Internal Aggregations | Gloucestershire Pension Fund

My membership history	Type of aggregation
If you joined the LGPS after 1 April 2014 (and left after 1 April 2014)	A2 aggregation guide
If you joined the LGPS before 1 April 2014 and left after 1 April 2014 and had less than 5 years continuous break in service between public service pension schemes	B2 aggregation guide
If you joined the LGPS before 1 April 2014 and left after 1 April 2014 and had more than 5 years continuous break in service between public service pension schemes	C2 aggregation guide
If you left the LGPS before 1 April 2014 and had less than 5 years continuous break in service between public service pension schemes	D2 aggregation guide
If you left the LGPS before 1 April 2014 and had more than 5 years continuous break in service between public service pension scheme	D3 aggregation guide

If you joined the LGPS after 31 March 2014 and left with a deferred benefit entitlement and started a new role after 1 April 2014, then this category applies to you.

Is any action required?

Your deferred pension account will automatically transfer and merge with your new active pension account. However, you can choose to keep your deferred benefit separate. To do so, you must elect within 12 months of re-joining the scheme and while still contributing. Speak with your employer if you need an extension (this is discretionary).

Benefit calculations

Your benefits from previous employment will be calculated the same way, whether combined or kept separate as there will be no final salary benefits (unless in rare circumstances you are eligible for McCloud and the McCloud underpin benefits you).

When benefits will be payable

Your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (minimum age 65) and remains the same whether you combine or keep benefits separate.

Taking your benefits early

If I combine my benefits: Combined benefits are payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you cease your new employment. You can choose to draw them from age 55* at a reduced rate.
If I keep my benefits separate: Deferred benefits can be drawn separately from new employment benefits, even if still employed. You can choose to draw each of them from age 55* at a reduced rate.

*Age 57 from 6 April 2028

Redundancy of business efficiency cover

If I combine my benefits: If made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons at age 55* or over, benefits are payable immediately, including the transferred deferred benefit.
If I keep my benefits separate: Benefits are payable immediately on the role which has been made redundant but will not include the deferred benefit value.

Retiring on the grounds of ill health

If I combine my benefits: Early ill-health benefits include transferred deferred benefits.
If I keep my benefits separate: Early ill-health benefits do not include deferred benefits. However, separate deferred benefits may become payable if your former employer, based on an independent doctor's view, decides you are permanently incapable of your previous job and unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum: Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater.
Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs): If you paid AVCs, their value links to your ongoing employment if benefits are combined. If held with another local authority, you can transfer your AVC to our in-house provider, Pru.
Transferring deferred benefits: You cannot transfer deferred benefits to another pension scheme while contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

If you joined the LGPS after 31 March 2014 and left with a deferred benefit entitlement and started a new role after 1 April 2014, then this category applies to you.

Is any action required?

Your deferred pension account will automatically transfer and merge with your new active pension account. However, you can choose to keep your deferred benefit separate. To do so, you must elect within 12 months of re-joining the scheme and while still contributing. Speak with your employer if you need an extension (this is discretionary).

Benefit calculations

Your benefits from previous employment will be calculated the same way, whether combined or kept separate as there will be no final salary benefits (unless in rare circumstances you are eligible for McCloud and the McCloud underpin benefits you).

When benefits will be payable

Your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (minimum age 65) and remains the same whether you combine or keep benefits separate.

Taking your benefits early

If I combine my benefits: Combined benefits are payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you cease your new employment. You can choose to draw them from age 55* at a reduced rate.
If I keep my benefits separate: Deferred benefits can be drawn separately from new employment benefits, even if still employed. You can choose to draw each of them from age 55* at a reduced rate.

*Age 57 from 6 April 2028

Redundancy of business efficiency cover

If I combine my benefits: If made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons at age 55* or over, benefits are payable immediately, including the transferred deferred benefit.
If I keep my benefits separate: Benefits are payable immediately on the role which has been made redundant but will not include the deferred benefit value.

