Frequently Asked Questions
Can I increase my benefits?
You can make additional payments to increase your retirement benefits and life cover. You can do this by paying Additional Regular Contributions (ARCs) to the LGPS in order to buy up to £5,000 of extra pension in multiples of £250. You can provide extra pension for yourself and, if you wish, for extra survivors' pensions on your death.
Buying extra years of membership is no longer available but if you are already paying more contributions by this method you will continue to pay them and receive extra benefits on the same basis that you agreed to buy them.
You can still make payments to the scheme's Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) arrangement, or to a personal pension, stakeholder pension or Free-standing AVC scheme of your own choice. To find out more please visit our section on increasing your benefits.
- What will happen to my pension benefits under the new scheme?
- Why are changes being made to the LGPS?
- Do I need to do anything on 1st April?
- How do I join the pension scheme?
- What will I pay?
- Can I increase my benefits?
- What happens if my original contract is less than 3 months but is extended to 3 months or more?
- What about buying added years?
- How does my Continuous Service date effect my Pension?
- I have heard that the ill-health retirement benefits are changing
- I have heard that the death in service benefit is increasing
- I have heard that co-habiting partners are entitled to benefits
- What should I do if I do not think the contribution rate I am paying is correct?
- When will I know what contribution rate I will pay?
- If I have more than 1 job, do I have to join the scheme for all jobs?
- I have more than 1 job. What rate will I pay?
- I work term time only, how will you determine my contribution rate?
- I work on a variable time contract, how will you determine my contribution rate?
- I am currently paying the protected 5% contribution rate. What will I pay from April?
- What is pensionable pay?
- What happens if my pay changes during the year?
- I have heard the 85 year rule is going
