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How much do I pay?

How your earnings and choices affect your contributions

Your contribution rate depends on

How much you earn annually.

If you are in the main section of the scheme or move to the 50:50 section.

Note: The annual pension that you build up is based on a set formula and not on your contribution amount, the contribution rate of your employer or the level of investment returns.

Your employer pays the balance of the cost of providing your benefits. The amount will vary, but averaged over time, an employer pays approximately two thirds of the scheme's costs and the you (the member) contribute one third. All contributions are invested and those returns also contribute to the cost of paying the benefits due to members.

Employee contribution rate table

These are the pay bands that applied from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027; these will be updated annually. They are based on your actual pay rather than on your grade point (if different, for example if you are part-time or term-time only).

A single contribution rate applies to all your pay and is deducted before tax, meaning that you receive 'tax relief' (i.e. you pay less in tax as a result).

Pay Band If your yearly pay is Employee contribution rate (main section) Employee contribution rate (50:50 section)
1 Up to £18,400 5.5% 2.75%
2 £18,401 to £29,000 5.8% 2.9%
3 £29,001 to £47,300 6.5% 3.25%
4 £47,301 to £59,800 6.8% 3.4%
5 £59,801 to £84,000 8.5% 4.25%
6 £84,001 to £119,100 9.9% 4.95%
7 £119,101 to £140,400 10.5% 5.25%
8 £140,401 to £210,700 11.4% 5.7%
9 £210,701 or more 12.5% 6.25%

What if I have more than one job?

If you have more than one job your contribution rate will be determined separately for each job by your employer.

50:50 section

Click on the block below to see more information of the 50:50 section of the scheme

You can also download a 50:50 contribution flexibility form  and send it to your employer if you would like to move to that section of the scheme.

Overview

The LGPS offers you the flexibility to pay half your normal contribution rate and build up half your normal pension. This is called the 50:50 section of the LGPS. You keep full life and ill-health cover if you join the 50:50 section.

The 50:50 section is designed to help members stay in the scheme, building up valuable pensions benefits during times of financial hardship. The table above shows the current contribution rates in the main and 50:50 sections of the scheme.

 

How to move to the 50:50 section

When you join the LGPS you will be put into the main section of the LGPS. In the main section, you pay the normal contribution rate in return for normal pension build up. Once you are a member of the main section you can elect in writing to move to the 50:50 section.

You can download a 50:50 contribution flexibility form , or you can ask your employer for one. If you elect to join the 50:50 section, you will start paying reduced contributions from the next available pay period.

There is no limit to the number of times you can elect to move from the main section to the 50:50 section and back again.

 

Leaving the 50:50 section

After you have joined the 50:50 section, you can choose to move to the main section of the LGPS at any time. You will need to let your employer know in writing. If you want to move to the main section, you can download a 50:50 contribution flexibility form , or you can ask your employer for one.

The 50:50 section is designed to be a short-term option. Your employer must move you back into the main section of the scheme roughly every three years.

If you are in the 50:50 section and your pay is reduced to zero because of sickness, your employer will move you back into the main section of the scheme from the next pay period. Your employer will also move you to the main section if your pay reduces to zero during a period of ordinary maternity or adoption leave. This is generally the first 26 weeks of leave. This may not apply if you are unpaid for a very short period. If you start receiving pay again before the next pay period begins, you will stay in the 50:50 section.

 

Paying extra in the 50:50 section

If you move to the 50:50 section and you are buying extra pension in the LGPS by paying Additional Pension Contributions, the contract must stop. If your employer is contributing to the cost of buying the extra pension, the contract must stop. You are not allowed to start a new contract to buy extra pension if you are in the 50:50 section.

You can pay extra contributions to buy back the pension 'lost' during a period of authorised unpaid leave or industrial action. Your employer will generally share the cost of buying the lost pension if the unpaid period was authorised. If you are paying extra contributions to buy pension ‘lost’ in an unpaid period and you join the 50:50 section, the contract can continue. This is the case whether or not the employer is paying part of the cost. You can also start a new contract to buy lost pension if you are in the 50:50 section.

If you are paying any other type of additional contributions in the LGPS, these can continue if you move to the 50:50 section.

Overview

The LGPS offers you the flexibility to pay half your normal contribution rate and build up half your normal pension. This is called the 50:50 section of the LGPS. You keep full life and ill-health cover if you join the 50:50 section.

The 50:50 section is designed to help members stay in the scheme, building up valuable pensions benefits during times of financial hardship. The table above shows the current contribution rates in the main and 50:50 sections of the scheme.

