What is the LGPS?

The LGPS is a statutory funded pension scheme. As such it is very secure because its benefits are defined and set out in law. The LGPS is contracted-out of the State Second Pension (S2P) and must, in general, provide benefits at least as good as most members would have received had they been members of S2P.

The benefits you build up in the LGPS are guaranteed and don’t depend on the investment performance of the scheme.

The costs of the scheme are met by employees and employers. To meet the cost of your pension benefits, your employer pays almost three times what you pay.

Your pension benefits include:

• a choice of tax free lump sum when you retire
• an annual pension based on your service and final pay
• the ability to increase your pension by paying extra contributions
• voluntary retirement from age 60
• retirement from age 55 with your employer’s consent
• an ill health pension from any age
• redundancy cover from age 55
• a death-in-service lump sum of three times your final pay
• a widow’s, widower’s, civil partner’s or nominated co-habiting partner's pension
• children’s pensions

For more information please take a look at - 'Is the Local Government Pension Scheme for me?' and 'Employee Scheme Guide'

Who can join?

• The LGPS is open to all employees in local government and other organisations who have chosen to participate.
• You can join at any age up to two days before your 75th birthday.
• You can carry on contributing towards a personal pension plan or stakeholder pension scheme.

How to join

For most local government employees, membership of the LGPS is automatic if you have a contract of three months or more.

• You should complete a Pension Membership option booklet which is also available from you employer. This should be sent to your payroll team (except for Hampshire County Council employees, who should send this to us at Pensions Service Section)

• If you have previously opted out of the pension scheme and now wish to start paying contributions again in the same employment you should complete the Application to re-join the LGPS in a current employment form. This should be sent to your payroll team (except for Hampshire County Council employees, who should send to us at Pensions Service Section).

* Please note any previous periods of membership accrued in the LGPS, will not automatically be joined to your new period of membership. You can opt to do this by completing the appropriate section of the Pension Membership option booklet. You have 12 months from joining under your new membership to elect to do this.

How much do I have to pay?

Your contribution rate will be assessed on the whole time equivalent pay for your job, unless you are a term time worker*. Your employer will inform you what contribution rate band you are in.

But you also benefit from reduced tax and NI contributions, which means that joining the scheme costs less than you think!

The table below shows the contribution rate bands for 2012/13.

*Term time workers for this purpose:

• must work for an educational establishment and
• term time working must be the employer's requirement ie the workplace shuts over the school holiday.

If you choose to work term time hours but your employer would let you work during school holidays, then you will be classed as a part time worker for the purpose of assigning your contribution rate band.

When can I retire?

The normal retirement age for all members of the LGPS is 65.

If you have at least three months' membership or have transferred pension rights into the LGPS, you can take early retirement from age 60, but in some cases, your benefits will be reduced.

Member starter pack

Your employer will have issued you a member starter pack when you joined the LGPS. This contains the following:

• Employee Guide
• Membership option booklet
• Death grant 'expression of wish' form  - use this form to nominate someone to receive the death grant. This grant will be paid to your estate if you do not make a nomination.
• Nominated co-habiting partners - use this form to nominate a co-habiting partner to receive dependant's benefits. You will need to send evidence of financial interdependency / dependency for at least two years prior to the date of the nomination.
• Pension transfer booklet  908kb - this booklet sets out the process for transferring in previous pension rights into the Hampshire Pension Fund

Councillor Scheme Guide and option form

There are different rules in the LGPS for councillors. Please refer to the councillor guide

Councillors' Guide and option form

Application to re-join the LGPS in a current employment

Application to re-join the LGPS in a current employment form

This form should be completed if you have previously opted out of the pension scheme and now wish to start paying contributions again in the same employment. This should be sen to your payroll team (except for Hampshire County Council employees, who should send to Pension Services Section, The Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8UB)