Retiring on the grounds of ill health

If I combine my benefits: Early ill-health benefits include transferred deferred benefits.
If I keep my benefits separate: Early ill-health benefits do not include deferred benefits. However, separate deferred benefits may become payable if your former employer, based on an independent doctor's view, decides you are permanently incapable of your previous job and unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum: Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater.
Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs): If you paid AVCs, their value links to your ongoing employment if benefits are combined. If held with another local authority, you can transfer your AVC to our in-house provider, Pru.
Transferring deferred benefits: You cannot transfer deferred benefits to another pension scheme while contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

To qualify for a B2 aggregation:

You left an employment after 31 March 2014 with an entitlement to a deferred benefit in the LGPS. You were in the scheme on both the 31 March and 1 April 2014
You have re-joined the LGPS again without having had a continuous break in active membership of a public service pension scheme of more than 5 years since ceasing to be an active member of the LGPS in the employment to which the deferred benefit relates.

Is any action required?

Your deferred pension account will automatically be transferred and added into your new active pension account.

However, you can elect to keep you deferred benefit separate and, if you wish to do so, this must be done within 12 months of re-joining the scheme and while you are still paying into the scheme. Speak with your employer if you would like an extension (note this is discretionary).

What to consider

You should to think about the following scenarios when considering whether or not you should keep your benefits separate:

Benefit Calculations

If I combine my benefits

The membership you built up in the final salary scheme will continue to count as final salary membership. This membership will be linked to your active pension account, and when you leave your new employment in the future, your final pay in that employment will be used to calculate your final salary benefits. Consider this carefully if your whole-time equivalent pay in the new employment is less than the whole-time equivalent pay on which your deferred benefit was awarded (as increased in line with the cost of living).

The amount of pension you have built up in the career average scheme from 1 April 2014 will transfer to your new active pension account.

If your ceased employment was concurrent with your ongoing employment, the final salary membership from the ceasing employment will be adjusted to ensure no windfall or detriment by combining your pension benefits. The formula for this adjustment is:

Period of membership × whole-time rate of pay from ceasing employment ÷ whole-time rate of pay from ongoing employment = adjusted period of membership

If you have more than one ongoing active employment, you can choose which active pension account to combine your deferred benefit with. If you do not contact us, we will decide on your behalf. If you believe you may be affected by this, please contact us immediately.

If I keep my benefits separate

They will remain as previously calculated and increase in line with inflation.

When will benefits be payable?

For the pension built up in the final salary scheme (before 1 April 2014), your Normal Pension Age is protected at age 65. For the pension built up in the career average scheme (on or after 1 April 2014), your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Taking the benefits early

If I combine my benefits

The combined benefits would be payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you have ceased your new employment. You can voluntarily choose to draw the combined benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

If I keep my benefits separate

The deferred benefits do not have to be drawn at the same time as the benefits from your new employment, even if you are still employed at the time you wish to draw the deferred benefits. You can voluntarily choose to draw benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Rule of 85 Protection

If I combine my benefits

If you have Rule of 85 protections, these protections will transfer to your new active pension account. However, the date you meet the Rule of 85 may move closer to your Normal Pension Age because the break in service between your previous period of membership and your new period of membership will not count towards the Rule of 85.

If I keep my benefits separate

Rule of 85 protections will remain with your deferred benefits.

Redundancy or business efficiency cover

If I combine my benefits

If you are made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons when aged 55* or over, your benefits would be payable immediately and would include the value of the pension transferred from your deferred benefit.

If I keep my benefits separate

The benefits payable immediately would not include the value of your deferred benefit (because you elected to retain that as a separate deferred benefit).

*Age 57 from 6 April 2028.

Retiring on the grounds of ill-health

If I combine my benefits

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would include the value of earlier deferred benefits that have been transferred.

If I keep my benefits separate

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would not include the value of earlier deferred benefits. However, your separate deferred benefit may become payable if your former employer decides, based on an independent doctor's view, that you are permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left their employment and are unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years, whichever is sooner.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum

Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater. Please see the death benefits page for more information.

Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)

If you have paid AVCs, their accrued value will be linked to your ongoing employment if your main scheme benefits are combined. If you started your AVC plan before 1 April 2014, you can elect to keep your AVC separate, but you must inform us. Once the AVC is linked to your ongoing employment, it is considered a contract under the scheme rules in force at the time of the transfer.

If your previous service is held with another local authority, your AVC must be transferred to our in-house AVC provider through Pru. You will need to contact Pru to set an AVC Fund ready for your previous AVC value to be transferred in.

