holding elective
office or service as a public employee with any public employer covered by
Chapter 145. of the Revised Code, regardless of whether the service is similar
or dissimilar to the public employment from which the recipient was found
disabled, the amount or type of compensation, if any, or whether the
compensation is earnable salary. (3) "Restored to
service" does not include either of the following: (a) On and after July 1, 2015, service the disability benefit
recipient terminates immediately upon notice from the retirement system as
described in this paragraph. Upon receipt of notice that the disability
benefit recipient has been restored to service, the system shall notify the
recipient on a form provided by the system. The form shall require an
affirmation by the recipient that either the service will be terminated in
order to continue to receive a disability benefit or the service will continue,
which will cause the disability benefit to be terminated. The recipient shall
return to the retirement system the signed and notarized form not later than
forty-five days after the date it was mailed by the retirement system. If the
recipient affirms a continuation of service or the recipient fails to return
the form to the retirement system within forty-five days, the disability
benefit shall be terminated on the date the recipient was restored to service
and any overpayment of disability benefits shall be collected as authorized in
Chapter 145. of the Revised Code. If the recipient affirms a termination of
service, the termination of service shall be effective on receipt of the notice
from the retirement system and any employee contributions remitted for the
service shall be unauthorized and returned to the employer. The corresponding
employer contributions shall be unauthorized and shall be credited against
future employer liabilities. (b) Service performed as an election worker, as defined in rule
145-1-44 of the Administrative Code, who is not a public employee pursuant to
section 145.012 of the Revised Code. (4) The retirement board
shall review the employment of a disability benefit recipient who seeks
employment or is employed or compensated by an employer other than a public
employer in a position similar to the position the recipient held as a public
employee to determine if the recipient must undergo a medical examination to
determine if the disability is ongoing or whether the benefit should be
terminated. (F) Rehabilitative services
program (1) A disability benefit
recipient whose application for a disability benefit was received by the
retirement system on or after January 7, 2013, and who was not a law
enforcement officer at the time contributing service terminated, may elect to
participate in the rehabilitative services program. If the recipient withdraws
from the rehabilitative services program, the recipient is eligible to make one
additional election to participate. A recipient may elect to participate in the
rehabilitative services program under this paragraph not later than six months
prior to the beginning of the third year following the benefit effective
date. (2) For a disability
benefit recipient who has elected to participate in the rehabilitative services
program, the continued treatment requirement will be satisfied by the
recipient's participation in the case management treatment plan through
the rehabilitative services program. Prior to the conclusion of the third year
following the benefit effective date, non-compliance with the case management
treatment plan shall be treated as described in paragraph (D) of this rule.
After the conclusion of the third year following the benefit effective date,
non-compliance with the case management treatment plan irrevocably terminates
the disability benefit recipient's participation in the rehabilitative
services program and thereafter the medical examination of the recipient shall
be conducted under the standard described in division (B) of section 145.362 of
the Revised Code. (3) If the recipient has been receiving
the benefit for less than five years and the medical consultant determines that
there are no rehabilitative services acceptable to the board's medical
consultant, the recipient shall be considered on leave of absence and the
standard for termination of the benefit is that the recipient is not physically
or mentally incapable of resuming the service from which the recipient was
found disabled. (G) Disability from the duties of any
position (1) Consideration of a
recipient's ability to perform any position that meets the criteria in
division (B) of section 145.362 of the Revised Code shall include the
recipient's physical and mental functionality as based on the
recipient's disability record. (2) For purposes of
evaluating the ability to perform the duties of any position described in
division (B) of section 145.362 of the Revised Code, all criteria described in
that division shall be determined at the beginning of each review. (H) Information gathered or obtained
regarding the disabling condition(s) under this rule becomes part of the
disability record that is available for review by the medical examiner and
medical consultant.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:15 AM
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Rule 145-2-23 | Disability appeals.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) Except as provided in this paragraph, this rule applies when
an application for a disability benefit filed pursuant to section 145.35 of the
Revised Code is denied or a disability benefit pursuant to section 145.362 of
the Revised Code is terminated due to the recipient no longer being disabled.
The termination of a disability benefit due to any of the following are not
subject to the discretion of nor appeal to the public employees retirement
board: (1) The disability
benefit recipient being restored to service, refusing to undergo medical
examination, or noncompliance with the annual statement requirement as provided
in section 145.362 of the Revised Code and rule 145-2-22 of the Administrative
Code; (2) The disability
benefit recipient's failure to obtain treatment or submit a medical report
as provided in division (F) of section 145.35 of the Revised Code and rule
145-2-22 of the Administrative Code. (B) (1) After an application is denied or a
disability benefit is terminated, the member shall be notified in writing of
such action. (2) The notice shall be sent by regular
mail. (3) The notice shall include the
following information: (a) The denial or termination of the disability
benefit. (b) The member's right to file a written request to appeal.
