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If you have left the pension scheme before retirement age and you have more than three months calendar length membership, the benefits you have built up will remain in the scheme and will receive annual inflation increases until they become payable. These are in line with Pension increase tables.

We call these ‘deferred’ or ‘preserved’ benefits.

  

It is possible to have more than one deferred benefit in the scheme if you have more than one period of scheme membership.

We will send you a statement every year to your home address showing the current value of your deferred benefits after the addition of all the annual pension increases. Please let us know if you change your address.

Please note that once a pension is in deferment, then there are no options to increase this pension further.

 

If you left service between 01 April 1988 and 31st March 2004 you would have required two years membership to receive a deferred benefit. If you had less than two years pension payments would have been refunded or transferred out.

 

It is important to keep us up to date with any changes to your details. If we do not hold your current address, we will be unable to send you important communications, such as your annual benefit statement and details of retirement.

Change of Address

Please include your national insurance number and old address on the letter and we will update our records, or you can download a Change of personal details form and send back to pension services.

 

 

Change of Name, Marital Status or Gender Status

If you have changed your name, please complete the attached change of personal details form and enclose a copy of your legal evidence – for example your marriage or civil partnership certificate

If you have legally changed gender, please write to us at pension services and include your national insurance number and gender recognition certificate.
  

 

Change of Nomination Details

If you wish to change your death grant nomination details then you will need to complete and return a Death grant 'expression of wish' form

Please note that you cannot change who would receive a spouses pension. If there is an entitlement to this, this will be paid to your legal partner, subject to entitlement and evidence. You can however complete a Nominated Co-habiting partner form, subject to nomination conditions.

 

Transferring to an external pension provider

• You may be able to transfer your deferred benefits to another pension scheme. You need to contact your new pension provider to find out how to do this.
  
• If you have been asked to obtain a cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) for this purpose by an Independent Financial Adviser, you will need to write to us detailing your National Insurance Number and purpose for request. Please note you can only request one free CETV in a 12 month period.

   

Re-joining the Local Government Pension Scheme

You can ask for your pension rights to be transferred to your new job, within twelve months, if you rejoin the Local Government Pension Scheme, but this will not happen automatically.

• If you re-join the Hampshire Pension Fund you need to make sure you complete the relevant section of the Starter information and membership option form. This contains notes which will help you make a decision as to whether this is the right thing for you. In some circumstances, it may be better to leave your pension benefits separate.
  
• If you re-join the LGPS with another pension fund, you should contact them directly to find out their requirements
  

        

If you were to die whilst your Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) benefits were in deferment then a death grant lump sum would be payable to your estate or chosen nomination (subject to the administering funds discretion).

    

 

The amount of death grant payable, depends on the date of your last day of service.

 

• The lump sum would be as shown on your most recent annual benefit statement

  
  

  The lump sum would be five times the pension payable, as shown on your most recent annual benefit statement

  
  

 

If you have not made a nomination for your death grant lump sum, you can do this by completing a Death Grant Expression of wish form

 

Other death benefits

Other death benefits payable whilst your pension is deferred may include:

• Survivor’s pension
• Children's pension

A survivor’s pension for a nominated co-habiting partner was introduced into the scheme from 1 April 2008, provided you paid into the LGPS on or after then, and is based on your LGPS membership from 6 April 1988. To nominate (subject to conditions), please complete a Nomination of Cohabiting Partner for Survivor's Pension form.

The attached leaflet will provide you with details of Changes to Dependants Benefits.

Deferred pension benefits usually become payable at age 65. However:

• Early Retirement – you can choose to take your pension benefits from age 60, however the benefits maybe subject to reductions
• Late Retirement – you can choose to delay payment of pension benefits past age 65

If you stopped contributing to the Local Government Pension Scheme before 1 April 1998, you can only ask for your benefits to be paid at age 60, age 65 or your normal retirement date as under the 25 year rule.

You may also benefit for some protections under the 85 year rule.

Please see our Transitional Protections leaflet for more information about each of these rules.