Section One
Can I access my OP&F account online?
Yes, by logging on to the OP&F Member Portal. If you have questions, you may contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
Can I transfer my part-time service credit and contributions from another Ohio retirement system to OP&F?
No, by Ohio law, contributions for volunteer or part-time service credit will not be accepted by OP&F even if it comes from another Ohio retirement system such as the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, Ohio State Highway Patrol Retirement System, School Employees Retirement System of Ohio, or State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio.
Can I refund, borrow or cash-out my contributions on deposit with OP&F?
By law, you can only request a refund of your contributions from OP&F if you terminate active service from a police or fire department. The termination refund will be the exact amount of your total employee contributions; less any tax withholding if applicable. You can avoid tax withholding by asking OP&F to pay all or part of the non-taxed contributions directly to another pension plan or an individual retirement account (IRA). In some cases, additional taxes are imposed as penalties for early withdrawal from qualified retirement plans.
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to review your status and the termination refund eligibility requirements or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours. Your termination refund will be issued after all necessary information has been received and after your former employer has submitted all payroll contributions through your termination date.
How can I determine if my disability benefits will be affected if I accept a job?
If you are concerned that you may be accepting a position that might jeopardize your disability benefits, please send a written inquiry to OP&F at 140 East Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215, that includes your questions and the official job description on the company letterhead you are considering. An OP&F representative will be able to review the job description and provide you with recommendations.
Also, please review the Members' Guide to Disability Benefits, specifically the section that describes how a police officer and firefighter are defined. If the job you are considering is defined as a police officer or firefighter your disability benefits will be terminated.
How can I get a copy of my account summary?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to review your account summary or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
How can I purchase my military service credit or have it granted?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to initiate a military service credit purchase or verify eligibility for a military service credit grant or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
Please be prepared to forward OP&F your DD214 that states:
- you were honorably discharged;
- your date of entry; and
- your date of discharge.
Before OP&F can determine the cost of a military service credit purchase or verify eligibility for a military service credit grant, the required information must be submitted by the member. The process begins when the member initiates a military service credit request through the Member Portal. The employer where the member held their first full-time public position following discharge from military service must then submit additional information to OP&F on the member’s behalf to complete the request.
How can I request an estimate of my service credit?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to review your service credit information or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
How can I tell if I have the technical capabilities to report payroll online?
Contact the OP&F Customer Service Center at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST, to speak to a representative who will assist you. The representative will help you determine if you have the technical capabilities and if so, give you instructions on reporting payroll online.
How can I access my DROP information online?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to review your DROP information or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
How do I change my address on file with OP&F?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to update your mailing address online. By logging on to the secure site, members may select Member Demographics and then update their address, home and work telephone numbers as well as their email address. This will help ensure you receive important news and information from OP&F. This feature can be beneficial for those “snowbird” members who have a different address during the winter months. For additional help contact the O&F Customer Service Center at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
How do I change my federal or state tax withholdings?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to change your federal or state tax withholdings or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
How do I designate or change my beneficiary?
Ohio laws that govern OP&F automatically designate the succession of your beneficiary. Your beneficiary is automatically your surviving spouse, children 18 years old or younger, and/or children who are students aged 18 to 22 years old.
If you do not have a spouse, children or dependent parent(s), a lump-sum cash out of your accumulated contributions will be made to your estate.
When you are within one year of retirement eligibility by having 25 years of service and are at least 48 years old, then you may designate someone other than your spouse to be the contingent dependent beneficiary of a survivor annuity. This annuity is payable only if you do not have a surviving spouse upon your death.
To ensure OP&F's records reflect your current marital status, please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to review or change your status and to submit a copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree. If additional assistance is needed please contact the O&F Customer Service Center at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
Multiple Beneficiary Annuity
Please be aware that if your effective date of retirement is on or after Oct. 27, 2006, you can select a new Multiple Beneficiary Annuity as your plan of payment. Under this plan, you can designate up to four beneficiaries at the time of retirement, in such portions as specified at retirement.
If there is a court order issued prior to your effective date of retirement that requires you to designate a former spouse as a beneficiary, OP&F must administer your application by providing for a plan of payment in a specified amount continuing after your death to your former spouse in addition to providing for your current spouse, if applicable. This specified amount must be expressed in the court order as a percentage of your retirement allowance in order for OP&F to administer the order. OP&F will process such court orders in the order in which they are received by OP&F.
