Checklists
The bird’s-eye view to help you understand a process.
Offer of OMERS Membership Checklist
Handy when you’re offering membership to eligible employees.
Payroll Updates
OMERS contribution rates and thresholds for your payroll updates.
Downloads for new administrators
e-Form 119 Checklist
Before you begin
Ensure that you have an e-access account and you log in before January 1
Run a Membership Data Extract
Ensure your data maintenance is complete
Enrol any members that should have been enrolled but were not (e-Form 102)
Report any outstanding normal retirement age or status changes (e-Form 106)
Report any outstanding leave periods (e-Form 165a)
Report any outstanding disabilities (e-Form 143)
Report any outstanding member terminations, retirements, and pre-retirement deaths (e-Form 143)
Compare contributions remitted to contributions deducted to ensure they balance
January to June
Prepare for your e-Form 119 reporting
Build your import file using the Import File Builder or create an ASCII file
Ensure you have all e-Form 119 data
Credited service
Contributory earnings
RPP/RCA contributions
Pension adjustments (PAs) (only required if submitted after Feb 28)
Make sure you’ve included retro-payment details (if applicable)
Do your e-Form 119 reporting
Import your data into e-access
e-Form 119
Retro (if applicable)
Submit your data to OMERS
Resolve exceptions
Reconcile
Ensure all e-Form 119 requests have been submitted or deleted
Verify contributions reported vs. remitted
Generate Pension Reports
Select employer contact information
Click the green Reconcile button
Call OMERS Employer Services if you are having trouble with reconciling
Post reconciliation
Run the Membership Data Extract to obtain PAs (if before Feb 28)
Review the ANR125 – Form 119 RPP and RCA Reconciliation Report
Short remit on the next monthly remittance to recoup a credit balance (if applicable)
Remit funds on the next monthly remittance to pay balance owing (if applicable)
We're here to help!
Contact OMERS Employer Servicesif you need help with any of the steps.
Employer Disability Quick Reference
PART I - Disability benefits eligibility
Who is eligible for disability benefits?
An employee who is considered to be fully prevented from performing their job due to a mental or physical incapacity for a period of at least four months may be entitled to a disability waiver of contributions (disability waiver) or a disability pension.
The member may also qualify if they are on an approved rehabilitative work program.
What is the disability benefits criteria?
Disability waiver of contributions
First 24 months, the member is unable to do their own job
After 24 months, the member is unable to do any job
Disability pension
Unable to do any job for which they are qualified.
Elimination period
Can occur any time a member is considered totally disabled (absent from work as a result of the disability).
The period of time from the date of disability to the first day of the fifth month following the month in which the disability occurred.
It is your responsibility to determine if this period of time that the member is absent is due to illness or injury.
Following the elimination period, a member may qualify for a disability waiver or a disability pension.
PART II - Disability elimination period administration
During the disability elimination period
If the member receives 100% sick pay
Normal contributions can continue to be deducted until the 100% sick pay ends or until the day 100% contributions stop. However, you must submit a completed Request for an OMERS plan benefit e-form 143 to OMERS when the member is absent beyond the first day of the fifth month.
If the member receives LESS THAN 100% sick pay
Two options are available to the employer:
Cease contributions
Submit a completed Disability elimination period e-form 164 to provide the member with the option to purchase the period (at a single contribution rate).
Continue regular contributions as if the member was receiving 100% regular pay
Be consistent in your approach for all or each class of members.
Example: for members receiving 85% of pay, contributions continue as though pay received was 100%.

If a member returns to work or a permanent accommodation is made, the elimination period ends and regular contributions begin.
Purchasing the disability elimination period
If the member elects NOT to purchase this period
Submit a completed Disability elimination period e-form 164.
OMERS will set up the period as broken service on the member’s record.
If the member elects to purchase this period
Keep a copy of the completed and signed Disability elimination period e-form 164 for your records.
Delete the Disability elimination period e-form 164.
Report all financial information through:
Annual reporting of membership information e-form 119; or
Request for OMERS plan benefit e-form 143.
