Former Members

Cyclists at the Look Out in Bracknell, Berkshire
If you are no longer contributing to the LGPS and you have more than three months membership you are entitled to a Deferred Benefit. Deferred benefits are retained in the LGPS until your retirement date.

Pension Panel Election Results

In our Spring 2009 edition of the Quill we invited our members to nominate themselves for a position on the Berkshire Pension Fund Advisory Panel. There were two vacancies for panel representation - one active and one retired or deferred Scheme member. Votes have now been cast and we are pleased to confirm the elected members below:

Active Member Representative: Mr Graeme Herd

Retired/Deferred Member Representative: Mr David Nicholson

Thank you to all members who voted and further information on the new panel representatives will be available in our Spring 2010 edition of the Quill and Scribe newsletters which will be issued in April.

News Release from the Berkshire Pension Fund - 15 December 2009

The Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund, has entered into an innovative longevity hedging insurance contract with Swiss Re. Click here to view the news release...

The Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund is moving

With effect from Monday 21st December 2009 our new address will be:

Royal County of Berkshire Pension Fund
Minster Court
22-30 York Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 1SF

Telephone 0845 602 7237
Fax: 01628 796 700
E-mail: info@berkshirepensions.org.uk
Website: www.berkshirepensions.org.uk

Annual Report and Accounts 2008/2009

This document contains full details of the Berkshire Pension Fund accounts as at 31 March 2009 and the annual report for 2008/2009 financial year. Click here to download full details.

The Quill Newsletter - October 2009

The latest edition of the Quill newsletter for deferred has been published - click here to download a copy.

State Pension Age Calculator

Click here to access the online calculator produced by The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) and calculate the date you will be entitled to claim your State Pension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please find listed below a number of frequently asked questions concerning deferred benefits.

When are my benefits payable?

If you leave before age 65 and your scheme membership totals three months or more, or you have transferred other pension rights into the LGPS, you will be entitled to deferred benefits within the LGPS. Your deferred pension will be calculated as described in the section on Retirement Benefits using the length of your membership up to the date that you left the scheme and your final pay at leaving.

Unless you decide to transfer your deferred benefits to another pension scheme, the earliest date your benefits can be paid is age 60. If you do not satisfy certain conditions at this point your benefits may be subject to a reduction and you would therefore have the option to defer payment until the reduction no longer applies. To request an individual estimate of the current value of your deferred benefits please e-mail: info@berkshirepensions.org.uk or telephone 0845 602 7237.

Deferred benefits may also be put into payment earlier, and in full, in the event of permanent ill health. You can also elect to receive deferred benefits early from the age of 50 (age of 55 from 1st April 2010) but you must have your former employer's consent. Benefits paid early. may be subject to a reduction to take account of their early payment and the fact that your pension will be paid for longer.