Such written request to appeal must be received by the public employees
retirement system no later than thirty days from the date of the notice of
denial or termination. (c) Failure of a member to submit a written request to appeal
shall make the action final as to such application or benefit. (d) In addition to the written request to appeal, the member
must also submit additional objective medical evidence. For appeals under the
own occupation standard of review, such additional evidence shall be current
medical evidence documented by a licensed physician specially trained in the
field of medicine covering the illness or injury for which the disability is
claimed and such evidence has not been considered previously by the examining
physician or medical consultant. For appeals under the any occupation standard
of review, such additional medical evidence shall be current medical evidence
documented by a licensed physician specially trained in the field of medicine
covering the illness or injury that supports the member's inability to
perform the duties of any occupation described in division (B) of section
145.362 of the Revised Code and such evidence has not been considered
previously by the examining physician or medical consultant. Such additional
medical evidence shall be presented on a form provided by the retirement
system. (e) Failure to provide the additional medical evidence within
forty-five days of the member's appeal request shall make the action final
to such application or benefit unless an extension for submission of such
evidence has been requested and granted within the forty-five days. Only one
extension, not to exceed forty-five days, may be granted by the retirement
system. (f) All medical costs of physicians selected by the member and
incident to the appeal shall be at the expense of the member. (g) Returning to public employment covered by Chapter 145. of the
Revised Code during an appeal process that follows a termination of benefits
automatically voids the member's appeal and the termination of disability
benefits is final. (C) (1) After submission of any additional
medical evidence as described in paragraph (B)(3)(d) of this rule, all evidence
shall be reviewed by the medical consultant(s) who shall recommend action for
concurrence by the board. (2) If the board concurs with a
recommendation for approval of the appeal, disability benefits shall be paid
from the date that was established when the original application for a
disability benefit was filed. If a recommendation for termination of a
disability benefit was appealed and the appeal is approved by the board, the
payments shall be resumed from the date of termination. The member shall be
notified by regular mail of the board's decision. (3) If the board concurs with a
recommendation for denial of the appeal, the member shall be notified by
regular mail of the board's decision and such decision shall be
final. (D) The following apply to disability
appeals or applications after the board's decision on an appeal is
final: (1) .If two years have
elapsed since the date the member's contributing service terminated, no
subsequent application shall be accepted. (2) Any subsequent
applications for a disability benefit filed after the board's final
decision on a denial of an appeal and within the two years following the date
the member's contributing service terminated shall be submitted with
medical evidence supporting progression of the disabling condition or a new
disabling condition. The board shall not consider an application under this
paragraph if the medical consultant or examining physician concludes there is
no evidence of progression or a new disabling condition and the application
shall be voided. (3) Notwithstanding
paragraph (D)(2) of this rule, a member may file a new disability application
without showing progression or a new condition if the member has changed his or
her position of public employment since the board's decision on the appeal
became final. (E) If an appeal is pending, the retirement system shall void the
appeal of a member who returns to public employment covered by Chapter 145. of
the Revised Code or files a new disability application and the board's
denial or termination of disability benefits is final.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:07 AM
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Rule 145-2-25 | Combined disability benefits.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.37 of the Revised
Code. (B) "Paying system" shall have
the same meaning as defined in section 145.37 of the Revised Code. (C) As used in this rule, "last date of service" means
the last day of compensated service, either for a day worked or used paid
leave, under the public employees retirement system, state teachers retirement
system, or school employees retirement system. (D) If a member of the public employees retirement system files
an application for a disability benefit pursuant to section 145.35 of the
Revised Code, and also chooses to apply for a combined disability benefit with
the state teachers retirement system or school employees retirement system, the
following shall apply. (1) If this system
receives the application for combined disability, it shall notify the other
retirement system(s). (2) If this system is the paying system,
it shall request and pay for the examining physician(s) report(s). (3) Disability shall be determined on the
basis of the duties for the position held on the member's last date of
service under school employees retirement system, public employees retirement
system, or state teachers retirement system. If the member's last date of
service is concurrent under two or more systems, disability for the performance
of duty shall be determined on the basis of the duties for the position with
the greater annual compensation or earnable salary at the time of
application. (E) If this system is the paying system of a combined disability
benefit, this system's rules and statutes shall govern the disability
benefits. A finding of disability shall be based on the member's ability
to perform the member's last date of service under school employees
retirement system, public employees retirement system, or state teachers
retirement system. If a combined disability benefit is terminated and the
member applies for a refund of accumulated contributions, the refund shall
include any unused employee contributions received from the school employees
retirement system or the state teachers retirement system. (F) For purposes of division (B)(9) of section 145.37 of the
Revised Code, "employment amenable to coverage in any state retirement
system" means employment that would impact a retirement or disability
benefit under any state retirement system that participated in the former
member's combined retirement or disability benefit.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:07 AM
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Rule 145-2-27 | Disability benefit recipient's annual statement.
(A) (1) Except as provided
in paragraph (A)(3) of this rule, on or before April fifteenth of each year, a
disability benefit recipient shall file a statement with the public employees
retirement system providing information including, but not limited to: work
performed during the preceding calendar year, compensation received for work
performed, and current medical information. (2) For disability
benefit applications filed on or after January 7, 2013, the statement must also
include any evidence of application for social security disability insurance
("SSDI"), benefit payments and a copy of the annual SSDI reward
letter, if applicable. (3) A disability benefit
recipient is not required to file the statement described in this rule if the
recipient is subject to a guardianship, has attained age seventy, or resides in
a skilled nursing facility. (B) The recipient's statement shall
be made on a form provided by the retirement system. (C) The failure of a recipient to file
such statement shall result in the suspension of a disability benefit until
such statement is filed. If such failure continues for one year, the disability
benefit shall be terminated in accordance with section 145.362 of the Revised
Code and is not subject to appeal to the public employees retirement
board.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:15 AM
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Rule 145-2-30 | Designation of beneficiary prior to retirement.
Effective:
September 16, 2013
(A) This rule amplifies section 145.431 of the Revised Code. (B) A member may designate a beneficiary on a form provided by the public employees retirement system. The designation applies to all retirement plans in which the member has contributions on deposit prior to retirement. If a member or participant has not designated a beneficiary, the beneficiary shall be determined pursuant to section 145.43 of the Revised Code and applicable provisions of the combined and member-directed plan documents. (C) A member or participant who designated a beneficiary or beneficiaries prior to the effective date of this rule shall have the last designation in time maintained as the single designation for the member's accounts in the traditional pension plan, combined plan, and member-directed plan.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:15 AM
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Rule 145-2-31 | Proof of dependency.
Effective:
January 1, 2003
Where dependency as defined in division (A) of section 145.43 of the Revised Code is required for eligibility of benefits pursuant to section 145.43 or 145.45 of the Revised Code, a beneficiary shall file a copy of the deceased member's federal income tax return for the year preceding the member's death, or other satisfactory evidence of dependency to the public employees retirement board.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:15 AM
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Rule 145-2-32 | Crediting of interest to beneficiaries lump sum payments.
Effective:
January 1, 2017
For purposes of determining the interest credited to a deceased member's account under section 145.471 of the Revised Code, interest shall be earned through the last day of the month prior to the first payment to a beneficiary under section 145.43 of the Revised Code.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:15 AM
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Rule 145-2-35 | Validity of marriage.
In the absence of a valid marriage certificate, the public employees retirement board will accept only a decision rendered by a court, having jurisdiction in the state in which the member was domiciled at the time of death, that the relationship constituted a valid marriage at time of death, or the "spouse" would have the same status as a widow or widower for purposes of sharing in the distribution of the member's or retirant's intestate personal property.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:21 AM
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Rule 145-2-37 | Deferral of survivor benefits.
