Student Employee Retirement Benefits
As a new graduate or undergraduate student employee, you have 30 days from your date of hire to take action on your retirement benefits.
Student Retirement Options
Employees (including student employees) of Ohio public institutions do not participate in the federal Social Security system, other than contributions to Medicare. Instead, Ohio State employees contribute to the state’s retirement system, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS).
As an Ohio State student employee, you have the option to remain a participant in OPERS or you may be eligible to opt out of contributing to OPERS. Visit the OPERS website for additional information.
I want to participate in OPERS
- Do nothing, and you are automatically enrolled in OPERS.
- Retirement contributions of 10% of your gross earnings are deducted from your paycheck. Ohio State also contributes a percentage of your salary.
- OPERS will mail you a welcome packet explaining the two plan options under OPERS. If you do not make an election, you will be automatically enrolled in the Traditional Plan.
I want to opt-out of participation in OPERS
- Submit your exemption request within 30 days of your hire date by visiting the OPERS website with your unique link provided by OPERS to your university name.# email and/or by text.
- After your request is approved, no additional deductions will be taken from your pay while you are enrolled in the minimum number of credit hours (see section below). You will also not earn any service credit with OPERS.
Can I change my election?
You must have a 365-day break from student employment with Ohio State in order to change your retirement election. Once reemployed in a student role after the 365 day break, you will receive another 30-day window to reapply for a student OPERS exemption. If you do not submit an OPERS exemption request, your retirement elections cannot be adjusted.
You have 30 days from your hire date to submit your exemption request to OPERS. Paper forms should not be used after July 1, 2021.
- OPERS sends a unique link to your university name.# email and/or by text message
- Visit OPERS website via unique link to submit exemption request
- OPERS notifies Ohio State of approved exemption request
For the exemption to be in effect, a student must have an approved exemption request and meet the minimum course credit hours listed below.
- Undergraduate Student: minimum of 6 credit hours
- GAA, GRA or GTA students: minimum of 4 credit hours
- Post-candidacy doctoral students: minimum of 2 credit hours
When you work during a term in which you are not taking classes, or are enrolled but do not meet the credit hour minimum, you automatically contribute to OPERS during that period.
A Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) with a previously established State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) account is required to contribute to STRS instead of OPERS, unless he or she submits an exemption form within the first 30 days of the GTA appointment. Previously established STRS accounts typically exist if one was a Lecturer for Ohio State, or another state university, or if they taught at a public school in Ohio.
If you wish to exempt from both STRS and OPERS as a GTA, you must complete the STRS exemption form and the OPERS student exemption request.
I want to participate in STRS
- Retirement contributions of 14% of your gross earnings are deducted from your paycheck. Ohio State also contributes a percentage of your salary. Upon hire, you will receive a questionnaire in Workday requesting information about any prior state service, existing STRS account and retiree status. You may also contact HR Connection directly to confirm whether you have a prior STRS account.
- STRS will mail you a welcome packet explaining the plan options under STRS. If you do not make an election you will be automatically enrolled in the Defined Benefit plan.
I want to opt-out of participation in OPERS/STRS
- Two exemptions need to be submitted within 30 days of your hire date. Submit one exemption request by visiting OPERS website with your unique link provided to you by OPERS to your university name.# email and/or by text. Submit your second exemption by completing STRS exemption form and submitting it to HR Connection via the STRS Student Retirement Exemption request.
- After your request is approved, no additional deductions will be taken from your pay while you are enrolled in the minimum number of credit hours (see section above). You will also not earn any service credit with OPERS/STRS.
If you would like to save additional money for your retirement, you may enroll in a Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA).