Absences

If you are off work because of sickness or injury, your pay might go down or you may receive no pay. If this happens your employer will work out the pay you would have received and this will be used to work out your pension to make sure you do not lose out.

You will continue to pay pension contributions on any pay that you receive while you are off sick. If you are on unpaid sick leave, you will not pay any contributions.

Paid child related leave

You will continue to pay your pension contributions on any pay that you receive while you are on child related leave. This includes paid maternity leave, adoption leave, shared parental leave, paternity leave, parental bereavement leave, bereaved partner’s paternity leave (from 6.4.2026) and neonatal care leave. Your pension is usually protected during child related leave because your employer uses a notional pay figure called Assumed Pensionable Pay. This means your pension continues to build up as if you were working normally and receiving your normal pay, even if your pay reduces.

Unpaid child related leave started on or before 31.3.2026

Any period of unpaid additional maternity, paternity, adoption leave, shared parental leave, or neonatal care leave, will not count for pension purposes unless you elect to pay Additional Pension Contributions (APCs) to buy the amount of  lost pension.

If you want to buy the amount of lost pension and elect to do so within 30 days of returning to work, the cost of the APC is split between you and your employer. You will pay one third of the cost and your employer will pay the rest. This is known as a shared cost additional pension contribution (SCAPC). You can pay these additional contributions in a one-off lump sum or through regular payments from your wages.

Unpaid child related leave that started on or after 1.4.2026

You will not need to buy back lost pension for any period of unpaid additional maternity leave, unpaid additional adoption leave (weeks 27 to 52) or unpaid shared parental leave that starts from 1 April 2026 or later. During the unpaid leave period your pension builds up in the same way as paid child related leave. If you were in the 50/50 section of the scheme prior to the period of unpaid leave you will automatically move to the main section.

If you are granted unpaid leave of absence, including jury service, the period will not count for pension purposes unless you elect to pay Additional Pension Contributions to buy the amount of lost pension.

To calculate the cost of any lost pension, access the calculator on the LGPS Member website.

Authorised unpaid leave of less than 15 calendar days

Pension contributions are compulsory for authorised unpaid leave of less than 15 calendar days. You and your employer will pay the pension contributions that would have been paid if you were at work receiving your normal pay. Your pension will continue to build up as usual and your pensionable pay that we use to calculate your benefits won’t be affected.

If you have purchased additional leave, you should contact your employer to confirm how this will be treated for pension purposes.

Authorised unpaid leave of 15 calendar days or more

The break will not automatically count for pension purposes. You can choose to pay extra contributions to buy some or all of the pension you lost in the unpaid period through a Qualifying Additional Pension Arrangement (QAPA). The pension bought through a QAPA mirrors the pension you would have built up if you had been at work receiving your normal pay.

The cost of a Qualifying Additional Pension Arrangement (QAPA)

You must decide whether to enter into a QAPA within one year of returning to work in the same employment, or by the date you leave that employment if this is earlier. Your employer may allow a longer period for you to make this decision. If you miss the deadline and no extension is agreed, the earlier rules will apply.

 The cost is shared between you and your employer for a maximum of three years unless extended by your employer.  The member contribution amount payable through a QAPA is based on the contribution rate you would have paid during the period of the absence. Your employer will also pay the pension contributions they would have paid during the period of absence

You can usually pay a QAPA by a one off lump sum or by regular deductions from your pay. You should contact your employer who will confirm the cost and the payment options available to you.

If you are absent for a day or more due to strike action the period will not count for pension purposes unless you elect to pay Additional Pension Contributions (APCs) to buy the amount of lost pension.

Your employer does not  contribute to the APC, you would have to cover the full cost.

You are not able to buy lost pension for unauthorised leave.

If you are on reserve forces leave and elect to remain in the LGPS you continue to build up pension based on your assumed pensionable pay.

If you are paying extra in the LGPS, different rules apply when you are absent depending on the type of additional contributions you are paying and the reason for your absence. In some cases you will need to pay the additional contributions when you return to work. Further information can be found on the LGPS member website.