Key dates
February 28: Deadline for employer to remit previous year’s elimination period funds to OMERS.
December 31 (of the year the disability occurs): Deadline for member to elect to purchase the disability elimination period.
PART III - Disability benefit administration
Step 1: Initiating the disability process
Requesting the disability benefit
On the first day of the fifth month following the member’s date of disability, submit a completed Request for an OMERS plan benefit e-form 143 to OMERS.
Tips for completing the Request for an OMERS plan benefit e-form 143
Important dates to remember
Date the member last worked 100% full-time duties.
Date the member last paid contributions on full earnings.
Deadline for submitting the Disability elimination period e-form 164 is December 31 of that same calendar year.
If the member elects to purchase their elimination period after the Request for an OMERS plan benefit e-form 143 has been submitted, then:
Revise the date the member last paid contributions on full earnings.
Send an e-Correspondence with revised financial information via e-access.
Annual salary rate
Annual rate of contributory earnings at the date 100% contributions stop are used to determine the deemed waiver earnings.
OMERS will calculate deemed waiver earnings during the disability waiver period.
For(OTCFT) members
The annual salary rate is required, not the annualized salary rate.
Populate the % of time worked for OTCFT members in comparison to a CFT equivalent (e.g., an OTCFT member working a 25-hour week works 62.5% of the time when compared to a CFT member working a 40-hour week).
Step 2: Managing the disability process
Disability review process
OMERS receives your completed and signed Request for an OMERS plan benefit e-form 143 and sends the member a disability package which includes the member's election to proceed with the disability benefit application and a request for medical information.
The member returns the election form and medical information.
The OMERS medical advisor conducts an initial review to determine the member’s eligibility for disability benefits.
OMERS conducts a medical review every 12 months.
If the member is deemed permanently disabled, OMERS requires the member to verify that they remain totally disabled every 24 months.
Note: If a member does not comply with OMERS request for information, their disability benefit may be placed on hold. Broken service may be required.
Effective July 1, 2018, OMERS is not responsible for any costs associated with providing medical documents.
Rehabilitative work
What is it?
Rehabilitative work is usually the transitional period between a member’s total disability status and their return-to-normal work duties (regardless of pay scale).
OMERS rehabilitative work may include any one of the following:
a different occupation or a training program, with or without reduced hours, to train for a new occupation
a different occupation, with or without reduced hours, as a transition to resuming own occupation, with the goal to resume own occupation
own occupation with reduced hours, as a transition to resuming own occupation, with the goal to resume own occupation
own occupation with modification to duties, as a transition to resuming own occupation, with the goal to resume own occupation
For members returning to rehabilitative work, submit a completed Notice of rehabilitative work form 152 to OMERS.
The nature of the rehabilitative work plan is an agreement between you and the member. OMERS focus is to ensure that members provide medical documentation to support the need for rehabilitative work.
Note: The duration of rehabilitative employment is limited to two years from date of initial return to work.
If OMERS does not support the rehabilitative work:
the disability waiver of contributions stops from the return-to-work date;
retroactive contributions from the return-to-work date or from the date the approval ceased must be deducted and remitted;
the contributory earnings received during this period must be included in the pension adjustment (PA) for the year and must be reported on the Annual reporting of membership information e-form 119.
Step 3: Ending the disability waiver
Reasons for ending the waiver
A disability waiver benefit may end when the member either:
returns to regular work duties or a new permanent work accommodation;
participates in rehabilitative work which extends beyond two years from initial return-to-work date;
elects a disability pension;
elects termination options;
elects to retire;
reaches their; or
dies.
Required form(s)
Submit a completed Employment change/benefit request form 158 for any of the reasons ending the disability waiver.
If a member’s permanent accommodation results in a change in status, submit a completed Changing member information e-form 106.
If a member on disability waiver elects anor requests termination options, the member submits a completed Forfeiting rights to disability benefits form 148 to OMERS.
Note: An Employment change/benefit request form 158 is required when a member terminates employment, however this does not end their disability waiver.
