Change in Circumstances

Boulters Lock, Maidenhead
It is important for us to keep your pension records up to date at all times, as any incorrect or missing data could affect the benefits you receive from the scheme.

Most of the information on your record is supplied to us by your employer, therefore it is important to notify us of any changes in your circumstances:

Always keep us up to date with your current home address and supply your telephone number and e-mail address wherever possible. Information regarding changes to the scheme and general newsletters are normally sent to home address so you could be missing out on important information if you fail to keep your address details up to date.
Supply a copy of your birth certificate, marriage certificate or civil partnership registration document to your scheme administrators. In this way important dates used to calculate certain scheme benefits can be verified without delay.
The LGPS provides a pension for a cohabiting partner. If you are unmarried but have been cohabiting with someone for at least 2 years and you can prove that either you or your partner is financially dependent upon you or you are financially interdependent, you can nominate your partner to receive a pension in the event of your death. Full details of how you can go about making a nomination can be provided by visiting the Death Benefits section of this website. You should make sure that your nomination is kept up to date should your circumstances change. This nomination can be different to any nomination you make in respect of any lump sum death grant that becomes payable on your behalf.
If you have previous pension rights which you want to transfer into the LGPS you must elect to do so within 12 months of joining the scheme - although your employer does have discretion to extend that deadline. Complete the declaration of previous pension rights form and return it to us even if you do not have any previous pension rights to transfer.
When you come to retire make sure you notify us well in advance of your intended retirement date so that you can be provided with certain forms and options that you need to make before you retire. Please visit our Retired Members section to find out more.
Check your annual benefit statements thoroughly and query anything that looks unusual or incorrect. It is easier to resolve issues in the year that they arise rather than trying to look back over a number of years.
Complete and return to us "An expression of wish form" expressing to whom you would like any lump sum to be paid to in the event of your death in service. This will speed up the payment of the death grant and avoid any inheritance tax charge. This nomination can be different to any nomination you make in respect of a cohabiting partner's pension. If you haven't already completed a form please download our factsheet 'Expression of Wish for Payment of Death Grant'. If you would prefer to have a copy of this factsheet forwarded to your home address please contact us on 0845 6027237.
Check your payslips to make sure that contributions are being deducted from your pay. If you elect to pay additional contributions check that the additional contributions are deducted from your pay and from the correct date.