Questions and answers

How do I enroll a member in the Plan?

Step 1: Ask the member to bring original copies of the below documentation to the enrolment meeting.

Required Documentation

  • Member's proof of age (one of the following):
    • Birth certificate
    • Driver’s licence
    • Ontario Photo Card
    • Passport
    • Citizenship card
    • Immigration card
    • Certificate of Indian Status (status card)
    • Birth and Baptism Record
  • Member's Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.)

Optional Documentation

IMPORTANT: The above optional documents are not mandatory at enrolment but the member must provide them to OPB before pension benefits are payable (e.g., at termination, retirement, divestment or death).

Step 2: Take copies of the member's original documentation, stamp or sign them as "Certified True Copies" and forward the certified copies to OPB along with the forms in Step 3 below.

Step 3: Have the member complete, sign, and date the following forms:

Step 4: Mail the following to OPB as soon as possible:

Step 5: Set up the member on payroll for PSPP contributions. Please refer to Contributions.

OPB sends each new member an enrolment package.

The enrolment package contains the required forms as well as the booklets that provide details about the PSPP, and instructions for contacting OPB for information and returning forms.

The enrolment package includes the following documents:

If the member returns any of the forms below to you (the employer), you must forward them directly to OPB for processing as soon as possible. Some forms that typically are returned to the employer are:

Yes. When you submit a new member's enrolment package, their signature must be on the enrolment form.

The plan membership date is the date the member starts contributing to the Plan.

If there is a change or correction to a member's employment information, the employer must submit a Member's Employment Information Update (OPB 1039) with the corrected or updated information.

Only the employer's signature is required on this form.

Submitting information about any changes to a member's marital status is critical. It ensures that the member's personal records are up-to-date and that the administration of the member's pension benefit complies with the member's instructions concerning his/her marital situation.

As the employer, when a member informs you he/she is undergoing a separation or divorce, you must instruct the member to:

IMPORTANT: If the credited service included periods of marital separation, the pension benefits at retirement, termination or death will not be finalized until OPB reviews the following documents for pension impact:

  • Separation Agreement
  • Divorce documents (e.g., Court Order, Divorce Decree, Divorce Judgment)

Before the member goes on their leave:

Step 1: Make sure the member understands their options when taking a leave. The member can:

Option 1: continue to make pension contributions during the period of the leave. This means they will continue to accrue credit in the Plan.
Option 2: elect not to contribute during the leave. If the member chooses this option, the member's credit date will be adjusted accordingly to reflect the period of leave.
Option 3: opt to buy back their pension credit within 24 months of returning from their leave of absence.

Note: We strongly encourage members to contact an OPB Client Representative to walk them through these options and their implications. Members can reach a Client Representative by calling 416-364-5035 or 1-800-668-6203.

Step 2: Complete the member information section of OPB1025 - Leaves of Absence without Pay (PDF).

Step 3: Forward the form to the member and instruct them to indicate whether they wish to contribute to the PSPP during their leave. They must sign and date the form, and give it back to you before their leave starts.

Step 4: Sign and Date the form.

Step 5: Give the member a copy of the form before the leave starts.

Step 6: Forward the form to us before the leave starts.

IMPORTANT: This must be submitted before the leave starts, regardless of whether the member wishes to contribute during the leave or not. If the form is not submitted prior to the commencement of the leave, the expectation under the Employment Standards Act is that the member will contribute.

If the member is on an unpaid leave of absence for one month or less, the member must continue to contribute to the PSPP and will continue to accrue pension credit in the Plan.

When the member returns from their leave of absence, the employer is responsible for collecting their contributions and remitting their contributions to OPB.

If the member is on an unpaid leave for more than one month, including pregnancy/parental/adoption leaves, illness leaves, family medical leaves, special leaves, or educational leaves, then the member has the following options:

Option 1: They can continue to make pension contributions during the period of the leave.
Option 2: They can elect not to contribute during the leave. If the member chooses this option, the member's credit date will be adjusted accordingly to reflect the period of leave.
Option 3: They can choose to buy back the pension credit within 24 months of returning from their leave of absence.

Note: We strongly encourage members to contact an OPB Client Representative to walk them through these options and their implications. Members can reach a Client Representative by calling 416-364-5035 or 1-800-668-6203.

Forms required by OPB: OPB1025 - Leaves of Absence without Pay (PDF)

Option 1: continue to make pension contributions during the period of the leave. This means they will continue to accrue credit in the Plan.
Option 2: elect not to contribute during the leave. If the member chooses this option, the member's credit date will be adjusted accordingly to reflect the period of leave.
Option 3: opt to buy back their pension credit within 24 months of returning from their leave of absence.

Note: We strongly encourage members to contact an OPB Client Representative to walk them through these options and their implications. Members can reach a Client Representative by calling 416-364-5035 or 1-800-668-6203.

Step 2: Complete the member information section of OPB1025 - Leaves of Absence without Pay (PDF).

Step 3: Forward the form to the member and instruct them to indicate whether they wish to contribute to the PSPP during their leave. They must sign and date the form, and return to you before their leave starts.

Step 4: Complete the remaining sections of the form. Be sure to indicate whether the member contributions will be paid through the Supplementary Unemployment Benefits (SUB) Allowance. This section is found on the bottom of the form.

Step 5: Sign and Date the form.

Step 6: Give the member a copy of the form before the leave starts.

Step 7: Forward the form to us before the leave starts.

IMPORTANT: This must be submitted before ;the leave starts, regardless of whether the member wishes to contribute during the leave or not. If the form is not submitted prior to the commencement of the leave, the expectation under the Employment Standards Act is that the member will contribute.

If the member is on a Pregnancy/Parental/Adoption leave and is receiving pay from the Supplementary Benefits Allowance (SUB allowance), then the employer is responsible for remitting both the member and matching employer contributions for the duration of the leave.

If a member takes a special or educational leave and elects to contribute during their leave, the member is responsible for both the member and the employer contributions.

Yes. Members who are on a paid leave of absence continue to contribute to the PSPP and to accrue pension credit in the Plan. This is not optional. The employer continues to make matching contributions during a member's paid leave.

Yes.

If there is a change or correction to the member's leave of absence information, the employer must submit a Member's Employment Information Update (OPB 1039). Be sure to report the member's:

  • Status,
  • Name,
  • Client Number,
  • Type of leave, and
  • Leave dates

Only the employer's signature is required.

When a member is approved for LTIP benefits, the employer is responsible for both the employer and member contributions.

Contributions are calculated based on the member's salary in effect on the date of disability.