Retiree Benefits
Additional information:from the Ottawa Professional Firefighters Association website
Thinking of Retiring?
Begin with my OMERS
NRA60
Firefighters have the option of having a normal retirement age of 60 (NRA60).
The OMERS website is full of information that will tell you how OMERS works, can estimate your pension, and will layout Retirement or Early retirement options.
Please click on our About OMERS page for more information related to fire fighters.
Payout of Sick Credits
Upon retirement a member will have 50% of their sick credits paid out, to a maximum of 1/2 a year’s annual salary.
Read the section in the Collective Agreement that covers Payout of Sick Credits. It includes how payout is affected by Silo, if you were hired before October 23rd 2002.
Depending on your date of employment, some of this money may be transferred into a RRSP. To do so you must fill out the DIRECT TRANSFER OF AN ELIGIBLE RETIRING ALLOWANCE form. If you transfer the lump sum to an RRSP there will not be any income tax taken off. Your pay-out for sick days may be put into your RRSP. The money cannot be put into your spousal RRSP. You are advised to see an independent financial planner regarding your severance.
If you have any holiday time, time owing, overtime or any other credits coming to you, you may put this in either your or your spousal RRSP. Only if you have room in your entitlement. The form required is the TRANSFER TO REGISTERED RETIREMENT PLAN form. You are advised to see an independent financial planner regarding your payout of holidays.
To find out if you have any RRSP entitlement see your last Notice of Assessment form that you received from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you are transferring money into a retiring plan or a RRSP call Keri-Ann Campbell at the City of Ottawa Pension/Benefits: 580-2424 ext. 22647. Fax 580-2604. Address: 100 Constellation Dr. She will require copies of the DIRECT TRANSFER OF AN ELIGIBLE RETIRING ALLOWANCE and/or TRANSFER TO REGISTERED RETIREMENT PLAN
You’ve Decided
We recommend that you retire on the last day of the month. That will be the day of your last available shift. This is because OMERS payments start on the first day of the month. There can be up to a month delay before your first (1st) OMERS pension check will be issued.
Once you decide on your retirement date, you will need to notify your Deputy Chief and Theresa Martin at Pension/Benefits. . A sample Retirement Letter shows what you need to send. It is very basic.
Two months prior to your retirement, book an appointment with the Deputy Chief in charge of your division. You may call their assistants for your appointment.
At this meeting bring in the following:
· A copy of your retirement letter (see above).
· Bring in your turn-out clothes, coat, and pants if applicable. These may be dropped off with maintenance. Maintenance will issue you with a receipt. You may keep the boots and helmet.
· City ID card, cell phone, car keys, pager etc.
At least one month before you plan to retire, be in touch with Theresa Martin at Pension/Benefits and make an appointment to see her. (613) 580-2424 Ext : 28966 - theresa.martin@ottawa.ca
Bring the following:
· Your birth certificate and/or identification card with your picture.
· One (1) void cheque. (For automatic deposit)
Theresa will submit your application for your OMERS pension. She will brief you on everything you need to know, and are required to do, as well as explain what extended health benefits you will have. She will guide you to any forms that you need to fill out.
Upon retirement you have a choice of staying in the benefit program. You will be asked to fill an Application for Retiree Extended Health Care form at the Pension and Benefits office. Please ask for a copy of the benefit booklet.
Life Insurance
Your life insurance will terminate on your retirement.
· Life Insurance Conversion
Members who are retiring many convert up to $ 200,000 of group life insurance to an individual insurance. This conversion must be done within the 30 days of your retirement.
Members interested must call the HR Service Centre 580-2424 ext. 47411.
Attend a retirement seminar The City of Ottawa Learning Centre offers a half day OMERS information session delivered by an OMERS expert. The Learning Centre also offers a one day Retirement Planning information session providing you with information on planning all areas of your life. You may register on-line through Ozone (under Employee Info tab then select My Training and Development – Register for Training) or call 613-580-2424 extension 47411.
Access the current City of Ottawa Preparing for Retirement in Ozone
Retirement Gift from the OPFFA:
Although there has been a pandemic interruption, the Association provides a retirement gift to each member at the Reunion Dinner. You can choose from a watch, a ring or a plaque, with your badge mounted. Photo
Please fill out the Gift Form once you’ve decided your retirement date. You will need to send this form to the RA Chair, Al Lemieux. ( alemieux@ottawafirefighters.org )
Retiree Benefits:
Letter of Understanding #7 Retiree Benefits
Sick Benefit Fund
You can find the Sick Benefit Fund Policy book here. If you are a member of the Fund and wish to remain a member of the Sick Benefit Fund after retiring, you must notify the manager before your retirement. You will need to fill out the enrollment form (which you can obtain from the SBF Chair or SBF manager); sign, scan and email to sbfmanager@ottawafirefighters.org with a void cheque. The monthly fee for retirees, is now $21.00.
