LGPS benefits
If you were previously a member of the LGPS in England or Wales and you re-join the Scheme, you can join your two periods of membership together. When you re-join the LGPS, you should Contact your pension fund to tell them that you have been a member of the Scheme before. They will let you know:
- what your choices are
- what you need to think about when you are making your decision
- the time limits for making your decision
- what happens if you do not make a decision within the time limit.
In most cases, your deferred benefits will be joined with your pension account automatically unless you elect to keep them separate. You must elect for separate benefits within a year of re-joining the LGPS, unless your employer allows you longer.
Different rules apply depending on what type of LGPS benefits you have, when you left the LGPS and how long you were a member:
- You were a member of the LGPS in two jobs at the same time and one of the jobs ends. You can find out about what this means for you in the FAQs section.
- You did not build up a right to a deferred pension in your earlier period of membership. This would generally be the case if you were in the LGPS for less than two years. If you haven’t taken a refund of pension contributions, then this deferred refund must be joined with your new pension account.
- You left the LGPS with a deferred pension before 1 April 2014. You would have to elect to join your deferred benefit with your active pension account. If you do not make an election, then the deferred benefits will remain separate. You must make your election within a year of re-joining the LGPS, unless your employer allows you longer.
- You opted out after 11 April 2015 with a deferred benefit. You will not be allowed to join this with your active pension account if you re-join the LGPS. You will have two separate pension accounts in the LGPS.
- Your LGPS pension is in payment. You cannot join an LGPS pension in payment with an active pension account if you re-join the Scheme. You will have two separate sets of pension benefits in the LGPS.
- You were awarded a pension credit in the LGPS following a divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership. You cannot join a pension credit with an active LGPS pension account. You will have two sets of pension benefits in the LGPS.
It may not always be in your interest to join a deferred benefit with your active pension account. You should Contact your pension fund when you join the LGPS to tell them that you have been a member of the Scheme before. They will let you know your options and what you should think about when you make your decision. It is important that you think about your options carefully and that you are aware of the deadlines that apply. You will not be able to change your decision later.