If you leave your job before retirement and you do not meet the 2 year vesting period
You will normally be able to claim a refund of your contributions, less a deduction for tax and the cost, if any, of buying you back into the State Second Pension (S2P) in respect of your membership up to 5 April 2016 when the LGPS was contracted out of the State Second Pension (S2P).
A refund will not be payable if, when you leave, you are paying into the LGPS in more than one job and you continue to be a member of the LGPS in the job that is continuing.
You may be able to transfer your benefits to a new pension arrangement (providing you have been a member of the LGPS for at least 3 months).
If you leave your job before retirement and you do meet the 2 year vesting period
If you have contributed to an LGPS pension in the past and you are not currently receiving your benefits, your benefits will be ‘deferred’. Deferred benefits are where we work out the value of your benefits when you leave, and hold them for you until a later date. You are entitled to a deferred benefit if you left:
- between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2014, and you have more than three months’ service, or
- before 1 April 2004 and after 1 April 2014, and you have two or more years’ service
The value of your deferred benefits increases each year with the cost of living.
You may be able to draw your deferred benefits at the same age as you would have done had you stayed in the scheme or on the grounds of ill health. The exact details will depend on the rules that were in place at the time you left or approval by your previous employer. If you wish to apply for early payment of your deferred benefits, please contact your previous employer providing your National Insurance Number, your date of birth, previous job title, place and dates of employment, along with the reason why you wish to apply for early payment.
Joining the scheme again
If you are still employed by your employer you can join again at any time. If you start work with a new employer who is part of the Local Government Pension Scheme, you may be able to have your deferred benefits linked to your new membership, unless your previously opted-out of the pension scheme after 11 April 2015. You must tell us that you have deferred benefits within twelve months of starting your new job.
To join the LGPS through us, please complete the Opt in form.