(A) Upon application for retirement as provided in section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code, the retirant may elect a plan of payment under this division or, on and after the date specified in division (B) of this section, a plan of payment under that division. Under this division, the retirant may elect to receive a single lifetime benefit, or may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's benefit in a lesser amount, payable for life, and continuing after death to a beneficiary under one of the following optional plans:

(1) Option 1. The retirant's lesser benefit shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary named at retirement.

(2) Option 2. Some other portion of the retirant's benefit shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary named at retirement. The beneficiary's monthly amount shall not exceed the monthly amount payable to the retirant during the retirant's lifetime.

(3) Option 3. The retirant's lesser benefit established as provided under option 1 or option 2 shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary named at retirement, except that in the event of the death of the sole beneficiary or termination of a marital relationship between the retirant and the sole beneficiary the retirant may elect to return to a single lifetime benefit equivalent as determined by the state teachers retirement board, if, in the case of termination of a marital relationship, the election is made with the written consent of the beneficiary or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over termination of the marital relationship.

(4) Option 4. The retirant's lesser benefit or a portion of the retirant's lesser benefit shall be paid for life to two, three, or four surviving beneficiaries named at retirement. The portion of the allowance that continues after the member's death shall be allocated among the beneficiaries at the time of the member's retirement. If the retirant elects this plan as required by 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 compliance with the court order requires the allocation of a portion less than ten per cent to any person, the retirant shall allocate a portion less than ten per cent to that beneficiary in accordance with that order. In all other circumstances, no portion allocated under this plan of payment shall be less than ten per cent. The total of the portions allocated shall not exceed one hundred per cent of the retirant's lesser allowance. In the event of the death of a beneficiary or termination of a marital relationship between the retirant and a beneficiary, the retirant may elect to cancel the portion of the plan of payment providing continuing lifetime benefits to that beneficiary except that, in the case of termination of a marital relationship, the election may be made only with the written consent of the beneficiary or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over termination of the marital relationship. The retirant shall receive the actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the retirant's single lifetime benefit based on the number of remaining beneficiaries, with no change in the amount payable to any remaining beneficiary.

(5) Option 5. Upon the retirant's death before the expiration of a certain period from the retirement date and elected by the retirant, and approved by the board, the retirant's benefit shall be continued for the remainder of such period to the beneficiary. Monthly benefits shall not be paid to joint beneficiaries, but they may receive the present value of any remaining payments in a lump sum settlement. If all beneficiaries die before the expiration of the certain period, the present value of all payments yet remaining in such period shall be paid to the estate of the beneficiary last receiving.

(6) Option 6. A plan of payment established by the state teachers retirement board combining any of the features of options 1, 2, and 5.

(B) Beginning on October 1, 2002, a retirant may elect, in lieu of a plan of payment under division (A) of this section, a plan consisting of both of the following:

(1) A lump sum in an amount the member designates that constitutes a portion of the member's single lifetime benefit;

(2) Either of the following:

(a) The remainder of the retirant's single lifetime benefit;

(b) The actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the retirant's benefit in a lesser amount, payable for life, and continuing after death to a beneficiary under one of the options described in divisions (A)(1) to (6) of this section.

The amount designated by the member under division (B)(1) of this section shall be not less than six times and not more than thirty-six times the monthly amount that would be payable to the member as a single lifetime benefit and shall not result in a monthly allowance that is less than fifty per cent of that amount.

(C) A retirant shall not elect a plan of payment under division (A) or (B) of this section that results in a monthly payment of the retirant's lesser benefit to a beneficiary of one hundred dollars or less a month. This division does not apply to a retirant who is subject to division (I)(1) of this section.

(D) Until the first payment is made to a former member under section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code, the former member may change the selection of a plan of payment.

(E)

(1) If a deceased member was eligible for but had not yet been awarded a service retirement benefit under section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code at the time of death, option 1 as provided for in division (A)(1) of this section shall be paid to the spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary.

(2) Beginning on October 1, 2002, the spouse or sole beneficiary may elect, in lieu of option 1, a plan of payment consisting of both of the following:

(a) A lump sum in an amount the spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary designates that constitutes a portion of the retirant's single life annuity;

(b) The actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the retirant's single life annuity paid as a benefit under option 1 for life to the spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary.

The amount designated by the spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary under division (E)(2)(a) of this section shall be not less than six times and not more than thirty-six times the monthly amount that would be payable as the retirant's single life annuity and shall not result in a monthly allowance that is less than fifty per cent of that monthly amount.

(F) If the total benefit paid under this section is less than the balance in the teachers' savings fund, the difference shall be paid to the beneficiary provided under division (D)(1) of section 3307.562 of the Revised Code.

(G) In the case of a retirant who elected an optional plan prior to September 15, 1989:

(1) The death of the spouse or other designated beneficiary following retirement shall, at the election of the retirant, cancel any optional plan selected at retirement to provide continuing lifetime benefits to the spouse or other beneficiary and return the retirant to a single lifetime benefit equivalent as determined by the board.

