Taking my benefits

People retire and take benefits for different reasons and at different ages.

You may even want to transfer your benefits to another pension arrangement.

Deciding to transfer your benefits is an important decision. You may wish to take independent financial advice before making this decision, and in some cases may be required to do so before your LGPS benefits can be transferred.

The pension you receive will include any extra pension you have bought.

When can I take my benefits?

Your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (with a minimum of age 65). Your Normal Pension Age is the age from which you can retire and receive your pension in full.

You can check your Normal Pension age by looking up your current State Pension Age at www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension.

You can also take your benefits before or after your normal pension age.

It is also possible to take your deferred benefits at any age on the grounds of ill health. But this must be approved by your administering authority, and you will not be awarded any enhancement.

However, before determining whether to agree to a request your old employer must obtain a certificate from an independent registered medical practitioner qualified in occupational health medicine as to whether in their opinion you are permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of your relevant employment because of ill-health or infirmity of mind or body and, if so, whether that condition is likely to prevent you from obtaining gainful employment (whether in local government or otherwise) before reaching your normal retirement age.

If you think payment of deferred benefits on the grounds of ill health could apply to you please contact the Fund's administration team.


Transferring benefits

You may be able to transfer your benefits to another pension scheme as long as the new scheme is willing to accept the transfer.

  • If you want to transfer your benefits you should tell your new scheme that you hold benefits within the LGPS.

  • They will approach us for a transfer value and let you know what the benefits are worth in their scheme.

  • Your new employer or pension scheme will then work with you over whether or not you wish to go ahead with the transfer.

  • If you decide that you want to go ahead with the transfer they will ask us to pay the transfer payment over to your new pension scheme.

Deciding to transfer your benefits is an important decision. You may wish to take independent financial advice.

Deciding to transfer your benefits is an important decision. You may wish to take independent financial advice. From 1 April 2015 you may need to obtain independent, impartial financial advice before being able to transfer your LGPS pension out to certain types of pension scheme. We will let you know if this was the case. You can find details on independent financial advice on the useful links page.

Beware of pension scams

Should you decide to transfer your benefits, you should be aware of potential pension scams. Educating yourself and remaining vigilant are key to minimising the risk posed by pensions scams.

Listed here is a summary of the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) four key steps to protect your pension: 

Step 1 – Reject unexpected offers

  • Scammers are often unknown contacts who will attempt to gain your trust through false claims. They will likely claim to be authorised by the FCA and will present you with unsolicited, attractive investment opportunities in an attempt to gain control of your pension pot. In other circumstance the money may be stolen outright. If an offer seems too good to be true, it likely is just that.

Step 2 – Check who you're dealing with

  • Remember that it isn’t usually possible to cash in your pension before the age of 55, except in cases of ill-health or where you have a protected retirement age that is below 55. Equally, you should be wary of offers for “free pension reviews, “guaranteed” returns on pension investments or complicated, long term investments plans. FCA regulated advisors would never offer such services and opportunities.  If you’re concerned about a potential scam you should report your suspicions to Action Fraud or the Financial Conduct Authority.

Step 3 – Don't be rushed or pressured

  • High pressure sales tactics are a common sign of a pensions scam. You should be wary of time limited offers to get the “best deal”. Be wary of promised returns that sound too good to be true and don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision.

Step 4 – Get impartial information or advice

  • If you are deciding to transfer your benefits, consider consultation with the Pensions Advisory Service or an FCA regulated advisor before doing so. Those over 50 with a defined contribution pension, should consider booking an appointment with Pension Wise.


Taking my benefits early

You can take your benefits before your normal pension age but in some cases you may need your employer's permission and your benefits may be reduced.

Early retirement at your request

You can take your benefits from age 55.

If you choose to take your benefits before your normal pension age they may be reduced because they will be paid earlier and for longer than had you waited.

How much your benefits are reduced by depends on how long before your normal pension age you take your benefits.

Example

Stan is 64 when he decides to retire and take his benefits. His normal pension age is age 65.

His benefits are:

Pension = £4,000 a year

Lump sum = £11,500

As he is retiring 1 year early his benefits are reduced.

The benefits he will actually be paid are:

Pension = £3,784 a year (a 5.4% reduction)

Lump sum = £11,235 (a 2.3% reduction)


Taking my benefits late

You can choose to take your deferred benefits after your normal pension age but you must take them before you are 75.

If you take your benefits after your normal pension age, your benefits are increased because they are starting later than expected.


Can I take a lump sum?

When you retire, you can take part of your benefits as a lump sum, this is normally paid tax free.

If you were a member of the Scheme before 1 April 2009 you are automatically provided with a lump sum.

If you joined or were a member after 1 April 2009 the Scheme no longer provides an automatic lump sum for this part of your membership, but you can give up some of your pension for a lump sum.

If you want to take a lump sum, or increase the size of your lump sum you have to give up £1 of pension to earn lump sum of £12.

You must tell us if you want to give up pension for lump sum before your benefits are paid.

Example

When Jane retires she has built up the following benefits:

Pension = £6,667 a year

If Jane wants to take a £20,000 lump sum she will need to give up £1,667 of her pension.

Lump sum ÷ 12 = amount of pension you need to give up.

Her benefits will be:

Pension = £5,000 a year

Lump sum = £20,004


Will my pension increase?

Your deferred benefits will be reviewed each year and kept in line with the cost of living, until they start to be paid.

Once it starts to be paid your pension will continue to be kept in line with the cost of living and we will also contact you each April with details of any changes.