If you have any questions about the Sick Benefit Fund please contact the SBF Chair dmclennan@ottawafirefitghters.org or the SBF Manager at sbfmanager@ottawafirefighters.org
Sick Benefit Fund Special Report – Review:
SBF Constitution – Amended Aug. 22 2022.pdf
SBF Policy Book, May 14 2021.pdf
Minutes of THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SICK BENEFIT FUND HELD ON Aug 22 2022
Benefits are available from the Sick Benefit Fund for Retirees who continue to pay into the fund. It provides additional insurance coverage in cases of illness or injury.
The Fund’s Retiree Member Benefits are:
· Pays deductible that the insurance company charges
· Pays a maximum of $450 dental in a calendar year
· Pays for Erectile Dysfunction medication to a maximum of $400 per calendar year.
· Pays for one pair of glasses or contacts prescribed by a qualified optometrist to a 24-month maximum of $225
· Pays a maximum of $400 for a Chiropractor in a calendar year
· Pays up to $100 for Podiatry services in a calendar year
· Pays a maximum of $400 for physiotherapy in a calendar year
· Pays a maximum of $400 for a licensed masseur in a calendar year
· Pays a maximum of $300 per ear for hearing aids or repairs every 5 years
· Pays for semi-private coverage in a palliative care hospital within the financial limitations of the Fun
Note: Bills must be submitted by June 30th of the next calendar year or they will not be reimbursed.
Sick Benefit Fund Office : 613-733-6020
Reminder of SBF Office Hours
During the Pandemic, the office is closed with no regular hours.
The SBF Manager will be available by appointment, please leave a message with your phone number and we will return your call. When it is safe to open the office on a regular basis, the SBF Manager will re-establish some office hours.
You can also read the recently amended Sick Benefit Policy Book by clicking on this link:
For all WSIB related issues
(occupational diseases or hearing impairments)
or any questions, ROFFA Members can contact:
Local WSIB representatives
Committee Members
Genna McMillan
Chairperson
613-612-9410
Gmcmillan@ottawafirefigjters.org
(Mental health, occupational illness, all inquires)
Mike Clamp : 613-285-9978
(Noise induced hearing loss)
Lyle Brennan: 613-804-2215
Lbrennan@ottawafirefighters.org
(Musculoskeletal injuries)
Peter Barton: 713-799-9264
Pbarton@ottawafirefighters.org
(Noise induced hearing loss and musculoskeletal)
OPFFA WSIB COMMITTEE DIRECTION TO ROFFA MEMBERS
INTRODUCTION
It has been brought to the attention of the WSIB Committee that some ROFFA members have requested direction in navigating the process of submitting WSIB Occupational Disease and Presumptive claims. This document will serve to provide that direction and should facilitate the submission of these claims. This document will contain the following:
• A definition of a compensable occupational disease
• An introduction to the Presumptive Legislation
• Information on Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
• How to file a claim with the WSIB
• List of contact information
Occupational Disease Defined
An occupational disease is a health problem resulting from exposure to a particular substance relating to a particular process, trade or occupation. It can also be a disease that is peculiar or characteristic of an industrial process, trade or occupation. The disease is caused by exposure to a workplace health hazard such as:
• Dust, gas or fumes
• Noise
• Toxic substances
• Vibration
• Radiation
• Infectious germs or viruses
• Extreme hot or cold temperatures
• Extremely high or low air pressure
These health hazards can cause three kinds of reactions in the body:
• Immediate or acute – can be caused by a onetime event and are not usually permanent
• Gradual – worsen and persist when exposed over days, weeks or months- last for a longer time
• Delayed – take a long time to develop like cancer or loss of hearing. Can be caused by long-term exposure to a substance or work activity. These reactions can be noticed long after the job is over.
PRESUMPTIVE LEGISLATION
The Presumptive Legislation which was introduced to the Ontario Legislature in 2007 recognizes the unique hazards present in firefighting and presumes that certain cancers are work related. Initially the legislation recognized eight types of cancers but in 2014 the Provincial Government added six more totaling fourteen.
This legislation applies to all full time, part time and volunteer fire fighters and fire investigators with a minimum number of years of eligible service. The eligible years are the sum of all employment periods prior to diagnosis, whether consecutive or non-consecutive. The presumption applies to health conditions diagnosed on or after January 1, 1960. Usually certain criteria must be met for the legislation to apply; those criteria are listed in both the ROFFA and WSIB websites. In the event that a medical diagnosis does not meet those criteria, a claim may still be submitted and will be determined by the WSIB based on its individual merit.
NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS
NIHL is a permanent bilateral hearing loss from being exposed to high levels of noise over a long period. It is one of the most common occupational diseases and in most cases preventable. If you have been diagnosed with work related NIHL, the WSIB may provide hearing related health services, hearing aids and other benefits.
The WSIB has established specific criteria to allow for a NIHL claim including factoring in presbycusis or normal hearing loss due to aging. However, the WSIB will accept claims that do not meet the criteria based on the individual merits of the claim.
Retired workers may be eligible and the WSIB will consider the entire work history and exposure to noise. You should file a claim as soon as you become aware that you have been diagnosed with work related NIHL. You can file a claim through your doctor, audiologist, employer, union advocate or yourself. It is advisable to have your family doctor refer you to an audiologist for testing rather than making your own appointment. By doing so, your testing should be covered by OHIP thereby preventing the incurrence of costs.
How to file a claim for NIHL:
If a member is active they can submit to WSIB and be denied multiple times BUT, Once retired members only get ONE chance to file for a hearing loss claim.
We do not recommend members have the audiologist or that the members themselves send anything to WSIB.
Please have members consult a local 162 committee member to ensure the thresholds and benchmarks are met for a successful claim.
HOW TO FILE OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE CLAIMS
You can file a claim through your doctor, union advocate or yourself and there is no time limit for filing an occupational disease claim. There are three ways to set up a claim:
1. Fill out and submit a Workers’ Report of Injury/Disease Form 6 online or by calling WSIB at 1800-387-0750. The form 6 is the document that registers your claim with the WSIB.
2. Your doctor can send a Health Professional Form 8 to the WSIB. Ensure that you inform your doctor of any substances or conditions that you were exposed to at work.
3. Have your union advocate assist you with filling out the Workers’ Report of Injury/ Disease and filing your claim. Regardless of how you file your claim, you should contact the OPFFA WSIB Committee or the Association Office and obtain and fill out a Cancer and Occupational Disease Registry Form. This form will be sent to the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association Occupational Disease representative who may assist you with your claim.
After submitting your claim, you will be assigned a claim number and an adjudicator to your case. The adjudicator will require information about your exposures and medical treatment. It may facilitate your claim if you can provide information about your symptoms and when they began, a list of the substances you were exposed to and the type of work you did. They may also ask you for the names and addresses of the medical professionals you attended as well as the dates of your appointments.
Below is the occupational illness information. At this time we are still waiting for Thyroid and Pancreatic framework to be implemented. It is thought they will be a 10 year latency.
For the purposes of subsection 15.1 (4) of the Act, the following are prescribed diseases:
1. Primary-site brain cancer.
2. Primary-site colorectal cancer.
3. Primary-site bladder cancer.
4. Primary acute myeloid leukemia, primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia or primary acute lymphocytic leukemia.
5. Primary-site ureter cancer.
6. Primary-site kidney cancer.
7. Primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
8. Primary-site esophegeal cancer.
9. Primary-site breast cancer.
10. Multiple myeloma.
11. Primary-site testicular cancer.
12. Primary-site prostate cancer.
13. Primary-site lung cancer.
14. Primary-site skin cancer.
15. Primary-site ovarian cancer.
16. Primary-site cervical cancer.
17. Primary-site penile cancer. O. Reg. 253/07, s. 4; O. Reg. 113/14, s. 1; O. Reg. 311/18, s. 1.
Conditions and restrictions
5. (1) The presumption in subsection 15.1 (4) of the Act does not apply in respect of primary-site colorectal cancer unless the worker,
(a) was diagnosed with the disease before he or she attained the age of 61 years; and
(b) was employed as a full-time firefighter, part-time firefighter or fire investigator or served as a volunteer firefighter for a total of at least 10 years before being diagnosed. O. Reg. 253/07, s. 5 (1); O. Reg. 423/09, s. 3 (1).
(2) The presumption in subsection 15.1 (4) of the Act does not apply in respect of primary-site brain cancer, primary-site breast cancer, primary-site testicular cancer, primary-site ovarian cancer or primary-site cervical cancer unless the worker was employed as a full-time firefighter, part-time firefighter or fire investigator or served as a volunteer firefighter for a total of at least 10 years before being diagnosed. O. Reg. 253/07, s. 5 (2); O. Reg. 423/09, s. 3 (2); O. Reg. 113/14, s. 2 (1); O. Reg. 311/18, s. 2 (1).
