The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a very secure scheme - the benefits are defined and set out in law.
As a member of the LGPS your contributions get tax relief when they are deducted from your pay. You’ll also pay lower National Insurance contributions in most circumstances, as the LGPS is contracted-out of the State Second Pension Scheme.
The LGPS is only open to people who work in local government, or for an employer who has admitted body status. If you’d like to know what happens to your pension if you change jobs, please visit the deferred members section of the site.
Some benefits of the LGPS:
• a tax-free lump sum when you retire
• a pension based on your final year's pay
• you can increase your pension with extra contributions
• voluntary retirement from age 60
• retirement with your employer’s consent from age 50/55
• ill health pension from any age if you have 2 or more years pensionable service
• immediate payment of benefits if redundant from age 50/55
• death in service lump sum of three times your final pay
• widow’s, widower’s, nominated cohabiting partner's or civil partner’s pension
Low paid and part-time workers
LGPS payments are taken into account in means tested state benefits, so some low paid or part-time workers might not benefit as much. If you think this might be you, contact us for more information.
Find out more
If you want to know more about the pension, how it works, and how to make the most of it, why not browse the employee member section of the site?
You can also look through our frequently asked questions or find out how your money will be invested.
More information
You can download A Guide to the LGPS, with full details of all the features of membership and how to take advantage of them, to print out and read when you want. If you would rather receive a copy by post, contact us.