Annual Allowance Potential Tax Implications

Be aware of potential tax implications around combining your deferred benefits with your new active pension account. You are most likely to be affected if you combine membership built up in the final salary section of the LGPS with your current pension account and your salary has increased significantly since leaving the scheme. If your LGPS pension savings exceed the standard allowance in any year ending 5 April, we will contact you by 6 October to let you know. Go to our pension tax limits page for more details.

Transferring the value of your deferred benefit to another pension scheme

Even if you choose not to combine your benefits, you will not be able to transfer the value of your deferred benefits to another pension scheme while contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

To qualify for a B2 aggregation:

You left an employment after 31 March 2014 with an entitlement to a deferred benefit in the LGPS. You were in the scheme on both the 31 March and 1 April 2014
You have re-joined the LGPS again without having had a continuous break in active membership of a public service pension scheme of more than 5 years since ceasing to be an active member of the LGPS in the employment to which the deferred benefit relates.

Is any action required?

Your deferred pension account will automatically be transferred and added into your new active pension account.

However, you can elect to keep you deferred benefit separate and, if you wish to do so, this must be done within 12 months of re-joining the scheme and while you are still paying into the scheme. Speak with your employer if you would like an extension (note this is discretionary).

What to consider

You should to think about the following scenarios when considering whether or not you should keep your benefits separate:

Benefit Calculations

If I combine my benefits

The membership you built up in the final salary scheme will continue to count as final salary membership. This membership will be linked to your active pension account, and when you leave your new employment in the future, your final pay in that employment will be used to calculate your final salary benefits. Consider this carefully if your whole-time equivalent pay in the new employment is less than the whole-time equivalent pay on which your deferred benefit was awarded (as increased in line with the cost of living).

The amount of pension you have built up in the career average scheme from 1 April 2014 will transfer to your new active pension account.

If your ceased employment was concurrent with your ongoing employment, the final salary membership from the ceasing employment will be adjusted to ensure no windfall or detriment by combining your pension benefits. The formula for this adjustment is:

Period of membership × whole-time rate of pay from ceasing employment ÷ whole-time rate of pay from ongoing employment = adjusted period of membership

If you have more than one ongoing active employment, you can choose which active pension account to combine your deferred benefit with. If you do not contact us, we will decide on your behalf. If you believe you may be affected by this, please contact us immediately.

If I keep my benefits separate

They will remain as previously calculated and increase in line with inflation.

When will benefits be payable?

For the pension built up in the final salary scheme (before 1 April 2014), your Normal Pension Age is protected at age 65. For the pension built up in the career average scheme (on or after 1 April 2014), your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Taking the benefits early

If I combine my benefits

The combined benefits would be payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you have ceased your new employment. You can voluntarily choose to draw the combined benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

If I keep my benefits separate

The deferred benefits do not have to be drawn at the same time as the benefits from your new employment, even if you are still employed at the time you wish to draw the deferred benefits. You can voluntarily choose to draw benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Rule of 85 Protection

If I combine my benefits

If you have Rule of 85 protections, these protections will transfer to your new active pension account. However, the date you meet the Rule of 85 may move closer to your Normal Pension Age because the break in service between your previous period of membership and your new period of membership will not count towards the Rule of 85.

If I keep my benefits separate

Rule of 85 protections will remain with your deferred benefits.

Redundancy or business efficiency cover

If I combine my benefits

If you are made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons when aged 55* or over, your benefits would be payable immediately and would include the value of the pension transferred from your deferred benefit.

If I keep my benefits separate

The benefits payable immediately would not include the value of your deferred benefit (because you elected to retain that as a separate deferred benefit).

*Age 57 from 6 April 2028.

Retiring on the grounds of ill-health

If I combine my benefits

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would include the value of earlier deferred benefits that have been transferred.

If I keep my benefits separate

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would not include the value of earlier deferred benefits. However, your separate deferred benefit may become payable if your former employer decides, based on an independent doctor's view, that you are permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left their employment and are unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years, whichever is sooner.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum

Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater. Please see the death benefits page for more information.

Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs)

If you have paid AVCs, their accrued value will be linked to your ongoing employment if your main scheme benefits are combined. If you started your AVC plan before 1 April 2014, you can elect to keep your AVC separate, but you must inform us. Once the AVC is linked to your ongoing employment, it is considered a contract under the scheme rules in force at the time of the transfer.

