Other types of leave
Authorised unpaid absence
Your employer may allow you to take a period of unpaid leave, including for jury service. This period will not count for pension purposes unless you elect to pay Additional Pension Contributions to buy the pension you ‘lost’ during the absence.
If you make an election pay Additional Pension Contributions to purchase ‘lost’ pension within 30 days of returning to work, the cost will be split between you and employer. Your employer can agree to contribute if you make your election after more than 30 days.
Use the Buy lost pension calculator to find out more about this option. You will need information from your employer about the pay you ‘lost’ in the unpaid absence to use the calculator.
Strike
If you are away from work for a day or more due to a trade dispute, the period will not count for pension purposes unless you elect to pay Additional Pension Contributions to purchase the ‘lost’ pension. The cost of purchasing the ‘lost’ pension would be met fully by you unless your employer voluntarily chooses to contribute.
Use the Buy lost pension calculator to find out more about this option. You will need information from your employer about the pay you ‘lost’ in the trade dispute to use the calculator.
Reserve forces leave
If you are on reserve forces leave and elect to remain in the LGPS, your pension will be worked out using your Assumed Pensionable Pay. This ensures that you continue to build up pension as if you were at work receiving your normal pay. You can find out more about Assumed Pensionable Pay in the section below.
Your employer needs to tell you the amount of basic pension contributions you and the Ministry of Defence must pay, any additional contributions you are paying and the amount of Assumed Pensionable Pay those contributions must be collected on. You should pass the information to the Ministry of Defence who will then deduct the pension contributions and pay them to your LGPS pension fund.
Pension contributions will not be deducted from any pay you receive from your LGPS employer during this period.