“Best Three” Earnings Formula

This benefit replaces the “best five” earnings used to calculate the pension for the period of supplemental service. (In most cases, this increases the pension.) The benefit acts as a top-up – it pays the difference between the supplemental benefit (“best three” earnings) and the Primary Plan (“best five” earnings) benefit.

“Best five" earnings is the annual average of a member's highest 60 consecutive months – best five years – of contributory earnings. “Best three” earnings is the annual average of a member's highest 36 consecutive months – best three years – of contributory earnings.

Example of “best five” versus “best three” earnings

Suzanne's salary increases each year on January 1.

Her “best five “earnings = $74,000 2007 - 70,000 Her “best three” earnings = $76,000
2008 - 72,000
2009 - 74,000
2010 - 76,000
2011 - 78,000
Note: It's possible that the “best three” earnings are less than or equal to the “best five” earnings. In this case, there would be no “best three” Supplemental Plan top-up pension. The minimum value guarantee would apply and the member's Supplemental Plan contributions plus interest may be refunded.

The “best three” Supplemental Plan benefit is calculated as follows:
2.0% x Supplemental Plan credited service
number of years (maximum 35 years) 		x "best three" earnings
Less
2.0% x Supplemental Plan credited service
number of years (maximum 35 years) 		x "best five" earnings

Equals the “best three” Supplemental Plan pension

* We use the Supplemental Plan credited service in both lines of the formula because the top-up pension is based on the period of supplemental coverage. Any credited service in the Primary Plan outside the supplemental period would not be included in the top-up pension. For example, a member has 10 years of Primary Plan credited service and 5 years of Supplemental Plan credited service. To calculate the member's top-up pension, we would use 5 years of Supplemental Plan credited service in both lines of the above formula.

“Best three” earnings – example calculation

Suzanne retires early (at age 58) with an unreduced pension. She has 30 years of credited service, including two years earned under the “best three” earnings supplemental benefit. Suzanne’s “best five” earnings are $74,000. Her “best three” earnings are $76,000.

Suzanne’s “best three” Supplemental Plan pension
2.0% x 2.0 years x $76,000 = $3,040
Less
2.0% x 2.0 years x $74,000 = $2,960
Equals Suzanne's “best three” Supplemental Plan pension

$80

2 years of Supplemental Plan credited service gives Suzanne a top-up of $80 on her future annual pension:

 

Primary Plan: Suzanne's lifetime pension plus bridge benefit to age 65*
$44,400
Supplemental Plan: Suzanne's top-up pension
+ $80
Suzanne's total pension to age 65
$44,480
per year
Primary Plan: Suzanne's lifetime pension from age 65**
$35,802
Supplemental Plan: Suzanne's top-up pension
+ $80
Suzanne's total pension from age 65
$35,882
per year

* Primary Plan: Suzanne's lifetime pension plus bridge benefit to age 65:
2% x 30 years of credited service x $74,000
**This assumes a bridge benefit of $8,598. More about how we calculate an OMERS pension

 

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.