How do I enroll in DROP?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to make sure you meet the age and service requirements for retirement or participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). You can also use the OP&F Member Portal to generate a retirement benefit estimate. If you have questions, contact the OP&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF (4673), Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center hours.
To meet one-on-one with a Customer Care Representative, you can schedule an appointment via the OP&F Member Portal at a time that is convenient for you. During the appointment, the Customer Care Representative will provide an overview of the DROP process and answer any questions you may have. Appointments are offered in 30-minute increments and you will receive reminder notices based on your preferred delivery method.
Members who prefer an onsite appointment can continue to receive one-on-one support from OP&F by contacting our office directly at 1-888-864-8363 and pressing 0 to be connected to the Customer Service area.
How do I get an estimate of my pension from OP&F?
Please use the OP&F Member Portal to generate a retirement benefit estimate. Your initial retirement benefit will be paid as an interim amount while OP&F receives and verifies your final contribution information from your employer. Once your final benefit is calculated and approved, that amount will become your permanent monthly retirement benefit.
How do I have my benefit check electronically Direct Deposited into my account? What if I change bank accounts or banks?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to add or change your banking information or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. If your banking information is updated by the 15th of the month, then your benefit will be electronically Direct Deposited the very next month.
How do I request documentation verifying my monthly retirement income, or an award letter?
Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to review your information or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center.
How do I transfer my OP&F service credit and contributions to another Ohio retirement system?
Once you are no longer contributing to OP&F, you may have the option to rollover your contributions to another Ohio retirement system, such as the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, Ohio State Highway Patrol Retirement System, School Employees Retirement System of Ohio, or State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, if you have established membership at that system. Please log on to the OP&F Member Portal to verify your mailing address and initiate a rollover of your contributions to another Ohio retirement system or contact the O&F Customer Service Center for assistance at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. You can also choose to web chat live with a Customer Care Representative during Service Center.
How do I transfer my service credit and contributions from another Ohio retirement system to OP&F?
If you are transferring from another Ohio retirement system, please contact that system to initiate the transfer of your contributions and service credit to OP&F. Subject to applicable restrictions, you may be eligible to purchase full–time service credit earned under an Ohio retirement system, such as the Cincinnati Retirement System, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, School Employees Retirement System, State Highway Patrol Retirement System, or State Teachers Retirement System.
SIf you joined OP&F on or after Sept. 16, 1998, and transferred or purchased service credit, you can pay the difference between the employee and employer contribution rates of OP&F and the other retirement system, plus interest, to receive full credit. Otherwise, service credit will be prorated based on the difference in the retirement systems’ contribution rates.
Please contact the OP&F Customer Service Center at 1-833-521-4OPF(4673), Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET for information on the cost of transferring or purchasing service credit.
How long does it take for my DROP contributions to be posted online?
The process of posting DROP calculations online will take approximately 2 to 4 months from the time the monthly payroll is due to OP&F. Delays or errors in reporting can slow down this process. For example, if the May monthly report was due to OP&F on June 30, it would be reviewed and posted to your account by the end of July. If there were delays or errors in your employer’s reporting, they have 30 days from the initial notice to correct the reporting deficiency, then OP&F will process the corrections, approve the report, and update the payroll to the member ledgers. DROP interest is posted based on the total amount of money at the end of a month, and the interest will be retroactive back to the date when the money was received for each month.
After I retire, will I be eligible for a COLA (cost-of-living allowance)?
Ohio law requires OP&F to pay annual COLAs to eligible members. Your eligibility to receive a COLA and the amount of the COLA will depend on your membership start date and your years of service. Members are eligible for a COLA once they have received pension benefits for at least one year and have reached age 55. Once eligible, the annual COLA amount is calculated on a member’s base pension and does not compound annually. Generally, the new pension benefit amount is included in the July pension payment.
Receiving the 3% COLA:
OP&F members who have 15 or more years of service credit as of July 1, 2013 and who are not receiving a benefit from OP&F, and members who are receiving a pension that became effective before July 1, 2013, will receive a COLA equal to three percent of the member’s base pension benefit.
Receiving a CPI-based COLA:
OP&F members who have less than 15 years of service credit as of July 1, 2013 will receive a COLA of either three percent or the increase, if any, of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. The CPI increase is based on the 12-month period that ends on Sept. 30 of the immediately preceding year, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one percent.
For those who retire before turning age 55, you will receive a pro-rated COLA on your 55th birthday (as long as you have been receiving benefits for one year), subject to statutory and administrative limitations.