How to join the LGPS

You can choose to join the scheme if you are eligible and under 75. To secure your entitlement to the scheme benefits, you must complete and return an opt-in form. 

Once we receive your form, we will start deducting pension contributions from your allowance or salary. You should check your payslips to ensure we are taking the correct contributions. 

We will set up your pension record and send you an official notification of your membership of the scheme. 

If you receive an allowance or salary from more than one authority and want pension benefits from each role, you must complete a separate opt-in form for each authority.

If you opt to join the scheme, you will join from the beginning of the next pay period. You should check your payslip to ensure pension contributions are being deducted from your allowances.

What you will pay

As an elected member, you pay a percentage of your pensionable pay into the LGPS. Your contribution rate is based on your pay. Use the LGPS contributions calculator to find out how much the scheme costs.

Your pensionable pay is the total of all:

  • basic allowance
  • special responsibility allowance
  • salary
  • other relevant allowances paid by your authority

Generally, this means that all pay from your authority is pensionable except travel and subsistence allowances.

Your authority pays the remaining cost of providing your LGPS benefits. 

If you are paying into another pension scheme

You can pay into the LGPS even if you already contribute to another pension scheme. You are allowed to pay into as many pension schemes as you like. In each tax year, you can pay up to 100% of your UK taxable earnings into any number of pension arrangements of your choice and still be eligible for tax relief, subject to the annual allowance.

Transfer into the LGPS

You can transfer into the LGPS from another pension scheme or personal pension plan. However, any transfer-in of final salary benefits will not entitle you to final salary benefits in the LGPS. Instead, you will receive an equivalent amount added to your pension account. You will generally have 12 months from joining the LGPS to opt to transfer your previous pension.

You can also combine your previous councillor or elected membership of the LGPS with your new elected membership. Note that there are some exceptions.