Getting Started
We’re here for you every step of the way – from the time you join to retirement.
Every pay period, you contribute toward your OMERS pension. Your OMERS pension can be one of your most valuable and secure assets. As aplan, OMERS provides a guaranteed stream of retirement income for life, based on your earnings and years of service.
There are many other benefits of being an OMERS member…
Employer-matched contributions
Option to bring in your pension service from previous employment
Survivor benefits
Disability protection
Early retirement options
Option to enhance your retirement savings through Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)
As a new OMERS member, there are a few things you should do...
1. Activate your secure myOMERS pension account.
You will need your, date of birth and the last three digits of your social insurance number to complete the registration. Go to myOMERS
2. Check out your benefits.
Your Member Handbookcovers your benefits in detail and is always at your fingertips.
3. Plan for the future.
Consider looking out for your loved ones by designating a beneficiary online on myOMERS.
4. Think about ways to maximize your OMERS pension.
If you have a pension from a previous employer, you may be able to transfer it into the OMERS Plan. If you cashed out your previous pension, you may qualify to purchase that time and convert it to OMERS service. Find out how to maximize your OMERS pension
Merging Previous and Current OMERS Service
Now that you have returned to work for an OMERS employer, you must decide whether to merge the service you earned before with what you're earning now. Merging your previous and current service may or may not help you to retire with more pension – it's an important decision.
In this information page, we cover some of the issues you should consider before making your decision to merge your service or not, and we tell you what to do if you want to proceed.
Some background facts…
Your OMERS lifetime pension + bridge benefit to age 65
2% x credited service (years) x "best five" earnings
Less OMERS bridge benefit at age 65
0.675 x credited service (years) x lesser of "best five" earnings or $56,440
Equals your OMERS lifetime pension from age 65
$56,440 – the current five-year average (2016-2020) of the Canada Pension Plan’s (CPP) annual earnings limit. You contribute to the CPP up to its earnings limit ($58,700 in 2020).
Things to consider before you decide
Will your present earnings grow more than inflation?
Your deferred pension may grow to match inflation increases every year. If your present earnings are growing enough:
to equal or better than guaranteed inflation protection, and
to make up for the higher bridge benefit when you retire,
it may be better to merge your previous and current service, and to have these earnings apply to both.
How long do you intend to work?
If you merge your service, and then work for less than 60 months (this time), we'd have to use some of your earlier earnings to make up the difference when we calculate your overall pension. If your earnings now are higher, this could reduce the pension you're earning now and increase the pension you earned before. The net result for you could vary.
Is it worth paying back your?
When you left your previous employer and elected to leave (defer) your pension in OMERS, you were entitled to a refund of any excess contributions you made. If you want to merge your earlier and current service – to combine your OMERS pensions – you must pay back your 50% Rule refund (if any), with interest. Will the amount you pay back to merge your service be offset by an increase to your overall pension? It depends on your personal circumstances and the factors we've discussed, above.
If you decide to merge your service
You can repay your 50% Rule refund in one of two ways:
1. Transfer of RRSP funds (not tax-deductible)
If you want to repay your 50% Rule refund using RRSP funds, ask the financial institution that holds your RRSP for a Form T2033. Complete the sections you are instructed to and return the T2033 along with your 50% Rule repayment form to your employer.
The transfer of RRSP funds must be in the exact amount required to repay your 50% Rule refund. (We can't accept any overpayment.)
Note: The amount you transfer from your RRSP is not tax-deductible, since it's going straight into OMERS (from one tax-sheltered plan to another).
2. Cash (tax-deductible)
If you use cash, the entire amount you pay is tax-deductible. However, there are different rules for repaying the portion of the 50% Rule refund that relates to service from 1987-1989.
You make your cheque payable to OMERS. OMERS will provide you with an income tax receipt, which you must file with your income tax return to get the deduction.
You decide not to merge your service…
If you don't merge your service, each period will be kept separate and will be based on an average of your highest earnings during each period. Your earnings from the earlier period may not be as high, and your combined pension may be less than if it were merged. You keep your 50% Rule refund.
More information
OMERS Member Services
There’s a lot you can do online
Register for myOMERS to get secure and convenient online access to your pension information.
