PA Calculator Tutorial
This tutorial walks you through the steps of the pension adjustment (PA) calculator. It explains the data to enter and options available. For further assistance, please contact us at info@hoopp.com.
Terms and conditions page
Before you can begin using the PA calculator, you need to read this page. It outlines the intended purpose of HOOPP’s PA calculator. It also reminds you that since users enter data, results depend on the accuracy of the information you enter.
After you’ve read the notes on this page, click the box beside "I have read and accept these terms and conditions." You will automatically be redirected to the calculator.
PAs can be calculated from 1999 to present. For information on calculating PAs for previous years, please contact HOOPP.
A link to this tutorial are found in the footer of the calculator.
Main page
To calculate a member’s pension adjustment, you need to know the PA year (formulas are slightly different year to year), the member’s annualized earnings and contributory service. If you do not know the member's annualized earnings, the calculator provides two methods to determine it (more details on these options to follow).
- Select a year from the drop-down list.
- Enter the member’s contributory service, expressed in weeks, to two decimal points.
- Enter the member’s annualized earnings. If you don’t know it, you can calculate it two ways – either by clicking “weeks and contributions” or “hours and earnings.”
Press “Calculate PA” to go to the results page. To remove data you entered click the “Clear” button.
Calculate annualized earnings using weeks and contributions
If you decide to calculate the member’s annualized earnings based on their weeks and contributions, you’ll need to provide the following information:
- Contributions made at the member “low rate” for that particular year (For a list of historic low and high contribution rates, see the HOOPP Administration Manual.)
- Contributions made at the member “high rate” for that particular year
- Do not include contributions in respect of any portion of a retro payment that applies to a previous PA year. Include contributions on any portion of a retro payment that applies to the PA year you selected.
Press “Calculate PA” to go to the results page.
Calculate annualized earnings based on hours and earnings
If you decide to calculate the member’s annualized earnings based on their hours and earnings, you’ll need to provide the following information:
- Enter the member’s hourly rate of pay, plus the number of hours during the year they were paid at that rate. For example, a member who received $25 per hour until the end of June, and who then began earning $27 per hour for the rest of the year would have $25 per hour for 26 weeks and $27 per hour for 26 weeks. Up to three different rates of pay/hours at that rate can be entered.
- Changes to the member’s hourly rate of pay that occurred during the PA year should be included with the hourly rate and not included with retroactive pay for prior years.
- Enter the number of full-time hours in a year for the member’s job. In other words, take the number of full-time hours per week and multiply by 52.
- Retroactive pay received in the year of the PA calculation that applies to prior years should be entered as lump sum.
Press “Calculate PA” to go to the results page.
Results page
On this page, you’ll see the results of your calculation.
- The pension adjustment will be shown, in dollars, as well as the PA year
- The contributory service and annualized earnings will also be shown
- The formula shown to do the calculation will appear in a window on this page. If you calculated annualized earnings from either weeks and contributions or hours and earnings, the formula used for that calculation will also be shown.
If you’re done, you can hit the "Print page" button to print the results with optimal formatting for a printer.
To calculate another pension adjustment, click the "Do another PA" button.