 

How to move to the 50:50 section

When you join the LGPS you will be put into the main section of the LGPS. In the main section, you pay the normal contribution rate in return for normal pension build up. Once you are a member of the main section you can elect in writing to move to the 50:50 section.

You can download a 50:50 contribution flexibility form , or you can ask your employer for one. If you elect to join the 50:50 section, you will start paying reduced contributions from the next available pay period.

There is no limit to the number of times you can elect to move from the main section to the 50:50 section and back again.

 

Leaving the 50:50 section

After you have joined the 50:50 section, you can choose to move to the main section of the LGPS at any time. You will need to let your employer know in writing. If you want to move to the main section, you can download a 50:50 contribution flexibility form , or you can ask your employer for one.

The 50:50 section is designed to be a short-term option. Your employer must move you back into the main section of the scheme roughly every three years.

If you are in the 50:50 section and your pay is reduced to zero because of sickness, your employer will move you back into the main section of the scheme from the next pay period. Your employer will also move you to the main section if your pay reduces to zero during a period of ordinary maternity or adoption leave. This is generally the first 26 weeks of leave. This may not apply if you are unpaid for a very short period. If you start receiving pay again before the next pay period begins, you will stay in the 50:50 section.

 

Paying extra in the 50:50 section

If you move to the 50:50 section and you are buying extra pension in the LGPS by paying Additional Pension Contributions, the contract must stop. If your employer is contributing to the cost of buying the extra pension, the contract must stop. You are not allowed to start a new contract to buy extra pension if you are in the 50:50 section.

You can pay extra contributions to buy back the pension 'lost' during a period of authorised unpaid leave or industrial action. Your employer will generally share the cost of buying the lost pension if the unpaid period was authorised. If you are paying extra contributions to buy pension ‘lost’ in an unpaid period and you join the 50:50 section, the contract can continue. This is the case whether or not the employer is paying part of the cost. You can also start a new contract to buy lost pension if you are in the 50:50 section.

If you are paying any other type of additional contributions in the LGPS, these can continue if you move to the 50:50 section.

Employee contribution rate table 2025/26

These are the pay bands that applied from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. They were based on your actual pay rather than on your grade point (if different, for example if you are part-time or term-time only).

A single contribution rate applies to all your pay and is deducted before tax, meaning that you receive 'tax relief' (i.e. you pay less in tax as a result).

Pay Band If your yearly pay is Employee contribution rate (main section) Employee contribution rate (50:50 section)
1 Up to £17,800 5.5% 2.75%
2 £17,801 to £28,000 5.8% 2.9%
3 £28,001 to £45,600 6.5% 3.25%
4 £45,601 to £57,700 6.8% 3.4%
5 £57,701 to £81,000 8.5% 4.25%
6 £81,001 to £114,800 9.9% 4.95%
7 £114,801 to £135,300 10.5% 5.25%
8 £135,301 to £203,000 11.4% 5.7%
9 £203,001 or more 12.5% 6.25%

Employee contribution rate table 2025/26

These are the pay bands that applied from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. They were based on your actual pay rather than on your grade point (if different, for example if you are part-time or term-time only).

A single contribution rate applies to all your pay and is deducted before tax, meaning that you receive 'tax relief' (i.e. you pay less in tax as a result).

Pay Band If your yearly pay is Employee contribution rate (main section) Employee contribution rate (50:50 section)
1 Up to £17,800 5.5% 2.75%
2 £17,801 to £28,000 5.8% 2.9%
3 £28,001 to £45,600 6.5% 3.25%
4 £45,601 to £57,700 6.8% 3.4%
5 £57,701 to £81,000 8.5% 4.25%
6 £81,001 to £114,800 9.9% 4.95%
7 £114,801 to £135,300 10.5% 5.25%
8 £135,301 to £203,000 11.4% 5.7%
9 £203,001 or more 12.5% 6.25%

 

What happens if I am on reduced pay due to an absence from work? 

Your employer should deduct the same percentage rate of employee contribution as applied immediately before your reduction in pay, but only apply it to the new amount of pay you are receiving.  

For example, this would mean that if your rate of pay halved then the amount of actual contributions due would be halved (ignoring the impact of tax relief).  

 

What happens if I am on nil pay due to an absence from work? 

If the absence is authorised and for a period of less than 15 calendar days, then your employer will still take employee contributions as if you had been working and earning as normal. In all other scenarios, no contributions will be taken but you may still be eligible to accrue or by back any lost pension through via an Additional Pension Contribution (APC) contract or a Qualifying Additional Pension Arrangement (QAPA).

Further information on Absences can be found on this page.