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SUPERANNUATION ADMINISTRATION MANUAL
SPECIAL BULLETIN: 2006-001
February 9, 2006
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Replacement of the "Estimate of Cost" Calculation Application with the "Estimate" Application of the ESTEL System |
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1 |
PURPOSE |
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1.1 |
The purpose of this bulletin is to advise client departments of an upcoming system change. Effective April 1, 2006, the "Estimate of Cost" (EOC) calculation application will be replaced with the "Estimate" application of the ESTEL System.
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2 |
ESTEL SYSTEM |
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2.1 |
Currently, the ESTEL System is only available to the Superannuation, Pension Transition and Client Services Sector (SPTCSS). In response to some issues raised by the compensation community and the SPTCSS, the Compensation Sector (CS) of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) conducted an analysis of the functionality of the EOC application and concluded that enhancements were required. In June of 2005, the CS approved an initiative consisting of the use of one common calculator to provide estimates of cost for plan members who wish to purchase prior service. As such, a decision was made to replace the existing EOC application with the Estimate application of the ESTEL System. This also meant making appropriate enhancements to the Estimate application of the ESTEL System to meet the needs of both the compensation community and the SPTCSS. Although the current plan is to centralize the administration of pension services to PWGSC, this initiative was approved on the basis that, in the interim, it will respond to the needs of client departments and the SPTCSS and that it will improve the quality of service to plan members. |
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2.2 |
Therefore, effective April 1, 2006, members of the compensation community and the SPTCSS will be using the same application via the ESTEL System to perform all their estimates of cost pertaining to the purchase of prior service.
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3 |
ACCESS TO THE ESTIMATE APPLICATION OF THE ESTEL SYSTEM |
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3.1 |
Client departments who already have access to the EOC application are NOT required to take any action. In other words, client departments will NOT have to submit a request for access to the Estimate application of the ESTEL System. Members of the compensation community will automatically access the Estimate application of the ESTEL System by selecting the EOC from the User Class Menu. |
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3.2 |
There will be no change in request for access for new users. Client departments will continue to apply for access to the EOC as per instructions in the Personnel-Pay Input Manual (PPIM) Section 17-1-5.
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4 |
CURRENT EOC APPLICATION |
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4.1 |
As a result of this initiative, the current EOC application will not be updated with the change in the contribution rate (as per Compensation Directive 2005-024) which came in effect on January 1, 2006. Members of the compensation community should note that estimate calculations performed on the EOC application prior to April 1, 2006, for periods of elective service which occurred between January 1, 2006, and March 31, 2006, will use the 2005 rates thus providing inaccurate estimates. In such instances, it is important that the requesting plan member be advised that the actual cost will be higher. As of April 1, 2006, the Estimate application of the ESTEL System will reflect the revised contribution rates.
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5 |
SERVICE BUYBACK ESTIMATOR |
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5.1 |
The Service Buyback Estimator, available via the CS's Web site, will also be impacted by this initiative as it is currently linked with the EOC calculator. Effective April 1, 2006, the Service Buyback Estimator will be reconfigured to use the ESTEL System's calculator.
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6 |
TRAINING |
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6.1 |
The Compensation Training Section of PWGSC will be modifying the course entitled "Increasing Pensionable Service (P-5)" to reflect the new screens of the Estimate application of the ESTEL System. |
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6.2 |
For those users already familiar with the EOC, the CS is developing a comprehensive on-line help text within the new application. The function key F4 will provide the help text information for the completion of various fields while the function key F3 will provide the help text information pertaining to the functionality of the new screens. The completed help texts will be available for the implementation of the new application or shortly after.
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7 |
INQUIRIES |
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7.1 |
Any request for information regarding the content of this bulletin should be addressed to your PWGSC Compensation Services Office.
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Original Signed by
Brigitte Fortin |
Brigitte Fortin
Acting Director General
Compensation Sector
Accounting, Banking and Compensation
Reference(s): CJA 9033-276-3
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