Your pension increases every April provided that the Retail Prices Index has increased over the 12 months to the previous 30 September.
Any increases also apply to widow’s, widower’s, or civil partner’s pensions, as well as children’s pensions.
The last few years’ increases (in %) are as follows:
Apr-10 0.0
Apr-09 5.0
Apr-08 3.9
Apr-07 3.6
Apr-06 2.7
Apr-05 3.1
Apr-04 2.8
Apr-03 1.7
Apr-02 1.7
Apr-01 3.3
Apr-00 1.1
If you’ve only just started getting your pension, your first increase will be a proportion of the full increase.
Where the increase is paid from
When you reach state pension age, the increase in your pension is shared between two sources.
While you may notice that some of the increase is in your state pension and some is in your local government pension, the overall effect is that the amount you receive each year will always increase in line with the Retail Prices Index.
What if you retired early?
Before you’re 55, unless you retired on health grounds:
- your pension won’t increase - it will be paid at a flat rate.
After 55:
- Your pension will go up to the amount it would have been if it had been increasing.
- Your pension will continue to increase yearly in line with the Retail Prices Index.
More information
You can download A Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme with full details of the scheme and how to take advantage of it, to print out and read when you want. If you would rather receive a copy by post, contact us.
You can also download the notes of guidance for pensioners document, which outlines how your pension is paid and how to look after it now you’re retired. If you would rather receive a copy by post, please contact us.
If you’ve got further questions, visit the pensioner member frequently asked questions page of this site.