Elected members - joining the scheme
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) provides pension benefits for councillors and mayors (referred to as "elected members”) in England who are under 75.
You may be eligible to join the scheme if you receive an allowance or salary from a district council, county council, unitary council, combined authority, combined county authority, or fire and rescue authority.
How do elected members join the scheme?
If you are under age 75 and eligible, you can choose to join the LGPS by completing an Opt-In form and submitting it to your authority.
Once received:
- Contributions will be deducted from your salary or allowances from the next pay period
- Your authority will provide your details to the Fund
- You will receive confirmation of your membership.
If you have roles with more than one authority, you must complete a separate form for each.
Elected Members LGPS Opt-In Form (pdf 94kb)
Please note:
- Do not send your form to the Pension Fund – it must be sent to your authority
- Check your payslips to ensure the correct contributions are being taken
Can I join if I already pay into another pension?
Yes. You can join the LGPS even if you already contribute to another pension scheme.
There is no limit on the number of pension schemes you can pay into, however, in each tax year, you can normally receive tax relief on contributions up to 100 per cent of your UK taxable earnings, subject to the annual allowance.
How much will I pay?
As an elected member, you pay a percentage of your pensionable pay into the LGPS. Contribution rates currently range from 5.5 to 12.5 per cent, depending on your level of pay.
You can estimate your contributions using the online calculator:
Your pensionable pay includes your basic allowance, any special responsibility allowance, salary, and other relevant allowances paid by your authority (excluding travel and subsistence allowances).
Your authority also contributes towards your pension, paying the balance required to provide your LGPS entitlement.
What are the key benefits?
Tax relief
As a member of ERPF, you receive tax relief on the contributions you pay. When you take your pension, you also have the option to exchange part of it for a tax-free lump sum.
Flexibility
The Scheme offers flexibility to suit your financial circumstances. You can choose to pay additional contributions to increase your pension, with tax relief applied. Alternatively, you can pay half your normal contributions in return for half your pension.
This is known as the 50/50 section of the Scheme and is designed to help you remain in the scheme during periods of financial difficulty.
Peace of mind
The scheme provides valuable financial protection for you and your family. This includes life cover from the day you join and pensions for your spouse, civil partner, eligible cohabiting partner, and eligible children if you die while in service.
If you become seriously ill and have met the two-year qualifying period, you may be able to take your pension immediately.
Retirement benefits
Once you have met the two-year qualifying period, you can retire and take your pension from age 55. If you choose to take your benefits before your State Pension age, they will normally be reduced.
When you retire, you will receive a pension paid for life, which increases each year in line with the cost of living.
Please note: the Government has announced that the minimum pension age will rise to 57 from April 2028. LGPS regulations have not yet been updated to reflect this change.
How are benefits worked out?
1/49th of your pensionable pay is put into your pension account every year. The balance in your pension account is adjusted in line with the cost of living every April. When you retire, the balance in your pension account is the annual pension payable for life.
For example:
| Scheme year | Opening balance | Pension build-up in scheme year | Total account 31 March | Cost of living adjustment | Total pension |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | £0.00 | £24,500 ÷ 49 = £500.00 | £500.00 | 10.1% £50.50 | £550.50 |
| 2023/24 | £550.50 | £25,000 ÷ 49 = £510.20 | £1,060.70 | 6.7% £71.07 | £1,131.77 |
| 2024/25 | £1,131.77 | £27,000 ÷ 49 = £551.02 | £1,682.79 | 1.7% £28.61 | £1,711.40 |
| 2025/26 | £1,711.40 | £27,500 ÷ 49 = £561.22 | £2,272.62 | 3.8% £86.36 | £2,358.98 |
If you wish, you can give up part of your annual pension to get a lump sum when you take your benefits. You can take up to 25% of the value of your pension benefits as a lump sum. For every £1 of annual pension you give up, you will receive £12 as a lump sum. The lump sum is usually paid tax-free but there is a lifetime limit of £268,275 across all your UK pensions.
Can I transfer into the LGPS?
You may be able to transfer benefits from another pension scheme or personal pension into the LGPS. However, any transferred final salary benefits will be converted into an equivalent value and added to your pension account—they will not remain as final salary benefits in the LGPS.
You will usually have 12 months from joining the LGPS to decide if you want to transfer your previous pension benefits.
If you have previous councillor or elected member LGPS membership, you may also be able to combine it with your current membership (subject to some exceptions).
What happens if I leave before retiring?
If you leave the LGPS before retiring and have at least two years’ membership, your pension will usually be deferred. This means it is held until you choose to take it, from age 55 (rising to age 57 from 6 April 2028).
If you leave with less than two years’ membership, you may be able to take a refund of your contributions, less tax.
What to know more?
You can find more information on the councillors and mayors pages of the LGPS Members website.
Disclaimer
This page is for councillors and mayors in England and reflects the provisions of the LGPS and overriding legislation at the time of publication. The Government may make changes to overriding legislation and, after consultation with interested parties, may make changes in the future to the LGPS. This page cannot cover every personal circumstance. In the event of any dispute over your pension benefits, the appropriate legislation will prevail. This page does not confer any contractual or statutory rights and is provided for information purposes only.