(2) A divorce, annulment, or marriage dissolution shall, at the election of the retirant, cancel any optional plan selected at retirement to provide continuing lifetime benefits to the spouse as designated beneficiary and return the retirant to a single lifetime benefit equivalent as determined by the board if the election is made with the written consent of the beneficiary or pursuant to an order of a court of common pleas or the court of another state with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage.

(H)

(1) Following marriage or remarriage, both of the following apply:

(a) A retirant who elected to receive a single lifetime benefit or an optional plan of payment under division (A)(3) or (4) of this section may elect a new optional plan of payment based on the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's single lifetime benefit, as determined by the board. The new plan must be a plan described in division (A)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (6) of this section under which only the retirant's new spouse is added as a beneficiary and the application for the new plan must be received by the board prior to the retirant's death. A spouse may not be added if there are four beneficiaries under division (A)(4) of this section that must be retained pursuant to a court order described under division (I)(1)(b) of this section or if the amount payable to any beneficiary pursuant to such court order would be reduced. A retirant who is receiving a retirement allowance under an optional plan that provides for continuation of benefits after death to a former spouse may elect a new optional plan of payment only with the written consent of the former spouse or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage, except that consent of the former spouse is not required if the new optional plan of payment will not affect payments to the former spouse.

(b) A retirant who is receiving a benefit pursuant to a plan of payment providing for payment to a former spouse pursuant to a court order described in division (I)(1)(b) of this section may elect a new plan of payment under "option 4" with the retirant's spouse as a beneficiary based on the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's single lifetime retirement allowance as determined by the board if the new plan of payment elected does not reduce the payment to the former spouse.

(2) If the marriage or remarriage occurs on or after June 6, 2005, the election must be made not later than one year after the date of the marriage or remarriage.

A valid election under division (H)(1) or (2) of this section shall become effective on the date of receipt by the board of an application on a form approved by the board. The election must be signed by the retirant and received by the board prior to the retirant's death. Any change in the amount of the benefit shall commence on the first day of the month following the effective date of the plan.

(I)

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division and division (I)(2) of this section, an application for service retirement made pursuant to section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code by a married person shall be considered an election of a benefit under option 3 as provided for in division (A)(3) of this section under which one-half of the lesser benefit payable during the life of the retirant will be paid after death to the retirant's spouse for life as sole beneficiary. The exceptions are as follows:

(a) The retirant selects an optional plan under division (A) of this section providing for payment after death to the retirant's spouse for life as sole beneficiary of more than one-half of the lesser benefit payable during the life of the retirant.

(b) A plan of payment providing for payment in a specified amount continuing after the retirant's death to a former spouse is required by a court order issued prior to the effective date of retirement under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state regarding division of marital property.

(c) The retirant submits to the retirement board a written statement signed by the spouse attesting that the spouse consents to the retirant's election to receive a single lifetime annuity or a payment under an optional benefit plan under which after the death of the retirant the surviving spouse will receive less than one-half of the lesser benefit payable during the life of the retirant.

(d) Any other reason specified by the board.

(2) If a retirant is subject to division (I)(1)(b) of this section and the board has received a copy of the order described in that division, the board shall accept the retirant's election of a plan of payment under this section only if the retirant complies with both of the following:

(a) The retirant elects a plan of payment that is in accordance with the order described in division (I)(1)(b) of this section.

(b) If the retirant is married, the retirant elects "option 4" and designates the retirant's current spouse as a beneficiary under that plan unless that spouse consents in writing to not being designated a beneficiary under any plan of payment or the board waives the requirement that the current spouse consent.

(3) An application for retirement shall include an explanation of all of the following:

(a) That, if the member is married, unless the spouse consents to another plan of payment or there is a court order dividing marital property 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 provides for payment in a specified amount, the member's retirement allowance will be paid under "option 3" as provided for in division (A)(3) of this section and consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half of the lesser allowance continuing after death to the surviving spouse for the life of the spouse;

(b) A description of the alternative plans of payment available with the consent of the spouse;

(c) That the spouse may consent to another plan of payment and the procedure for giving consent;

(d) That consent is irrevocable once notice of consent is submitted to the board.

Consent shall be valid only if it is signed, in writing, and witnessed by a notary public.

(4) If the retirant does not select an optional plan of payment as described in division (I)(1)(a) of this section, no court has ordered a plan of payment described in division (I)(1)(b) of this section, and the board does not receive the written statement provided for in division (I)(1)(c) of this section, the board shall determine and pay the retirement allowance in accordance with this division, except that the board may provide by rule for waiver by the board of the statement and payment of the benefits other than in accordance with this division or payment under section 3307.56 of the Revised Code if the retirant is unable to obtain the statement due to absence or incapacity of the spouse or other cause specified by the board.

(J) For the purpose of determining actuarial equivalence under this section, on the advice of an actuary employed by the board, the board shall adopt mortality tables that may take into consideration the membership experience of the state teachers retirement system and may also include the membership experience of the public employees retirement system and the school employees retirement system.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 572, §1, eff. 3/22/2019.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.147, SB 342, §1, eff. 1/7/2013.

Effective Date: 10-01-2002; 03-07-2005; 10-27-2006