Inflation protection for your OPTrust pension

Updated: December 2013 Download the PDF Print this page Email the link

Starting January 2014, your OPTrust pension will increase by 0.9%. The annual increase applies to all OPTrust pensioners, survivor pensions and to the deferred pensions of former and divested OPTrust members.

Every January, OPTrust pensions are adjusted for the increase in the cost of living, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), reported by Statistics Canada. The result is protection for the buying power of your pension - and security for the future.

The CPI used by OPTrust reflects the cost of a weighted basket of over 600 goods and services that are typically purchased by Canadian consumers every month. These weights ensure that a 10% price increase in rent, for example, would have a greater impact on the index than a 10% increase in the price of milk.

How your annual adjustment is calculated

OPTrust's annual pension increase is calculated based on the change in the average monthly CPI between October and September for the previous two years. For example, the 2014 increase was calculated as follows:

The maximum increase in any single year is 8%. Any increase above this level is carried forward, and applied in the next year when the adjustment is less than 8%.

Lifetime protection

The inflation protection feature is designed to protect your pension during your lifetime. For example, a pensioner who retired in December 2003 with an annual pension of $23,873 will receive $28,528 from OPTrust in 2014 - a 19% increase over a 10-year period.

With a range of increases, OPTrust's annual inflation adjustment can make a big difference over time.

Since the Plan's inception, inflation adjustments have averaged 1.8%.

To find out how much your own pension will increase in 2014, view your Pensioner Information Change Statement available through secure Online Services or in print in early January, 2014.

Increase pro-rated for new pensioners

For OPTrust pensioners who retired in 2013, your inflation adjustment is pro-rated for the length of time you received a pension. For example let's say you retired in June 2013, your pro-rated adjustment is calculated by the number of months you received a pension, divided by 12, times the 2014 increase.

In January 2014, your pension will increase by 0.45% to reflect the cost of living for six months. In the following years the full CPI will be applied to your OPTrust pension.

Consumer Price Index

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), produced by Statistics Canada, is a measure of price movements. The CPI is calculated by comparing the retail prices of a representative "shopping basket" of goods and services at two different points in time. This "shopping basket" includes a range of goods and services including food, fuel, transportation, home energy and shelter.

For more information on the Consumer Price Index, visit the Statistics Canada website at www.statcan.gc.ca.