(3) The presumption in subsection 15.1 (4) of the Act does not apply in respect of primary-site bladder cancer, primary acute myeloid leukemia, primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia, primary acute lymphocytic leukemia, primary-site ureter cancer, multiple myeloma, primary-site prostate cancer, primary-site skin cancer or primary-site penile cancer unless the worker was employed as a full-time firefighter, part-time firefighter or fire investigator or served as a volunteer firefighter for a total of at least 15 years before being diagnosed. O. Reg. 253/07, s. 5 (3); O. Reg. 423/09, s. 3 (3); O. Reg. 113/14, s. 2 (2-4); O. Reg. 311/18, s. 2 (2).
(3.1) The presumption in subsection 15.1 (4) of the Act does not apply in respect of primary-site lung cancer unless,
(a) the worker was employed as a full-time firefighter, part-time firefighter or fire investigator or served as a volunteer firefighter for a total of at least 15 years before being diagnosed; and
(b) the worker did not smoke a tobacco product in the 10 years before being diagnosed. O. Reg. 113/14, s. 2 (5).
(4) The presumption in subsection 15.1 (4) of the Act does not apply in respect of primary-site kidney cancer or primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma unless the worker was employed as a full-time firefighter, part-time firefighter or fire investigator or served as a volunteer firefighter for a total of at least 20 years before being diagnosed. O. Reg. 253/07, s. 5 (4); O. Reg. 423/09, s. 3 (4).
(5) The presumption in subsection 15.1 (4) of the Act does not apply in respect of primary-site esophegeal cancer unless the worker was employed as a full-time firefighter, part-time firefighter or fire investigator or served as a volunteer firefighter for a total of at least 25 years before being diagnosed. O. Reg. 253/07, s. 5 (5); O. Reg. 423/09, s. 3 (5).
(6) The following rules apply to the calculation of time periods for the purposes of clause (1) (b) and subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5):
1. All periods of employment as a full-time firefighter, part-time firefighter or fire investigator and all periods of service as a volunteer firefighter, whether consecutive or non-consecutive, shall be included, subject to paragraph 2.
2. If a worker is employed in a capacity mentioned in paragraph 1 and also, during the same period, is employed in another capacity mentioned in paragraph 1 or serves as a volunteer firefighter, the period shall be counted only once. O. Reg. 423/09, s. 3 (6).
6. Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Regulation). O. Reg. 253/07, s. 6.
Committee Members
Local WSIB representatives
Committee Members
Genna McMillan
Chairperson
613-612-9410
Gmcmillan@ottawafirefigjters.org
(Mental health, occupational illness, all inquires)
Mike Clamp : 613-285-9978
(Noise induced hearing loss)
Lyle Brennan: 613-804-2215
Lbrennan@ottawafirefighters.org
(Musculoskeletal injuries)
Peter Barton: 713-799-9264
Pbarton@ottawafirefighters.org
(Noise induced hearing loss and musculoskeletal)
Cancers in Firefighters and Fire Investigators
If you are or have been a firefighter and have one of the primary site cancers listed in the following chart, the cancer may be presumed to be an occupational disease and you may be eligible for WSIB Ontario Benefits. The presumption applies to all full time, part time or volunteer firefighters who have been regularly exposed to the hazards of a fire scene, for the minimum period shown for the specified cancer.
Policy& Guidelines for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Fire Fighter Cancer Statistics
• Brain cancer: 3.5 times more likely in firefighters with 10 to 19 years of service
• Leukemia/lymphoma: 3 times more likely
• Non-Hodgkins lymphona : 2 times more likely after 30 years
• Multiple myeloma: 2.5 times more likely, after 30 years, 10 times more likely
• Bladder cancer: 3 times more likely
• Kidney cancer : 4 times more likely
• Prostate cancer : 2 times more likely
• Testicular cancer : 2.5 times more likely
• Colorectal cancer (large intestine) : 2 times more likely
• Liver cancer :2 times more likely
• Skin cancer : 2 times more likely
Source: www.FireEngineering.com
Important Retiree Benefit Notice
What this means to you...
What to expect...
What you need to do....
For additional information please contact SBF manager Craig Morrison or Koraly Gigere
Client Accounting Administrator
Coughlin & Associates Ltd. | Employee Benefits Specialists
466 Tremblay Road| Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3R1
Tel: 613-231-2266 ext 4267 | 1-888-613-1234 | fax: 613-231-2345
Sick Benefit Fund
Sick Benefit Fund manager Craig Morrison is now available to members at the SBF office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays form 8:30 to 12:30 pm.
You can also contact Craig via email cmorrison@ottawafirefighters.org
or by phone @ 613-733-6020
