Elect to receive benefits

Overview

Please note there are different rules on when you can receive your benefits depending on the date you left the LGPS.

2018 Amendment Regulations

Some changes have been made to the Scheme rules. The most significant amendment is a change in the early payment date for some deferred members.

With effect from 14 May 2018, deferred members who left the Scheme before 1 April 2014 are now able to elect to take their pension on a reduced basis at age 55.

If you left the scheme between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 2014 you now have the flexibility to take your benefits anytime between age 55 and the eve of your 75th birthday.

These provisions are already available to those Members who left the Scheme after 31 March 2014.

Pension Credit Members can now also to elect to receive their benefits earlier than before on a reduced basis.

Please note - if you opted out of your LGPS membership (at any date) and you are still employed in that same employment, you will not be able to claim your deferred benefits until you cease that employment.

The Amendment Regulations are published online at LGPS Regulations.

If you left after 31 March 2014

Your deferred benefits are normally payable at your Normal Pension Age (NPA) in the LGPS. Your NPA is linked to your State Pension Age (but with a minimum of age 65). They can be paid earlier, or later than your Normal Pension Age. There are two ways they can be paid earlier and these are:

  • early payment of deferred benefits at your request, or
  • early payment of deferred benefits due to permanent ill-health

You can choose to take early payment of your deferred benefits from age 55, see applying to access your benefits.

You do not need your former employer's consent to draw your pension before your NPA.

If you choose to draw your benefits before your NPA they will normally be reduced to take account of their early payment and the fact that your pension will be paid for longer. How much your deferred benefits are reduced by depends on how early you draw them. You can find an overview of the reductions which will apply to your pension on the LGPS Reduction Table.

Employer discretion on waiving reductions

It may be possible for your former employer to waive any reductions that may apply to your benefits, see Employer discretion on early payment or waiving reductions.

Ill health

You can apply for payment of your deferred benefits at any age, without reduction if, because of your health, you would be permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left the LGPS and you are unlikely to be capable of undertaking any gainful employment within three years of applying for the benefit or by your Normal Pension Age, whichever is the earlier.

If you have 'opted out' of the LGPS, then the date when you can receive your deferred benefits is more complex. Please contact us if you need more information on this.

For more information, see Leaving your job before retirement after 31 March 2014 .

If you left between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 2014

If you left the scheme between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 2014 you now have the flexibility to take your benefits anytime between age 55 and the eve of your 75th birthday.

The Amendment Regulations are published online at LGPS Regulations.

When you can elect to receive your deferred benefits under the amended regulations

You may be able to claim your benefits from age 55 but they will be reduced if you do this. You can find an overview of the reductions which will apply to your pension on the LGPS Reduction Table.

If you do not contact us about payment we will not write to you until such time as your deferred benefits must be paid. This will be the eve of your 75th birthday, or the date any Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) is due (age 60 for women or age 65 for men). For more information about GMPs, see State pension information.

When benefits can be paid

  • Date that you left the scheme - After 31 March 1998. 
  • When can I elect to receive my deferred benefits? - Anytime between age 55 and the eve of your 75th birthday - unless a GMP is due. If you opted out of the Scheme, you may not be able to take payment of your benefits until you leave that local government employment.
  • When we will contact you - Near to the date any GMP is due, or the date your benefits must be paid. 

If you wish to access your benefits early, see applying to access your benefits.

Employer discretion on early payment or waiving reductions

It may be possible for your former employer to waive any reductions that may apply to your benefits, see Employer discretion on early payment or waiving reductions.

Ill health

If you are suffering from a permanent medical condition, it may be possible to receive your benefits early on ill health grounds. If you think this applies to you, you should write to your former employer who will arrange a medical assessment.

If you left the LGPS before 1 April 2008 then your benefits can be brought into payment earlier on the grounds of ill health if an independent suitably qualified medical officer certifies that you are permanently incapable of carrying out the duties of your scheme employment because of ill health or infirmity of mind or body.

If you left the LGPS after 31 March 2008 (but before 1 April 2014) you can apply for payment of your deferred benefits at any age, without reduction if, because of your health, you would be permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left the LGPS and you have a reduced likelihood of being capable of any gainful employment within three years of applying for the benefit, or by age 65, whichever is the earlier.

If you have 'opted out' of the LGPS, then the date when you can receive your deferred benefits is more complex. Please contact the Pensions office if you need more information on this.

For more information, see Leaving before retirement between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 2014.

If you left before 1 April 1998

With effect from 14 May 2018, deferred members who left the Scheme before 1 April 2014 are now able to elect to take their pension on a reduced basis from age 55.

The Amendment Regulations are published online at LGPS Regulations

When you can elect to receive your deferred benefits under the amended regulations

You may be able to claim your benefits from age 55 but they will be reduced if you do this. You can find an overview of the reductions which will apply to your pension on the LGPS Reduction Table .

If you do not contact us about payment in advance of your 55th birthday we will not write to you until such time as your deferred benefits must be paid. As you left before 1 April 1998 this will be the date your unreduced benefits are payable, or the date any GMP is due (age 60 for women or age 65 for men). For more information about GMPs, see State pension information.

When benefits can be paid

  • Date that you left the scheme - Before 1 April 1998. If you opted out of the Scheme, you may not be able to take payment of your benefits until you leave that local government employment. If you are still in local government employment you may not be able to take payment of your benefits until you leave. You can contact the Pensions Office for more information about this.
  • When can I elect to receive my deferred benefits? - Reduced from age 55, the date any GMP is due, or the date unreduced benefits are payable, if later
  • When we will contact you - Near to the date any GMP is due, or the date your benefits must be paid. 

If you wish to access your benefits early, see applying to access your benefits.

Employer Discretion on early payment or waiving reductions

It may be possible for your former employer to waive any reductions that may apply to your benefits, see Employer discretion on early payment or waiving reductions.

Ill health

If you are suffering from a permanent medical condition, it may be possible to receive your benefits early on ill health grounds. If you think this applies to you, you should write to your former employer who will arrange a medical assessment.

Your benefits can be brought into payment earlier on the grounds of ill health if an independent suitably qualified medical officer certifies that you are permanently incapable of carrying out the duties of your scheme employment because of ill health or infirmity of mind or body.

If you have 'opted out' of the LGPS, then the date when you can receive your deferred benefits is more complex. Please contact us if you need more information on this.

For more information, see Leaving your job before 1 April 2008 with a deferred benefit.

If you are a pension credit member

With effect from 14 May 2018, Pension Credit Members now have the flexibility to take their benefits anytime between age 55 and the eve of their 75th birthday. Please note that the benefits will be reduced if taken earlier than the Normal Pension Age. You can find an overview of the reductions which would apply to your pension if you take it early on the LGPS Reduction Table.

The Amendment Regulations are published online at LGPS Regulations.

Applying to access your benefits

If you wish to access your benefits early, see applying to access your benefits.

Applying to access your benefits

If you wish to access your benefits early, you must let the Pensions Office know the date you want your pension to be paid from.

We will automatically write to you when your deferred benefits are due to be paid, however you claim payment before this date.

You can do this by either:

Employer discretion on early payment or waiving reductions

You can ask your former employer to consider waiving any reductions that may apply to your benefits.

It is important to note that:

  • Your former employer has the discretion to refuse to waive any reductions
  • They will have a written policy about this and you can obtain a copy of the policy from them. You should refer to this policy before requesting that your benefits are brought into payment