On 19 December 2012, local government minister Brandon Lewis MP announced in a written ministerial statement the Government’s intention to remove access to the LGPS for councillors in England.
The LGPS (Transitional Provisions, Savings and Amendment) Regulations 2014 regulations removed access to the LGPS from 1 April 2014 for councillors and elected mayors in England. They retained access to the LGPS up to the end of the term of office they were serving on that date (or to age 75, if earlier).
Access to the LGPS
If you were a councillor or elected mayor in England who was a member of the LGPS on 31 March 2014, you would have continued to pay pension contributions and build up pension benefits in the LGPS until the end of the term of office you were serving on 31 March 2014. Your LGPS membership would have ended earlier if you elected to opt out of the Scheme or reached age 75 before the end of that term of office. You were not and are not permitted to re-enter the Scheme on re-election.
If you were not a member of the Scheme on 31 March 2014, then you were not permitted to join the Scheme for the remainder of your term of office.
Retirement options
If you were awarded deferred benefits in the Scheme when you left the LGPS, they will normally become payable at age 65 unless:
a) you choose to defer payment beyond that age, up to your 75th birthday at the latest.
b) you elect to have them paid between age 55 and 65.
c) you become permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of the office you had held because of ill health or infirmity of mind or body. In this event, the deferred benefits can be paid immediately, regardless of your age.
Benefits under a) may be increased to account for late payment, because the benefits would be paid after the Scheme’s normal pension age.
Benefits under b) may be reduced for early payment, because the benefits would be paid earlier than the Scheme’s normal pension age. Some or all of your benefits could be protected from the reduction if you were contributing to the Scheme on 30 September 2006 and you are a protected member.
Benefits under c) would not be reduced for early payment.
As an alternative to a deferred benefit, you may be able to transfer the value of your LGPS pension rights to another pension scheme.
If you have any questions about your LGPS membership or benefits, please contact the NYPF by email at pensions@northyorks.gov.uk or telephone 01609 536335.