OHIO HIGHWAY PATROL RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Frequently Asked Questions
Survivor Benefits
Q: When a retiree dies, when do survivor benefits begin and what is
the pension amount?
A:Survivor benefits will be paid the first month after the member's death. A surviving spouse of a member who retired or entered DROP before May 11, 2018, will receive an amount equal to 50% of the member's pension amount or $900.00/month, whichever is greater. A surviving spouse of a member who retired or entered DROP on or after May 11, 2018, will receive a set amount ($900.00/month in 2018), but this amount increases annually by a COLA amount set by the board. The survivor benefit is in addition to any amount selected through a Joint and Survivor Annuity (JSA). Eligible dependent children receive $150.00 per month.
Q: When an active member dies, who is eligible to receive survivor benefits?
When do the benefits begin and what is the pension amount?
A:Benefits are effective the day following the date of death for any spouse and/or eligible children. A surviving spouse of an active member will receive a set amount ($900.00/month in 2018), but this amount increases annually by a COLA amount set by the board. If the active member was eligible to retire and had not entered DROP, HPRS will calculate what the member's pension would have been had he/she retired the day after death and had selected a Joint and Survivor Annuity (JSA) of 50%. The surviving spouse will receive this JSA benefit in addition to a survivor benefit.
