Cost-of-living increases for Retired Members

November 27, 2020
Cost-of-living increases for Retired Members
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We can now announce that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021 is 1.0%. You will receive your Retired Member Statement with your personal annual cost-of-living adjustment in January 2021 with the breakdown of your gross monthly pension for the year that includes COLA. You can also learn more about COLA on our Inflation Protection/COLA page.

In early February, you will be able to view your T4A or NR4 for 2020 through your e-services account too.

To help you plan for your 2021 pension payments, we've posted pay dates for next year on our Pension pay dates page. We've also included information on how you can sign up for direct deposit for your pension payments – whether you live in Canada, the U.S. or another part of the world.

With the end of the year approaching, here are some items you may also want to consider:

  • Has any of your personal information changed? Please update us! Visit our online e-services to update your personal information including your address, marital status, and more.
  • While you’re there, please review your beneficiary information and make sure they are up to date.
  • If your 65th birthday is in 2021, note that your PSPP early retirement bridge benefit will end at the end of the month when you reach age 65.
  • If you're holding on to medical and dental submissions for 2019, you may have until the end of 2020 to submit them for reimbursement. Visit our Insured benefits page for more details.

A few quick e-services reminders:

  • If you haven’t already registered for e-services, go to our website at OPB.ca, click Login at the top-right corner of the page and follow the steps online.
  • Review your contact information to ensure it is up-to-date. If you need to make any changes, you can update your information online through your e-services account.

Are you a retired TVO Plan member or survivor?

For our retired TVO Plan members and survivors, your cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021 is 0.51%. You will receive a personalized letter in December with the breakdown of your new gross monthly pension amount for 2021. If you’re a retired member, your Retired Member Statement will be mailed to you in 2021.

Are you a retired Ontario Northland Plan member or survivor in the Northline Transfer group?

For our retired Ontario Northland Plan members and survivors who are part of the Northline Transfer group, you will continue to receive your set annual increase. You will receive a personalized letter in December with the breakdown of your new gross monthly pension amount for 2021. If you’re a retired member, your Retired Member Statement will be mailed to you in 2021.

For other Ontario Northland Plan retirees who retired under the Ontario Northland Plan provisions (i.e. before the merger with the PSPP received consent in the fall of 2019), the Ontario Northland Plan was not funded to provide increases automatically unless the pension plan could afford it. This means that each year OPB will assess and make a recommendation to the Plan Sponsor (the Government of Ontario) about whether an ad hoc COLA can be provided. Any recommended increase will be based on the funded status of the PSPP, the PSPP's funding policy, the cost of increase and the PSPP's economic outlook. Since the PSPP does not have a funding excess at this time, and is not expected to in 2021 based on the current economic environment, there won’t be an ad hoc increase for 2021. Going forward, we expect to share the decision of whether a COLA will be granted by the fall of each year.

Are you the survivor of a pensioner?

Your personal annual COLA letter for your survivor pension will be mailed to you in mid-December. The letter contains a breakdown of your gross monthly pension for the year that includes COLA.

Contact us:

If you have any questions about any of this information, our Client Care Centre is ready to assist you. Call us at 416-364-5035 or toll free (Canada and U.S. only) at 1-800-668-6203.