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Supporting members during the COVID-19 outbreak
This is an unprecedented time for HOOPP members. The tireless commitment of healthcare workers to serving our communities during the COVID-19 outbreak is truly inspiring. We want to express our deepest thanks for all that you are doing.
To help keep you informed, we have created this page and will update it with important HOOPP messages, service updates and answers to commonly asked member questions.
A message for members
How we continue to serve members – A message from Steven McCormick, Senior Vice President, Plan Operations
Service updates
April 16, 2020: Continued HOOPP benefits for members on new unpaid emergency leaves
During these challenging times we understand members may experience disruptions in their regular work, but we want to ensure your pension is protected and can continue to grow. For that reason, HOOPP will provide any member that takes an unpaid emergency leave, or is within the first 15 weeks of an unpaid health leave, with contributory service at no cost to them or their employer.
This means members can continue building their pension based on what they normally would have earned in the Plan, during the unpaid leave. This benefit will apply for the period of emergency declared by the government of Ontario.
We will be providing employers with more administrative information to support this change in the coming weeks.
April 16, 2020: Extension for contribution payments for leaves of absence
To provide continued support for members, we have extended the timeline to make pension contributions following a leave of absence. The current timeline of 6 months from the end of a leave has been extended to 12 months and applies to all leaves of absence.
For members returning to work following a leave, this change will provide additional time and flexibility to plan and coordinate their payment with employers. HOOPP will provide employers with additional information and resources to help them implement this extension.
To minimize any impact to your RRSP contribution room, we recommend that for leaves that end in 2020, you make your pension contributions before April 30, 2021.
April 3, 2020: Extending deadlines on applications for buyback and disability benefits
To provide our members with more flexibility in the current environment, we have extended the deadline to submit the application and funds to complete a buyback, as well as the deadline for applications for disability benefits. Please contact our Member Services team for details.
March 18, 2020: Submitting documents to HOOPP
To limit the impact of potential delays in receiving and processing mail, HOOPP is asking members who need to send us documents, to submit them through the secure messages feature on HOOPP Connect.
March 14, 2020: Pension seminar replaced with live webcast
Please note, our March 14th pension seminar was offered as a webcast instead of an in-person event. To register for a future webcast, select the link below.
> View our upcoming webcasts
March 12, 2020: Suspension of in-person meetings with HOOPP
To help protect the health and wellness of our members and our employees, HOOPP has temporarily suspended all in-person pension meetings. If you have any questions, please contact our Member Services team at 416-646-6445 or 1-877-43-HOOPP(46677).
Commonly asked questions
Is the amount of my HOOPP pension going to change?
No, your HOOPP pension will not change and is calculated according to HOOPP’s pension formula.
Is my pension going to be impacted by COVID-19?
While COVID-19 has had considerable impact on financial markets and the economy, HOOPP has an excellent track record of successfully weathering market volatility and downturns.
HOOPP manages and invests for the long term, maintaining a large and very diverse portfolio, and applying investment strategies that ensure our assets match our liabilities. As such, we are well positioned to deliver on the pension promise.
I’m retired, but want to return to work to help, what are my options?
Retired members who rejoin the workforce at a HOOPP employer have two options:
You can continue to receive your pension along with your employment income and not re-enrol in HOOPP; or
You can temporarily suspend your monthly pension payments and re-enrol in HOOPP.
If you have any questions, please contact our Member Services team at 416-646-6445 or 1-877-43-HOOPP(46677).
What precautions is HOOPP taking?
Following the advice of Canadian health experts and authorities, HOOPP has taken the following precautions to mitigate the risk of potential spread of COVID-19:
Member events/meetings: We are replacing all our in-person member events and meetings – both inside and outside the HOOPP offices – with webcasts, phone calls and/or online communications. Timely communications will be shared with members/registrants and employers regarding any changes that are made to upcoming events.
HOOPP staff: We implemented a work-from-home policy for all employees who can perform their functions remotely, and suspended all business travel.