Effective:
January 1, 2007
(A) This rule applies to the payment of a benefit to a surviving spouse who has not attained age sixty-five and who elects, pursuant to division (A) of section 145.45 of the Revised Code, to defer receipt of such benefit. (B) (1) The benefit shall be calculated as if payable on the first day of the month following the death of the member. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (B)(1) of this rule, the monthly benefit will accumulate and be paid in a single sum no earlier than the first of the month following the surviving spouse's attainment of age sixty-five. (3) Interest shall accumulate during the time of deferral at the interest rate described in division (B) of section 145.473 of the Revised Code. (C) The amount calculated under this rule shall not be reduced due to a later recalculation as provided in section 3 of Amended Substitute House Bill 268 of the 111th General Assembly.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:22 AM
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Rule 145-2-38 | Survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
(A) As used in this rule: (1) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as in rule 145-2-39 of the Administrative Code. (2) "Killed in the line of duty" has the same meaning as in section 145.45 of the Revised Code. (B) For purposes of determining the eligibility of a qualified spouse under division (B)(2)(a)(i) of section 145.45 of the Revised Code, the employer of the law enforcement officer at the time of the officer's death shall certify, on a form provided by the public employees retirement system, that the law enforcement officer was killed in the line of duty.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:22 AM
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Rule 145-2-39 | Survivors of law enforcement officers with non-law enforcement service.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) Definitions (1) "Law enforcement
officer" means a member described in division (YY) of section 145.01 of
the Revised Code. (2) "Law enforcement
service" means service as a law enforcement officer or public safety
officer. (3) "Non-law
enforcement service" means service covered by the public employees
retirement system that is other than law enforcement service. (4) "Public safety
officer" means a member described in division (AAA) of section 145.01 of
the Revised Code. (B) If a member who has both law
enforcement service credit and non-law enforcement service credit dies prior to
retirement, the member's qualifying beneficiary or beneficiaries as
determined in accordance with section 143.43, 145.431, or 145.45 of the Revised
Code may elect to have benefits paid pursuant to section 145.33, 145.332,
145.43, or 145.45 of the Revised Code. If the benefit is calculated pursuant to
division (I)(2) or (I)(3) of section 145.332 of the Revised Code, the
beneficiary shall be paid an amount equal to the amount the member would have
received for the non-law enforcement service.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:07 AM
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Rule 145-2-40 | Benefits payable under section 145.333 of the Revised Code.
Effective:
January 1, 2014
(A) As used in this rule, "retirement allowance" has the same meaning as defined in section 145.333 of the Revised Code. (B) If a retirement allowance is reduced under section 145.333 of the Revised Code, the reduced retirement allowance shall become the member's single lifetime allowance for purposes of sections 145.33, 145.332, and 145.45 of the Revised Code. (C) As used in division (E) of section 145.333 of the Revised Code, "full month of service" means any month during which a public employee has earnable salary in the public employees retirement system and does not include the first or last month of employment with a public employer or a period of an approved leave of absence from a public employer.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-42 | Retirement incentive plans.
Effective:
January 1, 2017
(A) For the purpose of this rule: (1) "Effective benefit date" means the first day of the month immediately following the latest of the following: (a) The last day for which compensation was paid; (b) The attainment of minimum age or service credit eligibility provided under Chapter 145. of the Revised Code; (c) Ninety days prior to receipt by the public employees retirement system of the member's completed retirement application; (d) February 1, 2013, for retirement applications received by the retirement system on or after January 7, 2013. (2) "Employee" means each contributing member of the public employees retirement system who is an employee described in division (C) of section 145.297 of the Revised Code regardless of the years of service credit in the retirement system; (3) "Employing unit" means an employer as defined in division (A) of section 145.297 or division (A) of section 145.298 of the Revised Code, and if any subordinate designation of an employing unit is made then the retirement system shall be notified in accordance with paragraph (B) of this rule; and (4) "Retirement incentive plan" means a plan established pursuant to section 145.297 or 145.298 of the Revised Code. (B) (1) (a) Upon adoption of a retirement incentive plan, an employing unit shall notify the retirement system of the adoption on a form provided by the public employees retirement board. A copy of the proposed plan shall be attached to the form. In the case of a retirement incentive plan established under section 145.297 of the Revised Code, the employing unit shall notify the retirement system at least sixty days prior to the date the plan goes into effect. In the case of a retirement incentive plan established under section 145.298 of the Revised Code, the employing unity shall notify the retirement system immediately upon adoption of the plan. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (B)(1)(a) of this rule, in the event a subordinate designation of an employing unit is made: (i) If by a state entity, notice to the retirement system shall be submitted by the appointing authority and include the signatures of the fiscal officer reporting to the retirement system and head of the subordinate employing unit; or (ii) If by a county board of commissioners, notice to the retirement system shall be submitted by the commissioners and include the signatures of the county auditor and head of the subordinate employing unit; or (iii) If by a municipal corporation legislative authority, notice to the retirement system shall be submitted by the legislative authority and include the signatures of the fiscal officer reporting to the retirement system and head of the subordinate employing unit. (2) The plan must be in writing and meet the following minimum requirements: (a) Incorporate the approval of the employing unit; (b) Provide for the employing unit's purchase and payment of service credit; (c) For retirement incentive plans adopted under section 145.297 of the Revised Code and received by the retirement system on or after January 1, 2008, provide for a prospective effective date of the plan that shall be at least sixty days after receipt by the retirement system of the notice described in paragraph (B) of this rule; (d) Specify the maximum number of years that can be purchased, not to exceed five years, and in no event to exceed an amount of service credit equal to one-fifth of the total service credited to an eligible employee under Chapter 145. of the Revised Code, exclusive of service credit purchased under the plan; (e) Be in effect for a minimum of one year except as provided in division (D) of section 145.298 of the Revised Code; (f) No more than one plan shall be in effect at one time for an employing unit or subordinate employing unit; (g) Be offered to not less than five per cent of the employing unit or subordinate employing unit's employees who are members of the retirement system as of the date the plan goes into effect; (h) Provide a grievance procedure for timely and impartial resolution of disputes arising under the plan; and (i) Provide thirty days prior notice to employees of the termination of the retirement incentive plan. (3) In addition to providing thirty days prior notice to its employees of the termination of a retirement incentive plan, the employing unit shall provide similar written notice to the retirement system at the same time. (4) Upon the written request of an employing unit or a subordinate employing unit, a retirement incentive plan may be extended beyond the date designated in the original plan. Such request shall be submitted in the same manner as notice of adoption of the original plan is required in this paragraph. (C) Requests by an employing unit for the cost of service credit to be purchased for an employee under a retirement incentive plan shall be submitted to the retirement system on a form provided by the retirement board. (D) (1) The additional liability resulting from a retirement incentive plan is established under contract as an employer liability by the employee-employer agreement. The cost to the employing unit for each year or fraction of a year of credit to be purchased will be determined by factors recommended by the retirement system's actuary that yield an amount equal to the additional liability for the service credit to be purchased. Factors to establish actuarial cost will be revised no more than once annually and after such revision is approved by the retirement board shall apply to new credit calculations. The cost shall be stated in a statement of cost to the employer that shall be valid when computed for payment not earlier than three months preceding the effective benefit date. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this rule, the employing unit shall pay in one payment after notice by the retirement system to the employing unit, or contract to pay, the cost of the service credit to be purchased by the earlier of either the last day of the month preceding the employee's effective benefit date, or the termination date of the retirement incentive plan. (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (D)(2) of this rule, an employing unit that has established a voluntary retirement incentive plan pursuant to section 145.297 of the Revised Code, and that is terminating operations as a whole or in part shall pay in one payment after notice by the retirement system to the employing unit, or contract to pay, the cost of the service credit to be purchased by the earlier of either the last day of the month preceding the employee's effective benefit date, or the last day of operations. (4) Any amounts not paid timely by the employing unit shall be certified for collection pursuant to section 145.51 of the Revised Code. (E) (1) The service credit contracted for purchase under the retirement incentive plan shall be credited to the employee by the retirement system under the terms of the employee-employer agreement and the employee shall retire within ninety days thereafter. (2) If an employee dies prior to an effective benefit date, a qualifying beneficiary shall be entitled only to those benefits provided by section 145.43 or 145.45 of the Revised Code exclusive of service credit which may have been available under a retirement incentive plan. (F) Except as provided in sections 145.297 and 145.298 of the Revised Code, an employee who retires with service credit purchased pursuant to a retirement incentive plan is subject to the rights, privileges and obligations under sections 145.01 to 145.59 of the Revised Code in effect at the time of retirement. (G) (1) "Total service credit" as used in section 145.297 or 145.298 of the Revised Code means all service that is credited pursuant to Chapter 145. of the Revised Code. (2) Third-party requests for the total service credit of a member shall be honored only if accompanied by the member's written authorization that includes the member's federal identification number.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:22 AM
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Rule 145-2-43 | Additional annuity accounts.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) A member or contributor who makes a
deposit for an additional annuity pursuant to section 145.62 of the Revised
Code shall remit the first deposit with a form provided by the public employees
retirement system. The retirement system shall not accept a payment for less
than fifteen dollars. Deposits shall be credited to the tax year in which the
deposit is posted to the account of the member or contributor. (B) A member or contributor may elect to
have an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an additional annuity
account as a direct rollover. Any non-taxable portion of an eligible rollover
distribution shall be separately accounted for by the retirement system and
shall only be accepted in a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to the
additional annuity account. The following definitions apply to this
paragraph: (1) "Eligible
rollover distribution" means any distribution of all or any portion of the
balance to the credit of a member or contributor from an eligible retirement
plan. An eligible rollover distribution does not include: (a) Any distribution that is one of a series of substantially
equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life
(or life expectancy) of the member or contributor or the joint lives (or joint
life expectancies) of the member or contributor and the member or
contributor's designated beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten
years or more; (b) Any distribution to the extent such distribution is required
under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C.A.
