What you may be able to transfer in
You may be able to transfer pension rights into the LGPS from one of the following:
- a previous LGPS benefit
- a previous employer's pension scheme
- a self-employed pension plan
- a 'buy-out' policy
- a personal pension plan
- a stakeholder pension scheme
- an additional voluntary contribution (AVC) arrangement, including, in some cases, from an overseas pension scheme
How to transfer in
If you want to consider a transfer, complete the 'previous pension form' sent to you after you joined. Return it to Pension Services.
You have 12 months from the date you join to choose to transfer your previous pension rights. Your employer may allow you longer, but this is usually only permitted in exceptional circumstances. Ask your employer what their policy is.
You'll find out more about transferring your pension benefits on the LGPS website.
What you cannot transfer in
You cannot transfer a pension credit into the LGPS.
A pension credit is a share of an ex-spouse's or ex-civil partner's pension benefits following divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership.
Previous LGPS pension rights in England or Wales
If you have previous LGPS pension benefits (at the same authority or a different one), and you later rejoin the scheme, in most cases your deferred benefits will be combined with your new pension record automatically.
You can choose to keep them separate, but you must tell Pensions Services within a year of rejoining the LGPS, unless your employer allows you longer.
If you previously opted out
If you opted out of a previous LGPS employment with deferred benefits and now have a new job with an active LGPS pension, you may be able to combine these two sets of benefits.
You can combine the benefits if you opted out before 11 April 2015.
You cannot join the benefits if you opted out, on or after 11 April 2015. In this case, you will have two separate sets of pension benefits in the scheme.
Learn more about opting out and then rejoining on the LGPS website.
