Who is eligible for the benefits?
An employer can enter into an agreement with OMERS to provide a Supplemental Plan benefit for a class or classes of employees. The following outlines eligibility for each benefit.
|
|
Eligibility for benefit | ||
|
Police & firefighters |
Paramedics |
Police civilians | |
|
2.33% accrual rate |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
80 Factor (for members with a normal retirement age of 60) |
Yes* |
No |
No |
|
85 Factor (for members with a normal retirement age of 65) |
Yes* |
Yes |
Yes |
|
“Best four” earnings |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
“Best three” earnings |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| *The majority of members in the police sector and firefighters in OMERS have a normal retirement age of 60. |
Police and firefighters
Police and firefighters will be eligible for all of the benefits identified above.
| Note: The OMERS Act, 2006 refers to the Police Services Act and the Fire Protection and Prevention Act to define members of the police sector and firefighters. |
Police civilians
Police civilians will be eligible for:
- “Best four” earnings
- “Best three” earnings
- the 85 Factor
Police civilians are not eligible for the 2.33% formula (due to federal law) and are not eligible for the Factor 80 (due to their normal retirement age of 65).
Paramedics
Paramedics will be eligible for any of the benefits except an 80 Factor. Paramedics have a normal retirement age of 65 under the OMERS plan, and therefore are not eligible for the 80 Factor.
Supplemental Plan benefits are not automatically provided. Employers can set up Supplemental Plan coverage for a class or classes of members in the police sector, firefighters and paramedics.