Employer and member form summary
Form
Event
Timeline
Request for an OMERS plan benefit (143) (available in e-access)
To report that you consider a member may be totally disabled as part of the application for OMERS disability benefits.
On the fifth month following the member’s absence due to total disability (or immediately if disability reoccurs within six months of the return to work date).
Initiating
Disability elimination period (164) (available in e-access)
To provide the member with the option to purchase their disability elimination period each year the member goes on a leave period (where the member is not receiving 100% pay) due to disability. Report the period after a member becomes disabled but before they qualify for disability benefits.
Member must elect to purchase the leave as a disability elimination period by December 31 of that same calendar year. You must remit the elimination period funds to OMERS by February 28 following each calendar year the disability leave occurred.
Annual reporting of membership information (119) (available only in e-access)
To report member’s financial information, enable OMERS to maintain up-to-date member records, produce pension reports and calculate benefits. The annual reporting process is initiated by OMERS.
Annually and by June 30 following each calendar year.
Managing
Notice of rehabilitative work (152)
To advise OMERS when a member returned to work in a rehabilitative capacity.
As soon as arrangements are made for the member to return to rehabilitative work. For rehabilitative work during the elimination period, do not submit this form until a Request for an OMERS plan benefit (143) e-form has been submitted as well.
Changing member information (106) (available in e-access)
To change or update a member’s employment status.
As soon as a totally disabled member returns to regular work duties, or a new permanent work accommodation.
Leave period reporting/election (165) (available in e-access)
To report any period of absence, including pregnancy/parental leaves and non-purchasable periods.
Once OMERS deems the member to not be disabled and the disability benefit ends until they are re-approved, submit this form to report potential broken service.
Ending
Employment change/ benefit request (158)
To report when a member returns to regular work duties or a new permanent work accommodation, elects a disability pension, retires, terminates employment, or dies.
As soon as you are made aware of the member’s return-to-work date, retirement date, termination date, disability pension election date, or date of death.
Forfeiting rights to disability benefits (148)
The member submits this form directly to OMERS to inform OMERS that they are giving up their rights to an OMERS disability benefit.
As soon as a subsequent member event occurs in which the member elects to forfeit their right to a disability benefit. A termination or early retirement benefit will not be processed until OMERS receives this form.
Glossary
Term
Definition
Annualized salary rate
For full-time members the annualized salary is the member’s actual salary. For part-time members the annualized salary is the member’s actual salary divided by the % of full-time hours the member works (e.g., $25,000/60% = $41,666.66).
Contributions
The funds paid by an employer and/or employee to OMERS according to the Plan provisions.
Contributory earnings
Earnings on which OMERS contributions are calculated. Regular earnings, including vacation pay (if service attributed), but excluding salary or wages paid for overtime, or pay as a result of termination, retirement, etc.
Credited service
Service of a member for which OMERS Plan contributions have been made and not refunded, or service accrued under the disability waiver of contribution benefit used to calculate the member’s pension.
Deemed earnings
The member's normal rate of contributory earnings per pay period immediately prior to a period of absence. For scattered days, employers can use the earnings in a typical pay period (that is one salary rate) as if the earnings were in effect for the entire period.
Disability elimination period
Period of time:
from the date of disability to the first day of the fifth month following the month in which the disability occurred; or
the member is absent due to illness or injury.
Disability pension
An unreduced pension payable to an employee permanently incapacitated due to physical or mental disability.
Disability recurrence
A member who returns to work after a period of disability and is again disabled by the same condition within six months may be able to resume the disability waiver of contributions or disability pension without repeating the elimination period.
Disability review
OMERS will manage each member's case individually to determine whether the member’s disability still qualifies for benefits. Once in receipt of a disability benefit OMERS may require a member to:
provide updated medical documentation
verify their inability to work
undergo a medical review
Disability waiver of contribution benefit
A benefit allowing disabled members to continue to accrue credited service, without making further contributions, from the first day of the fifth month following the date of disability.
Download for Print
Download the Employer Disability Quick Reference as a printable PDF.
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