401; (c) Any distribution that is made upon hardship of the member or
participant; or (d) The portion of any distribution that is not includible in
gross income, unless the distribution is being rolled over to either (i) a
traditional individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity
under sections 408(a) or 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26
U.S.C.A. 408, or (ii) a qualified trust which is part of a plan which is a
defined contribution plan under sections 401(a) or 403(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C.A. 403, that will separately account for the
distribution, including the taxable and non-taxable portions of the
distribution, in a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer. (2) "Eligible
retirement plan" means any program defined in sections 401(a)(31) and
402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C.A. 402, from which
the member or contributor has a right to an eligible rollover distribution, as
follows: (a) An individual retirement account under section 408(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code; (b) An individual retirement annuity under section 408(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code (other than an endowment contract); (c) A qualified trust; (d) An annuity plan under section 403(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code; (e) An eligible deferred compensation plan under section 457(b)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C.A. 457, that is maintained by an
eligible employer under section 457(e)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue
Code; (f) An annuity contract under section 403(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code; and (g) Effective January 1, 2008, a Roth individual retirement
account or annuity described in section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code,
subject to the limitations set forth in such Internal Revenue Code provision;
provided, however, that the plan is not responsible for assuring that a
distributee is eligible to make such a rollover. (3) "Direct
rollover" means a payment to the additional annuity account from an
eligible retirement plan specified by the member or contributor. (C) A member or contributor shall make
application for an additional annuity payment under section 145.64 of the
Revised Code or a one-time lump sum payment under section 145.63 of the Revised
Code on a form provided by the public employees retirement system. In the event
a member or contributor is deceased, the qualifying beneficiary shall make
application. Except as provided in this paragraph, a member or contributor may
apply for a one-time lump sum payment at any time. If, at the time of
application for a one-time lump sum payment, the additional annuity account of
the member or contributor includes mandatory employee or employer contributions
that were transferred to the account in accordance with rule 145-1-74 or
145-2-18 of the Administrative Code, the member or contributor may only apply
for a one-time lump sum payment under the circumstances described in section
145.63 of the Revised Code if the member has terminated service. (D) Except as provided in this paragraph,
monthly additional annuity payments shall commence at the time of issuance of
an initial benefit payment, as defined in paragraph (A)(5) of rule 145-1-65 of
the Administrative Code. In the case of a member or contributor who indicates
on a form provided by the retirement system that the member or contributor will
be making additional deposits into their additional annuity account, monthly
additional annuity payments shall not be issued until one hundred twenty days
following the initial benefit payment or, in the case of an additional annuity
commenced in connection with a benefit under section 145.384 of the Revised
Code, one hundred twenty days from issuance of the first payment under that
section. (E) All amounts on deposit with the
retirement system on December 31, 2007, for an additional annuity, including
any interest as may have been allowed by the public employees retirement board
under former section 145.23 of the Revised Code, section 145.62 of the Revised
Code, or prior versions of this rule, and any deposits made on or after January
1, 2008, shall be invested in the OPERS stable value fund, as described in the
statement of investment objectives and policies for the defined contribution
fund. The retirement system shall value the amounts described in this paragraph
in accordance with the daily values determined for the OPERS stable value fund
and acceptable industry practices. The board and the retirement system are not
liable for losses or depreciation in the value of the amounts described in this
paragraph. (F) Pursuant to division (B)(6) of
section 145.64 of the Revised Code, a member or contributor who fails to select
a plan of payment for the monthly additional annuity shall receive monthly
annuity payments under a plan of payment that is consistent with the marital
status of the member or contributor. (G) On application for a payment under
section 145.63 or 145.64 of the Revised Code by a member, contributor, or
beneficiary whose deposits were transferred to the income fund as described in
section 145.41 of the Revised Code, the retirement system shall credit interest
and invest the deposits as described in paragraph (E) of this
rule.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-44 | Selection of payment plan-spousal consent.
