Scheme Leavers Other Than Retirement
These pages are for employer use only. Member information can be found on the home page.
If a member leaves their employment or opts out of the LGPS, what happens to their pensions benefits depends on how long they have been a member in the scheme.
Refund or deferred pension?
If a member, with service of pre and post 1 April 2014, subsequently leaves with between 3 months and 2 years’ membership in total, they can choose between:
- A refund of contributions
- A deferred pension
From 1 April 2014 members are required to have 2 years qualifying membership in the scheme to be entitled to benefits. If they have less than 2 years they could be entitled to a refund of contributions providing:
- They have not subsequently re-joined the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in England or Wales within a month and a day of ceasing their employment in respect of which they are claiming the refund of contributions
- They are not currently making contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme in England or Wales
- They do not already hold a deferred benefit in the LGPS in England or Wales
- They are not in receipt of a pension from the LGPS in England or Wales
- They have not previously transferred pension rights from the LGPS in England or Wales to an overseas pension scheme
If the employee opts out of the scheme with under 3 months membership and a refund is requested (providing the employee does not meet any of the above criteria) then the refund of contributions can be made via the employers’ payroll bureau. For leavers over 3 months, a leaver’s form must be completed and the options relevant to the employee will be presented by the Pensions Team.
Whenever an employee leaves the LGPS after 3 months, please complete the leavers form PEN007.