Frequently Asked Questions

PERSONAL INFORMATION

What should I do if any of the information on my statement is incorrect or needs to be updated?

If you find any errors in your personal information or inaccuracies in the pension data on your statement, please contact OPTrust. In some cases, we may need additional documentation or we may need to contact your employer before we can make changes or corrections.

Your statement is based on information provided by your employer. If there are errors in this information, your pension estimates may change as more accurate data becomes available. An error on your statement does not entitle you to benefits not provided for by the OPSEU Pension Plan based on your actual situation. Correcting any errors on your statement will give you accurate pension information to use in planning for the future.

I noticed my Social Insurance Number is not listed on my statement. Is this an error

No, it is not an error. OPTrust no longer uses members’ Social Insurance Numbers for member correspondence and documents. Instead, all members have been assigned a unique OPTrust ID number to identify individual records and personal information on file and reference on the APS and other personal documents. Your OPTrust ID further protects the privacy and security of your personal data, and it can also be used to access your personal account through secure Online Services.

Can I view my Annual Pension Statement online?

Yes, OPTrust members can view and print their Annual Pension Statement through our secure Online Services. and have access to statements for the three most recent years. Simply sign-in or register for Online Services to view your statement and other personal information

If you have not registered yet, you will need your APS to complete the process. Once online, you can select to receive your APS electronically.

My beneficiary information is incorrect, how can I update my records?

You can add a new beneficiary or update your current information through OPTrust’s secure Online Services. Alternatively, you can complete an Identifying Benefit Recipients (IBR) form and return it to us.

BENEFICIARY INFORMATION

Should I name my spouse as a designated beneficiary?

No. Your eligible spouse is automatically your first beneficiary. However, it is a good idea to identify someone else as a designated beneficiary, in case both you and your spouse die at the same time, or your spouse dies before you do. Your designated beneficiary should be someone other than your spouse – consider naming your children, another family member or a friend, for example. You can name one or more designated beneficiaries to share your survivor benefits.

Note: You may wish to name your spouse as your refund recipient, in case a refund of excess contributions is payable when you die.

I am single and have no children. Should I designate a beneficiary?

The choice is yours. You can choose to name a person or organization. We’ll direct any payment to those named, if you die before you retire. If you don’t designate a beneficiary, we’ll issue the payment to your estate. It may take some time to sort out estate situations, while payments to designated beneficiaries can generally be processed quite quickly.

PENSION ESTIMATES

Why is my pension higher before age 65 than after?

If you take advantage of an early retirement option (retire before age 65), OPTrust pays the full 2% pension benefit until you reach age 65. At age 65, the 2% pension is made up of the OPTrust portion and the CPP portion. Your pension is reduced to reflect the fact that your OPSEU Pension Plan contributions are lower for the portion of your earnings that is also covered by CPP. For an estimated breakdown of your CPP integrated pension at age 65, try out OPTrust’s online Pension Estimator, a handy tool that illustrates your pension amount before and after age 65.

CREDIT AND CONTRIBUTIONS

Why is my total credit different from my plan membership date?

Your plan membership date is not directly linked to your total credit in the Plan. Your credit may reflect a number of factors, such as part-time service, leaves of absence, breaks in service, buybacks, and transfers from other pension plans. Your pension and your eligibility for early retirement are based on your total credit, not your plan membership date.

My statement lists my total contributions plus interest. Is this how much my pension is worth?

No. The OPSEU Pension Plan is a “defined benefit” plan. This means that once you are vested, your pension is calculated using OPTrust’s pension formula (see page 6). As a result, your pension is based on i) your years of credit in the Plan and ii) your best five-year average annual salary rate.

Why is the average salary listed on my statement different from my current salary?

To calculate your pension, we use an average of your best five-year annual salary earned up to December 31, 2007. If you have been a member for less than five years, your average annual salary is based on your longest period of continuous membership in the Plan.

I work half-time and started contributing to my pension 10 years ago. Why does my statement show only five years of credit?

By working 50% part-time over 10 years, you have earned five full years of credit. Your pension calculation will be based on this amount of credit. The calculation will also use your average annual “full-time equivalent” salary rate, not your actual part-time earnings.

Why does my statement separate my before and after December 31, 1986 credit?

Changes in Ontario’s Pension Benefits Act that took effect in 1987 mean that certain benefits under the Plan are different for credit earned before or after December 31, 1986. For example, the rules for when you become “vested” in the Plan are different if you have service after this date. Your survivor benefits are also administered differently for credit before and after December 1986, if you die before retirement.

BUYBACKS

Can I buy back credit for unclassified service or a leave of absence?

You may be eligible to buy back credit for:

• past service – including contract or "unclassified" service – with an employer who contributed to the OPSEU Pension Plan, the Public Service Pension Plan, or its predecessor
• past service with an employer who contributed to another Canadian registered pension plan, and
• leaves of absence for which you did not contribute to the Plan.

To buy back past service, you must submit an online or written application to OPTrust within 24 months of the later of:

1. becoming a member of the Plan, or
2. the last day of the leave that you want to buy back.

OPTrust cannot waive the 24-month time limit.

I’m currently buying back credit, why does my statement only reflect the credit I have purchased?

If you are buying back past credit, your Annual Pension Statement provides you with a current account of your credit. The “total credit” listed on your statement includes any buyback credit that you have paid for as of December 31, 2007. Any remaining credit you have committed to purchase is included in “future credit.” To view a status of your ongoing buyback, sign-in or register to our secure Online Services where you can track the progress of your payments.

I work half-time and started contributing to my pension 10 years ago. Why does my statement show only five years of credit?