Effective:
September 16, 2013
(A) A contributor who is married at the time of retirement under section 145.32, 145.33, 145.331, 145.332, 145.37, or 145.46 of the Revised Code, section 9.02 or 9.03 of the combined plan document, or section 9.02 of the member-directed plan document, or at the time benefits are to commence under section 145.384 or 145.64 of the Revised Code, shall receive a retirement benefit under the joint-life plan with one-half of such allowance continuing after death to the contributor's surviving spouse unless one of the following apply: (1) The spouse consents on a form provided by the public employees retirement system that the spouse is aware that the contributor has selected the joint-life plan with one-half of such allowance continuing after death to the contributor's surviving spouse and a partial lump sum option payment as defined in rule 145-1-65 of the Administrative Code, or a payment plan other than a joint-life plan with one-half of such allowance continuing after death to the contributor's surviving spouse. (2) The public employees retirement board waives the requirement of a spousal consent in accordance with rule 145-1-70 or rule 145-3-11 of the Administrative Code; (3) The contributor is required to elect a plan of payment and designate a former spouse as beneficiary pursuant to a court order issued under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state regarding the division of marital property and the contributor also designates the contributor's current spouse as a beneficiary under that plan. (4) The retirement system is required to commence a benefit described in this paragraph in accordance with section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. (B) This paragraph applies to a contributor who elects a plan of payment under which a portion of the contributor's benefit continues, after the death of the contributor, to two, three, or four surviving beneficiaries. A contributor's current spouse must also consent to the election of a plan of payment described in this paragraph if either of the following applies: (1) The contributor is not subject to a court order issued under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state regarding the division of marital property that requires the contributor to elect the plan of payment described in this paragraph; (2) The contributor is ordered to designate a former spouse as beneficiary of a specified portion of the benefit under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state regarding the division of marital property, but also designates a beneficiary or beneficiaries other than the contributor's current spouse and former spouse under that plan of payment.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-45 | Benefit payable pursuant to section 145.331 of the Revised Code.
Effective:
January 1, 2007
(A) Benefits available under section 145.331 of the Revised Code shall be effective as provided in that section. (B) A disability benefit recipient who applies for retirement under section 145.331 of the Revised Code shall select a plan of payment and designate a beneficiary pursuant to section 145.46 of the Revised Code. A plan of payment or a beneficiary may be changed only pursuant to section 145.46 of the Revised Code and rule 145-2-47 of the Administrative Code.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:22 AM
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Rule 145-2-46 | Beneficiary's percentage under the joint-life and multiple-life plans.
Effective:
January 1, 2021
Unless a court order specifically requires a
member to allocate to the member's former spouse less than ten per cent
of the member's monthly retirement allowance, the portion of a retirement
allowance that continues after death to a member's surviving beneficiary
pursuant to the plan of payment described in division (B)(1) or (B)(3) of
section 145.46 of the Revised Code or section 9.03 (e)(1)(i) or (e)(1)(iii) of
the combined plan document shall be expressed as a whole percentage and shall
meet or exceed the greater of the following: (A) Ten per cent of the member's
monthly retirement allowance; (B) A percentage that causes the
beneficiary's monthly benefit to be at least fifty dollars.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-47 | Beneficiary and payment plan changes after retirement.
Effective:
January 1, 2017
(A) Section 145.46 of the Revised Code as effective January 7, 2013, renames the plans of payment available under sections 145.32, 145.33, 145.332, and 145.46 and former section 145.34 of the Revised Code. For purposes of Chapter 145. of the Revised Code and Chapters 145-1 to 145-4 of the Administrative Code, such payment plans shall be treated the same as follows: (1) A straight or single life annuity payment plan and plan B shall be known as "the single-life plan". (2) An option 1 payment plan and plan D shall be known as "the joint-life plan". (3) An option 2 payment plan and plan A when the retirant's spouse is the retirant's beneficiary and the amount payable after the retirant's death is fifty per cent shall be known as "the joint-life plan". (4) An option 2 payment plan and plan C when the beneficiary is someone other than the retirant's spouse or the amount payable to a beneficiary after the retirant's death is other than fifty per cent shall be known as "the joint-life plan". (5) An option 3 payment plan and plan E. (6) Plan F shall be known as "the multiple-life plan". (B) Except as provided in paragraph (I) of this rule, a designation of beneficiary may be changed after retirement when the retirant is receiving benefits under: (1) A payment plan B or the single-life plan. (2) A payment plan E, under the version of section 145.46 in effect immediately prior to January 7, 2013, but the payment plan cannot be changed. (C) When a retirant is receiving benefits under the joint-life plan, the plan shall be changed to the single-life plan and a new beneficiary may be designated: (1) The first day of the month following the date on which the public employees retirement system receives the death certificate of the spouse or other individual designated as beneficiary under the plan, but any change in the benefit amount shall be effective the first day of the month following the date of death of the spouse or beneficiary. (2) On the first day of the month after receipt of the election of the retirant to revert to the single-life plan following divorce, annulment or dissolution of marriage with a spouse designated as beneficiary under the plan, except that no benefit shall be increased without the written consent of the former spouse who was the designated beneficiary or an order from the court with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage. (D) The right to have the joint-life plan recomputed as the single-life plan upon notice of the date of death of the beneficiary, or upon divorce, annulment or dissolution of marriage with a spouse who was designated as beneficiary, applies to all retirants who are receiving benefits under the joint-life plan regardless of the original effective date of benefits. (E) Upon the marriage or remarriage of a retirant receiving benefits under the multiple-life plan, the retirant may designate the new spouse as a beneficiary under the multiple-life plan only if the retirant does not already have four beneficiaries designated under that plan at the time the retirant applies to add the new spouse. (F) (1) The death or disqualification of any designated beneficiary under the multiple-life plan shall not change the plan of payment. The the multiple-life plan benefit shall continue to the remaining designated beneficiaries in their same percentages. If the death or disqualification occurs prior to the retirant's death, the deceased beneficiary's portion shall revert to the retirant for the remainder of his or her lifetime. (2) A retirant may not cancel the multiple-life plan and return to a single lifetime benefit equivalent until the date of death of all designated beneficiaries under that plan. The effective date of this change shall be the first day of the month following the date of death of the last living beneficiary. (G) A retirant who is receiving benefits under the single-life plan may, upon the retirant's later marriage or remarriage, elect to have the retirant's benefit recomputed as the joint-life plan and designate only the new spouse as beneficiary, as provided in division (H) of section 145.46 of the Revised Code, sections 9.02(f) and 9.03(h) of the combined plan document, and section 9.02(f) of the member-directed plan document. The actuarial factors shall be based on the actuarial ages of the retirant and beneficiary at the time the benefit is recomputed. (H) A retirant who elected to receive a partial lump sum option payment, as defined in rule 145-1-65 of the Administrative Code, shall have the partial lump sum option payment accounted for upon the recomputation of the retirant's benefit. (I) Any request for a change of plan of payment or of beneficiary shall be made on a form approved by the public employees retirement board. If a retirant dies prior to the retirement system's receipt of the form, the retirant's request for a change of plan of payment or beneficiary is void. (J) For those retirants whose benefit is commenced under the single-life plan in accordance with section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C.A. 401, and the regulations thereunder, not later than one year after the effective date of the benefit described in this paragraph, a retirant who was married on the effective date of the benefit may elect the joint-life plan based on the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's single life annuity as determined by the board and designate the retirant's current spouse as beneficiary. The election shall be made on a form approved the retirement system and shall be effective on the effective date of the benefit paid under the single-life plan. Any benefit overpayment may be recovered as provided in section 145.563 of the Revised Code.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-48 | Beneficiary and payment plan changes after commencement of additional annuity.
