Pension built up before 1 April 2014
The LGPS changed from a final salary scheme to a career average scheme on 1 April 2014. If you joined the scheme before 1 April 2014, you’ve built up pension in the final salary scheme.
Between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2014
For membership built up between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2014 you get a pension of 1/60th of your final pay as a pension.
Before 1 April 2008
For membership before 1 April 2008, you get a pension of 1/80th of your final pay. You also get a lump sum of three times your pension.
Your final pay is usually your pensionable pay in the year you leave the LGPS. Pay from one of the previous two years can be used if it’s higher.
How membership is worked out
If you worked part time before 1 April 2014, your membership is adjusted accordingly. If you worked 17.5 hours per week and the full time hours for your job were 35 per week, your membership would be reduced by 17.5 / 35, which is half. You’d be credited with one year of membership every two years. Your membership may also be reduced if you work less than 52 weeks per year. For example if you work in a school on a term-time contract.
If you’re working part time in your final year, the final pay used to work out your pension is the pay you would have had if you worked full time.
Your total membership in the final salary scheme may include:
- how long you were a member of the LGPS before 1 April 2014 in years and days, adjusted for any period that you worked part time
- membership that was bought by transferring pension from another scheme before 1 April 2014
- membership that was bought by transferring final salary pension from another public service scheme at any time
- extra membership you’ve bought by paying added years contributions or by converting an in-house AVC into membership
- extra membership given by your employer.
