Long-term income protection
If you become disabled, you may qualify for benefits under the long-term income protection (LTIP) provided by the Ontario Public Service, or an equivalent long-term disability plan.
Your human resources or union representative can provide you with more information and let you know whether the benefit plan has been approved for purposes of the pension plan.
What happens if you qualify for LTIP?
Currently, if you qualify for a benefit under an approved LTIP (or equivalent long-term disability plan as determined by the Board) and do not resign from your employment, you continue to accrue pension service at your pre-disability rate.
Your employer is required to make both their share and your share of contributions to the Plan on your behalf until you recover, resign from your employment, reach age 65, start your pension, or die (whichever occurs first). This also applies if you qualify for LTIP, but are paid directly by WSIB. Whether you qualify for LTIP is a decision made by your employer.
For pension purposes, if you qualify to receive LTIP, or qualify for LTIP but are paid by WSIB, the annual salary rate you were earning on the date of your disability is the base rate used for determining both your pension contributions and pension benefit.
This “base rate” is currently adjusted each year based on the inflation adjustment applied to pensions, not the rate of pay in the collective agreement. For more details, refer to Long-Term Income Protection and Your Pension Contributions. Be sure to read about disability pensions, as well.
What happens if you only qualify for WSIB?
If you are paid directly by WSIB and do not qualify for LTIP, you have the option to accrue pension service by paying contributions to OPTrust during the period of your WSIB leave.
For more details, refer to Contributing to Your Pension While on a WSIB Leave.