Effective:
September 16, 2013
(A) Except as provided in paragraph (G) of this rule, a designation of beneficiary may be changed after commencement of benefits under section 145.64 of the Revised Code when the contributor is receiving benefits under the single-life plan. (B) When a contributor is receiving an additional annuity under a plan providing continuing lifetime payments to a designated beneficiary, the plan shall be changed to the single-life plan and a new beneficiary may be designated: (1) The first day of the month following the date on which the public employees retirement system receives the death certificate of the individual designated as beneficiary under the plan, but any change in the benefit amount shall be effective the first day of the month following the date of death of the beneficiary. (2) On the first day of the month after receipt of the election of the contributor to revert to the single-life plan following divorce, annulment, or dissolution of marriage with a spouse designated as beneficiary under the plan, except that no benefit shall be increased without the written consent of the former spouse who was the designated beneficiary or an order from the court with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage. (C) The right to have a plan providing continuing lifetime payments to a designated beneficiary recomputed as the single-life plan upon the date of death of the beneficiary, or upon divorce, annulment or dissolution of marriage with a spouse who was designated as beneficiary, applies to all contributors who are receiving benefits under former section 145.23 or section 145.64 of the Revised Code, regardless of the original effective date of the benefits. (D) Upon the marriage or remarriage of a contributor receiving benefits under the multiple-life plan, the contributor may designate the new spouse as a beneficiary under the multiple-life plan only if the contributor does not already have four beneficiaries designated under that plan at the time the contributor applies to add the new spouse. (E) The death of any designated beneficiary under the multiple-life plan shall not change the plan of payment. The the multiple-life plan benefit shall continue to the remaining designated beneficiaries in the same percentages and the deceased beneficiary's portion shall revert to the contributor for the remainder of his or her lifetime. A contributor may not cancel the plan of payment and return to a single lifetime benefit equivalent until the date of death of all designated beneficiaries under that plan. The effective date of this change shall be the first day of the month following the date of death of the last living beneficiary. (F) A contributor who is receiving benefits under the single-life plan may, upon the contributor's later marriage or remarriage, elect to have the contributor's benefit under the single-life plan recomputed as the joint-life plan with one-half of such allowance continuing after death to the contributor's surviving spouse, as provided in division (F) of section 145.64 of the Revised Code. The actuarial factors shall be based on the actuarial ages of the retirant and spouse beneficiary at the time the benefit is recomputed. (G) Any request for a change of plan of payment or beneficiary shall be made on a form approved by the public employees retirement board. If a contributor dies prior to the retirement system's receipt of the form, the contributor's request for a change of plan of payment or beneficiary is void. (H) For those contributors whose benefit under section 145.64 of the Revised Code is commenced under the single-life plan in accordance with section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder, not later than one year after the effective date of the benefit described in this paragraph, a contributor who was married on the effective date of the benefit may elect the joint-life plan with one-half of such allowance continuing after death to the contributor's surviving spouse based on the actuarial equivalent of the contributor's single life annuity as determined by the board. The election shall be made on a form approved by the retirement system and shall be effective on the effective date of the benefit paid under the single-life plan. Any benefit overpayment may be recovered as provided in section 145.563 of the Revised Code.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:23 AM
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Rule 145-2-49 | Retirement benefits for law enforcement officers.
(A) Definitions (1) "Law enforcement
officer" means a member described in division (YY) of section 145.01 of
the Revised Code. (2) "Law enforcement
service" means service as a law enforcement officer or public safety
officer. (3) "Non-law
enforcement service" means service covered by the public employees
retirement system that is other than law enforcement service. (4) "Public safety
officer" means a member described in division (AAA) of section 145.01 of
the Revised Code. (B) If a law enforcement or public safety
officer is eligible, applies for, and elects to receive retirement benefits
pursuant to division (I)(2) or (I)(3) of section 145.332 of the Revised Code,
the law enforcement or public safety officer shall elect one of the following,
subject to the limitation described in division (N) of that
section: (1) For a member who has
law enforcement service and non-law enforcement service prior to March 22,
2019, either a monthly benefit as provided in division (I)(2)(b) and (I)(2)(c)
or (I)(3)(b) and (I)(3)(c) of section 145.332 of the Revised Code or a lump sum
payment discounted to the present value of the non-law enforcement service
benefit. (2) For a member who is
not described in paragraph (B)(1) of this rule, either a monthly benefit as
provided in division (I)(2)(b) and (I)(2)(c) or (I)(3)(b) and (I)(3)(c) of
section 145.332 of the Revised Code or an amount determined under section
145.40 of the Revised Code as a refund of accumulated contributions for the
non-law enforcement service. (C) If, at the time of the
retirant's death, the retirant has received a total amount of monthly
benefits that were less than the retirant would have received as described
paragraph (B) of this rule, the difference between the amount the retirant
received and the amount the retirant would have received shall be paid to the
retirant's beneficiary in a one-time payment,
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:23 AM
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Rule 145-2-50 | Acturial reduction factors.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
The public employees retirement board shall, based on the recommendation of the board's actuary, establish the percentage rate for the reductions described in division (A)(2) of section 145.33 of the Revised Code.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-51 | Effective date of benefits.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
Benefits available pursuant to section 145.32, 145.33, 145.332, 145.43, 145.45 or 145.46 of the Revised Code shall be effective the first day of the month immediately following the latest of the following: (A) For a member: (1) The last date for which compensation was paid; (2) Eligibility by attaining the required minimum age; (3) Eligibility by accumulating the required service credit; (4) Ninety days prior to receipt by the public employees retirement system of the member's completed application for retirement; (5) February 1, 2013, for retirement applications received by the retirement system on or after January 7, 2013. (B) For a beneficiary: (1) The death of the contributor or retirant; (2) Attainment of eligibility.
Last updated September 30, 2024 at 12:38 PM
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Rule 145-2-52 | Application by a contributor for refund of accumulated contributions.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
For purposes of division (A)(2) of section 145.40 of the Revised Code, "eligible for age and service retirement" means a contributor is eligible for a retirement benefit under section 145.32, 145.33, 145.331, or 145.332 of the Revised Code on or before the first of the month following the date the application for a refund is received by the public employees retirement system.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:23 AM
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Rule 145-2-53 | Cost of living adjustment.
