May 2018 - LGPS 2014 - Amendment Regulations
On 14 May 2018, Amendment Regulations came into force for the LGPS changing some of the provisions of the Scheme.
The key changes are:
Deferred benefits
Payment dates for some members who have already left the Scheme have changed. Members who left the Scheme before 1 April 1998 can now access their benefits at any age between 55 and Normal Pension Age. Normal Pension Age is the date that your benefits are payable on an unreduced basis. Members who left the Scheme after 31 March 1998 can access their benefits at any age between 55 and 75.
Please note that further restrictions may apply. For further information see Elect to receive benefits.
Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)
AVC plans taken out before 2014 are now in line with those taken out after 2014.
- You can now buy additional pension from the LGPS when you take your benefits from the Scheme
- When you take your main scheme benefits you must also take your AVC plan
- If you die before taking your AVC plan the Fund now has absolute discretion over payment of any lump sum due from the plan
Underpin
When the scheme changed in 2014, protection was put in place for those members who were active members on 31 March 2012 and were within 10 years of age 65 at 1 April 2012. Subject to certain conditions, such members will get a pension at least equal to that which they would have received had the Scheme not changed in 2014. This protection has now been extended to those who were members of a different public sector scheme on 1 April 2012 and subsequently transferred that public sector pension into the LGPS to buy final salary benefits.
To read the Regulations in detail, please visit the LGPS 2018 Amendment Regulations.