Turning 65

Age 65 is a milestone for OMERS retired members. For instance:

• age 65 is a good time to think about medical insurance
• the amount of your OMERS pension changes
• some important federal benefits become available to you.

Age 65 is often a turning point for medical benefits:

• employer medical and dental coverage may end at 65;
• Ontario residents become entitled to benefits under the Ontario Drug Benefit Program when they turn 65, but some products may not be covered, e.g., eyeglasses or prescription drugs bought outside Ontario; and
• it may have been several years since you assessed your medical insurance needs.

While we cannot endorse or guarantee any of these products or services from the organizations below, we have agreed to pass along their information to help with insurance planning.

Be sure to identify yourself as an OMERS member if you enquire about coverage for any of these special offers.

While your lifetime pension is paid for life, the month after you turn 65 OMERS bridge benefit ends and will be taken off your pension payment. Just before you turn 65, you will receive a notice from OMERS detailing the change to your pension.

Your OMERS pension is designed to work with the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to help provide a reasonable, total retirement income. Here's how:

• While you work, you pay a lower OMERS contribution rate on the portion of your earnings for which you also contribute to CPP (up to $57,400 in 2019).
• When you retire, your OMERS and CPP pensions work together to provide you with retirement income.

0.675% x credited service (years) x lesser of “best five” earnings or $55,420

$55,420 is the current five-year average (2015-2019) of CPP earnings limit.

Your CPP pension is based on how long you have worked and contributed to CPP. The OMERS bridge benefit is based on your credited service in OMERS. The two amounts are not linked and may be quite different.

If you haven't already started to receive your CPP pension, be sure take the steps necessary to ensure you receive the benefit you've earned. Your CPP benefit is not sent automatically; you must apply for it. 

Application kits are available from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada either online or from the local office in your area.

Other Government benefits include the Old Age Security (OAS) program, which is supplemented by the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowance for low-income seniors. When you turn 65, you may be entitled to these benefits. Like CPP, you must apply for them.

Each spring, the Municipal Retirees Organization of Ontario (MROO) hosts Zone Meetings across the province.

• MROO's president provides an update on MROO's advocacy on behalf of pensioners.
• OMERS staff share information about the pension plan and are available to answer questions.
• Guest speakers address a variety of topics of interest to retirees.
• All OMERS retirees are invited.

MROO 2018 Zone Meeting Schedule