Effective:
September 16, 2013
(A) As used in this rule, "alternate payee" has the same meaning as in section 3105.80 of the Revised Code. (B) A benefit recipient who has received an allowance for at least twelve months shall have such allowance increased pursuant to section 145.323 of the Revised Code and as provided in this rule on the annual anniversary of the recipient's effective benefit date. (C) A new benefit base upon which a cost of living adjustment shall be calculated shall be established when: (1) A post retirement increase is granted, other than a cost of living adjustment or a payment representing reimbursement of premium for medicare part "B". (2) A retirant receiving under the joint-life plan dies and the surviving beneficiary begins receiving a portion of the amount previously paid to the retirant. (3) A survivor benefit is adjusted as the result of adding or removing survivor dependents. (4) A retirant receiving under the joint-life plan reverts to the single-life plan as a result of the death of the beneficiary spouse, or divorce or dissolution of marriage as authorized in section 145.46 of the Revised Code and rule 145-2-47 of the Administrative Code. (5) A retirant receiving under the multiple-life plan reverts to to the single-life plan as a result of the removal of all beneficiaries as authorized in section 145.46 of the Revised Code and rule 145-2-47 of the Administrative Code. (6) The benefit established at retirement is recalculated for any reason except for a cost of living adjustment or reimbursement of premium for medicare part "B." (7) A part of a benefit is waived then the base shall be the portion being paid. If a waiver is withdrawn, the full base shall be re-established. (D) For allowances that became payable before October 27, 2006, the apportionment of a cost of living adjustment between a benefit recipient and an alternate payee pursuant to division (B) of section 145.323 of the Revised Code shall begin with the next cost of living adjustment granted on or after October 27, 2006, and shall continue while the order is in effect.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:23 AM
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Rule 145-2-54 | Enhanced refund.
Effective:
September 16, 2013
(A) As used in this rule: (1) "Eligible contributions" means amounts contributed by a member under section 145.47 of the Revised Code and, if applicable, the amounts paid by the member to purchase or restore service credit under section 145.302 or 145.31 of the Revised Code."Eligible contributions" does not include contributions that were used in the payment of a disability benefit under section 145.36 of the Revised Code or were refunded to the member because the system was not authorized to accept the contributions. (2) "Service credit" has the same meaning as defined in section 145.401 of the Revised Code. (B) For purposes of division (B) of section 145.401 of the Revised Code: (1) If a member has, or at the time of death had, at least five years of service credit but less than ten years of service credit, the amount shall equal thirty-three per cent of the member's eligible contributions. (2) If a member has, or at the time of death had, at least ten years of service credit, the amount shall equal sixty-seven per cent of the member's eligible contributions.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM
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Rule 145-2-55 | Death benefit payment.
Effective:
January 1, 2022
(A) This rule shall apply only to the
death benefit payable pursuant to section 145.451 of the Revised
Code. (B) A retirant or a disability benefit
recipient may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive only the
death benefit payment. (1) Such designation must
be on a form provided by the public employees retirement system and filed with
the system prior to the retirant or disability benefit recipient's
death. (2) The death benefit
payment shall be divided equally among the surviving beneficiaries if the
retirant or the disability benefit recipient designated multiple
beneficiaries. (C) If the death benefit is payable to
the person responsible for the retirant's or disability benefit
recipient's burial expenses, such person shall submit proof of financial
liability and proof of payment of these expenses. (D) If a beneficiary of the death benefit
payment or portion of a death benefit payment dies prior to the distribution of
the amount, the payment shall be issued to the beneficiary's
estate.
Last updated January 3, 2022 at 9:08 AM
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Rule 145-2-57 | Annual interest credited to contributor accounts.
Effective:
January 1, 2003
The public employees retirement board shall set the annual interest rate to be credited to contributor accounts pursuant to division (A) of section 145.473 of the Revised Code.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM
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Rule 145-2-60 | Designation of beneficiaries under the multiple-life plan.
Effective:
September 16, 2013
The portion of the lesser amount continuing after death to two, three, or four surviving beneficiaries designated at the time of a member's retirement or at the time of commencement of a contributor's benefit under section 145.384 or 145.64 of the Revised Code shall be allocated among the beneficiaries in whole percentages only.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM
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Rule 145-2-62 | Calculation of amount due retirant or contributor with multiple beneficiaries under the multiple-life plan.
Effective:
September 16, 2013
(A) This rule applies to a retirant or contributor who elects a plan of payment under which a portion of the contributor's benefit continues, after the death of the contributor, to two, three, or four surviving beneficiaries. Amounts due to a retirant or contributor receiving a monthly benefit and unpaid to the retirant or contributor at death, shall be paid to the beneficiary designated in writing on a form provided by the public employees retirement board, signed by the retirant or contributor and filed with the board. (B) The amount payable to each surviving designated beneficiary shall be determined by multiplying the amount due the retirant or contributor under the plan of payment described in paragraph (A) of this rule by a fraction whose numerator is the gross monthly amount that the beneficiary will be paid and whose denominator is the total gross monthly amount that all beneficiaries will be paid.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM
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Rule 145-2-64 | Priority of multiple court orders under the multiple-life plan.
Effective:
September 16, 2013
If, at the time of retirement or at the time of commencement of a benefit under section 145.384 or 145.64 of the Revised Code, a member or contributor is subject to more than one court order issued under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code, or the laws of another state regarding the division of marital property, the public employees retirement system shall establish the priority in which the court orders will be administered by the retirement system. Priority shall be established by the earliest date on which the orders were received by the retirement system.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM
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Rule 145-2-65 | Internal Revenue Code limitations on benefits.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
(A) In addition to other limitations set forth in Chapter 145. of the Revised Code, the defined benefit payable to a member under the traditional pension plan or the defined benefit payable to a member under the combined plan shall not exceed the applicable limits under section 415(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as periodically adjusted by the secretary of the treasury under section 415(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. This adjustment shall also apply to a member who has had a severance from employment or, if earlier, an annuity starting date. Benefits that are subject to section 415(b) of the Internal Revenue Code shall comply with the foregoing limit in each year during which payments are made. The foregoing limit shall be adjusted pursuant to the requirements of sections 415(b)(2)(C) and (D) of the Internal Revenue Code relating to the commencement of benefits at a date prior to age sixty-two or after age sixty-five, subject to other applicable rules. Any member whose benefits were limited by the application of section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code immediately prior to its amendment by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 shall, for limitation years ending on or after July 1, 2002, have his or her benefit increased to the amount computed under the applicable plan, but not in excess of the limits of section 415(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C.A. 415(b)(1)(A), as amended by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. (B) (1) For purposes of this rule, "compensation" means compensation as defined in section 415(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and section 1.415(c)-2(d)(3) of the Treasury Regulations, 72 Fed. Reg. 16878, April 5, 2007. In general, section 415(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code defines compensation as all of a member's wages as defined in section 3401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code for the purposes of income tax withholding at the source, but determined without regard to any rules that limit the remuneration included in wages based on the nature or location of the employment or the services performed (such as the exception for agricultural labor in section 3401(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code). Compensation shall also include the amount of any elective deferrals, as defined in section 402(g)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; any amount contributed or deferred by the employer at the election of the employee and which is not includible in the gross income of the employee by reason of sections 125, 132(f)(4) or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code; and effective January 1, 2009, differential wage payments as defined in section 3401(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. (2) In addition, compensation shall include the following amounts: (a) Regular compensation for services. Compensation shall include regular compensation for services that, absent a severance from service, would