The LGPS has the option of SCAPCs which cover the amount of pension “lost” during periods of unpaid additional Maternity, Adoption and Paternity leave or periods of unpaid authorised leave of absence.

Shared cost means that if you want to cover such a period, and if you make an election to buy the “lost” pension within 30 days of returning to work, the cost of buying the “lost” pension is shared between you and your employer, with your employer meeting two thirds of the cost.

SCAPCs can be a one-off lump sum or a regular amount over a period of time.

You can get a quote and print off an application form on the LGPS member website. 

Before using this website to get a quote for buying back the amount of lost pension you need a written statement from your employer showing the total amount of pensionable pay lost during the period of absence or trade dispute and confirmation of the section of the scheme you were in (main section or 50/50 section). You will need this information when obtaining a quote from this website of the cost of buying back the amount of lost pension. You can ask for the statement from your employer if they haven't automatically sent it to you following the period of absence or trade dispute.

If your period of absence is authorised unpaid leave or unpaid additional child related leave and your election is made more than 30 days after the date you return to work you may seek agreement from your employer that they will contribute towards the cost of the lost pension. If your employer does agree to contribute in this situation, they will need to sign the completed application form.

When making an application you must specify the amount of pensionable pay lost during the absence (as provided by your employer) and, if payments are to be made by regular contributions, the period over which the contributions are to be paid (but the end date for regular contributions can be no later than your Normal Pension Age under the scheme).

If you have more than one active pension account in the scheme (i.e. because you are in the scheme in more than one job) you must specify which job the lost pension is in respect of. If you wish to pay APCs for each job, you will have to submit separate applications to buy lost pension for each job.

After getting the APC quote from this website you should, using the application form provided on this website, submit the application to your employer. On receipt of your application, your employer will check they agree the details outlined in Part A of the completed application and, where they have agreed to contribute towards the cost of any lost pension, when their contribution is not required under the Scheme regulations, duly authorise this. Your employer will sign and date the form and submit it to the Shropshire County Pension Fund.

If you choose to pay by regular additional contributions, or by a one off lump sum deduction from pay, your employer will commence deduction of the APCs from your pay from the next available pay period after they receive agreement from the Pension Fund and you have been notified that your application has been accepted unless: (a) a satisfactory medical report to be submitted first, or (b) your employer considers that, based on your previous pay history, it is not likely to be possible to collect the APCs you wish to pay, or (c) the Pension Fund takes the view that spreading payments would be impracticable and requires that you pay via a lump sum.

You will be told if you need to give us a medical report before your application can be accepted or if your application to pay APCs has been turned down and, if so, the reason your application has failed.

If you choose to pay by a lump sum payment made directly to the Shropshire County Pension Fund, you should not submit the payment until you have received confirmation that your application has been accepted and you have been provided with details of how to make the payment.

You can get a quote and print off an application form to buy APCs on the LGPS member website. 

When making your application, be sure to mention the amount you wish to pay or the amount of pension you wish to buy. You also need to say if payments are to be made by regular contributions, the period over which the contributions are to be paid (but the end date for regular contributions can be no later than your normal pension age under the pension scheme).

If you've more than one active pension account in the fund (i.e. because you are in the scheme in more than one job) you must specify which job the extra pension is to be credited to. If you wish to pay APCs for each job, you will have to fill in separate APC applications for each job.

After getting the APCs quote from the LGPS member website, you should send the application to Shropshire County Pension Fund.

Please do not send the application directly to payroll as it will need to be reviewed by the pensions team first. The pensions team will then forward this to payroll.

If you choose to pay by regular additional payments, or by a one off lump sum deduction from pay, your employer will start taking the APCs from your pay from the next available pay period after they are told by us that you wish to pay APCs. This is unless: a satisfactory medical report is to be submitted, or your employer thinks that, based on your previous pay history, it's not likely to be possible to collect the APCs you wish to pay, or we (as the fund) decide that spreading payments would be impracticable and ask you pay via a lump sum.

You will be told if we need you to give us a medical report before your application can be accepted or if your application to pay APCs has been turned down and, if so, the reason your application has failed.

If you choose to pay by a lump sum payment made direct to Shropshire County Pension Fund, you should not make the payment until you've had confirmation your application has been accepted.

If you wish to make a lump sum payment towards the end of the tax year, the application must be received by the 1 March. This is to allow enough time for the application to be processed and payment collected before the end of the tax year.