Will COVID-19, or your precautionary measures, impact HOOPP’s ability to function day-to-day?
No. HOOPP will continue to function effectively and our Member Services team will remain available to support our members’ needs.
Where can I go if I have questions about my pension?
Our Member Services team is always willing to answer your questions. You can reach us at (416) 646-6445 or 1-877-43-HOOPP(46677), Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
HOOPP Connect also remains available to provide you with detailed information about your pension, when and where you need it.
Supporting employers during the COVID-19 outbreak
We recognize that this is a busy, challenging and evolving environment for healthcare workers.
This environment has introduced some unique operational challenges for you, including:
an increase in the number of retired employees rejoining their employers
more employees requiring emergency leaves from work
Below you will find some key points to assist you in addressing these challenges and information about changes HOOPP is making to provide additional support for members.
Retired members rejoining their employers
Retired members who rejoin the workforce at a HOOPP employer have two options.
They can continue to receive their pension along with their employment income and not re-enrol in HOOPP; or
they can temporarily suspend their monthly pension payments and re-enrol in HOOPP.
In general, if a retired employee is returning to work for a few months, this will likely result in only a modest change to their pension. As such, they may prefer to continue to receive their HOOPP pension without re-enrolling in HOOPP.
However, if the employee is returning to work for a more extended period of time, it may be beneficial for them to suspend their pension and re-enrol in the Plan. In that case, we encourage employees to contact HOOPP directly and we will provide them with an estimate and assist them in making a more informed decision.
Employees requiring emergency leaves
The government has announced two new classes of leaves to the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA):
Declared Emergencies
Infectious Disease Emergencies
If you have granted either of these types of leave for a member, please use the category “Emergency Leave” when you submit the leave information to HOOPP.
For more information on these topics and more, please refer to the Employer Administration Manual and Learning Centre. You can also reach out to your Regional Manager who can help you along the way.
Continued HOOPP benefits for members on new unpaid emergency leaves
During these challenging times we understand members may experience disruptions in their regular work, but we want to ensure their pensions are protected and can continue to grow. For that reason, HOOPP will provide any member that takes a COVID-19 related unpaid emergency leave, or is within the first 15 weeks of an unpaid health leave, with contributory service at no cost to you or them.
We recognize that many members on leave during this crisis will continue to be paid and will have the option to keep growing their pension. Now, with this benefit in place, those on these unpaid leaves will also be able to continue building their pension, based on what they normally would have earned in the Plan. This benefit will apply for the period of emergency declared by the government of Ontario.
Please note, the process for reporting leaves remains unchanged. In the upcoming weeks we will provide more information on how we will support you through this initiative. If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Manager or your Employer Services Specialist.
Extending deadlines for free accrual applications
To provide members with more flexibility in light of the current environment, we have extended the deadline for disability benefits applications to a maximum of six months. As a result, it may take longer for you to see when a member starts receiving free accrual.
We ask that you please continue to submit leave of absence information on time.
Extension for contribution payments for leaves of absence
As part of our continued efforts to support our members, we are extending the timeline for members to make pension contributions following a leave of absence. The current timeline of 6 months from the end of a leave has been extended to 12 months and applies to all leaves of absence.
You can continue to submit all leave information and payments to HOOPP through the normal processes. We will provide you with additional details and resources in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Regional Manager or Employee Services Specialist.
You can continue to count on us for support
All HOOPP staff are working from home and are equipped to work remotely so that normal service can be provided to you and our members. We are replacing all our in-person member and employer events and meetings with webcasts, and phone calls. Our employer website, HOOPP Insight, and member website, HOOPP Connect, also remain available.
Rest assured that HOOPP will continue to function effectively and support all your needs. Our Member Services team is also here to assist members and answer their questions. They can be reached at (416) 646-6445 or 1-877-43-HOOPP (46677), Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.
Please note: if you wish to know more about temporary changes we’re making to support our members in the current environment, please visit our Member COVID-19 page.