have been paid to the member if the member continued in employment with the employer, in accordance with section 1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations, to the extent required under section 1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(i) of the Treasury Regulations. (b) Payments to reservists. Compensation shall include payments to a member who does not currently perform services for an employer by reason of qualified military service made in accordance with the employer's current policy with regard to such qualified military service, to the extent these payments do not exceed the amount the individual would have received if the individual had continued to perform services for the employer rather than entering qualified military service, in accordance with section 1.415(c)-2(e)(4) of the Treasury Regulations. (c) Back pay. Compensation shall include payments of back pay within the meaning of section 1.415(c)-2(g)(8) of the Treasury Regulations. (3) "Compensation" shall not include the following amounts: (a) Foreign compensation. Compensation shall not include amounts paid as compensation to a nonresident alien, as defined in section 7701(b)(l)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, who is not a member, to the extent the compensation is excludable from gross income and is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, in accordance with section 1.415(c)-2(g)(5)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations. (b) Scheduled deferred compensation payments. Compensation shall not include payments to a member in accordance with a nonqualified unfunded deferred compensation plan, even if such amount would have been paid at the same time if employment had continued, in accordance with section 1.415(c)-2(e)(3)(iii)(B) of the Treasury Regulations. (c) Disability payments. Compensation shall not include amounts received on account of the member's permanent and total disability (as defined in section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and described in section 1.415(c)-2(g)(4) of the Treasury Regulations). (d) Cross-over year payments. Compensation shall not include amounts earned during the limitation year but not paid during that limitation year solely because of the timing of pay periods and pay dates if these amounts are paid during the first few weeks of the next limitation year as permitted under section 1.415(c)-2(e)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. (C) The application of this rule shall not cause the maximum annual retirement allowance for any member to be less than the member's accrued benefit under all applicable defined benefit plans as of the end of the last limitation year beginning before July 1, 2007, under provisions of the plans that were both adopted and in effect before April 5, 2007. The preceding sentence applies only if the provisions of such defined benefit plans that were both adopted and in effect before April 5, 2007 satisfied the applicable requirements of statutory provisions, regulations, and other published guidance relating to section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code in effect as of the end of the last limitation year beginning before July 1, 2007, as described in section 1.415(a)-1(g)(4) of the Treasury Regulations. (D) No adjustment shall be required to a benefit subject to an automatic benefit increase feature described in section 1.415(b)-1(c)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. (E) To the extent that section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder require that an interest rate under section 417(e) of the Internal Revenue Code apply, the applicable look-back month shall be the fourth calendar month preceding the start of a plan year. (F) Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 145. of the Revised Code to the contrary, the defined benefit payable to a member under the traditional pension plan or the defined benefit payable to a member under the combined plan shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of section 415(b) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. The limitation year is the plan year. For purposes of the foregoing, any changes required by the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 are also incorporated herein by reference. (G) Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 145. of the Revised Code to the contrary, to the extent that any defined contribution feature of any plan under this chapter is subject to section 415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and such feature does not already have section 415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code limitation language applicable to the feature, the feature shall comply with section 415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. For such purposes, the definition of "compensation" in paragraph (B) of this rule shall apply. (H) Effective January 1, 2007, notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 145. of the Revised Code to the contrary, the survivor of a member on a leave of absence to perform military service with reemployment rights described in section 414(u) of the Internal Revenue Code, where the member cannot return to employment on account of his or her death, shall be entitled to any additional benefits (other than benefit accruals relating to the period of qualified military service) that would be provided under Chapter 145. of the Revised Code had the member died as an actively contributing member to the extent required by section 401(a)(37) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM
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Rule 145-2-67 | Eligible rollover distributions from this plan.
Effective:
March 24, 2013
(A) A distributee may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the board, to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee in a direct rollover. Effective January 1, 2010, a non-spouse beneficiary may elect to make a direct rollover to an inherited individual retirement account or annuity described in section 408(a) or 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a Roth individual retirement account or annuity described in section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code that is established on behalf of the beneficiary. Such rollover shall be made in a manner consistent with the section 402(c)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code and any other applicable guidance. (B) The following definitions apply to this rule: (1) "Eligible rollover distribution" means a lump sum distribution from the member or contributor's account pursuant to section 145.40, 145.63, or division (H) of section 145.384 of the Revised Code, except that "eligible rollover distribution" does not include either of the following: (a) Any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code; (b) The portion of any distribution that is not includible in gross income, unless the distribution is being rolled over to either (1) a traditional individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity under section 408(a) or 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code or (2) a qualified trust which is part of a plan which is a defined contribution plan under section 401(a) or 403(a) of the Internal Revenue Code that will separately account for the distribution, including the taxable and non-taxable portions of the distribution, in a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer. (2) "Eligible retirement plan" means any program defined in sections 401(a)(31) and 402(c)(8)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code that accepts the member or contributor's eligible rollover distribution, as follows: (a) An individual retirement account under section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; (b) An individual retirement annuity under section 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (other than an endowment contract); (c) A qualified trust; (d) An annuity plan under section 403(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; (e) An eligible deferred compensation plan under section 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code that is maintained by an eligible employer under section 457(e)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (so long as the plan agrees to separately account for amounts rolled into the plan); (f) An annuity contract under section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code; and (g) Effective January 1, 2008, a Roth individual retirement account or annuity described in section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code, subject to the limitations set forth in such Internal Revenue Code provision; provided, however, that the plan is not responsible for assuring that a distributee is eligible to make such a rollover. (3) "Distributee" means a member or contributor, as well as the surviving spouse of a member or contributor. (4) "Direct rollover" means a payment by the retirement system to the eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM
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Rule 145-2-70 | Mandatory direct deposit.
Effective:
January 1, 2019
(A) For purposes of this rule,
"alternate payee" has the same meaning as defined in section 3105.80
of the Revised Code. (B) Except as provided in paragraph (C)
of this rule, all benefits or payments paid in the form of a refund or monthly
annuity to individuals with a United States address on file with the public
employees retirement system shall be paid by direct deposit, which is an
electronic fund transfer directly to an individual's account at a
financial institution. Recipients of a benefit or payment and alternate payees
shall provide to the retirement system valid direct deposit account and routing
numbers, the name and contact information of the financial institution, and
such other information as may be required by retirement system. The retirement
system may withhold a benefit or payment until the benefit recipient or
alternate payee provides the information described in this
paragraph. (C) If a recipient of a benefit or
payment or alternate payee resides more than fifteen miles from a financial
institution that provides direct deposit accounts, demonstrates that the
individual is the victim of fraud or identity theft, or resides in a nursing or
convalescent home, the recipient or alternate payee may submit a request for
exemption from direct deposit on a form provided by the retirement system. The
retirement system shall approve or deny the request.
Last updated October 17, 2023 at 10:25 AM
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