This is a summary of OMERS contributions rates and contribution limits. For details and clarification of any year’s figures, please refer to the Employer Administration Manual.
RPP max & single-contribution leave threshold (2018 = $175,223.10): This limit applies when members pay regular pay period contributions, and when they purchase single-contribution – such as disability elimination periods and pregnancy-parental leaves, which are protected under the Employment Standards Act. Contributions on earnings up to this limit go into the OMERS Primary Pension Plan. Contributions on earnings above this limit – for either regular pay periods or single-contribution leave period purchases – are directed to the OMERS retirement compensation arrangement (RCA).
Double-contribution leave period max (2018 = $166,088.25): This limit applies when members purchase double-contribution leave periods (both member and employer shares) – such as authorized leaves of absence. In this instance, contributions are capped when contributory earnings reach this maximum; there are no RCA contributions for these leaves.
This difference in limits – one for regular contributions and single-contribution leave purchases, and the other for double-contribution leave purchases – started in 2013. Previously, the limits for both were the same.