If your previous service is held with another local authority, your AVC must be transferred to our in-house AVC provider through Pru. You will need to contact Pru to set an AVC Fund ready for your previous AVC value to be transferred in.

Annual Allowance Potential Tax Implications

Be aware of potential tax implications around combining your deferred benefits with your new active pension account. You are most likely to be affected if you combine membership built up in the final salary section of the LGPS with your current pension account and your salary has increased significantly since leaving the scheme. If your LGPS pension savings exceed the standard allowance in any year ending 5 April, we will contact you by 6 October to let you know. Go to our pension tax limits page for more details.

Transferring the value of your deferred benefit to another pension scheme

Even if you choose not to combine your benefits, you will not be able to transfer the value of your deferred benefits to another pension scheme while contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

This section applies to you if:

You left employment after 31 March 2014 with an entitlement to a deferred benefit in the LGPS.
You were in the scheme on both 31 March and 1 April 2014 and have re-joined the LGPS after a continuous break of more than 5 years from active membership in a public service pension scheme since ceasing to be an active member of the LGPS in the employment to which the deferred benefit relates.

Action required

Your deferred pension account will automatically be transferred and added to your new active pension account. Your final salary scheme will no longer count as final salary membership and will instead be converted to an amount of earned pension in the career average scheme.

However, you can elect to keep your deferred benefit separate. If you wish to do so, this must be done within 12 months of re-joining the scheme and while you are still paying into the scheme. Speak with your employer if you wish to seek an extension to apply.

What to consider

You should think about the following scenarios when considering whether or not to keep your benefits separate.

Benefit calculations

If I combine my benefits

The membership you built up before 1 April 2014 in the final salary scheme will no longer count as final salary membership. Instead, your final salary membership will be converted to an amount of earned pension in the career average scheme. This will be added to your new active pension account along with the CARE pension you have already built up from 1 April 2014.

If I keep my benefits separate

They will remain as previously calculated and increase in line with inflation.

When benefits will be payable

If I combine my benefits

Your combined benefits will be payable at your Normal Pension Age under the CARE scheme, which will be the same as your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

If I keep my benefits separate

If you elect to keep your deferred benefits separate, then the date these are payable would remain the same, with your Normal Pension Age being age 65 for benefits built up to 31 March 2014. For benefits built up from 1 April 2014, your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Taking benefits early

If I combine my benefits

The combined benefits would be payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you have ceased your new employment. You can voluntarily choose to draw the combined benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

If I keep my benefits separate

The deferred benefits do not have to be drawn at the same time as the benefits from your new employment, even if you are still in your new employment at the time you wish to draw the deferred benefits. You can voluntarily choose to draw benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Rule of 85 protection

If I combine my benefits

The Rule of 85 will not continue to apply to the amount of earned pension bought when you combined your deferred pension, but the amount of earned pension bought will include an amount to compensate for the loss of Rule of 85 protection on that pension.

If I keep my benefits separate

If you have Rule of 85 protections, then these continue to apply to your deferred benefits only.

Redundancy or business efficiency cover

If I combine my benefits

If you are made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons when aged 55* or over, your benefits would be payable immediately and would include the value of the pension transferred from your deferred benefit.

If I keep my benefits separate

The benefits payable immediately would not include the value of your deferred benefit (because you elected to retain that as a separate deferred benefit).

*Age 57 from 6 April 2028.

Retiring on the grounds of ill-health

If I combine my benefits

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would include the value of earlier deferred benefits that have been transferred.

If I keep my benefits separate

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would not include the value of earlier deferred benefits. However, your separate deferred benefit may become payable if your former employer decides, based on an independent doctor's view, that you are permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left their employment and are unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years, whichever is sooner.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum

Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater. Please see the death benefit page for more information.

Annual Allowance Potential Tax Implications

You are advised to be aware of any potential tax implications around combining your deferred benefits with your new active pension account. In the unlikely event that a tax charge would apply, we would make you aware of the implications. Go to our Annual Allowance (AA) section for more details.

Transferring the value of your deferred benefit to another pension scheme

Please note that even if you choose not to combine your benefits, you will not be able to transfer the value of your deferred benefits to another pension scheme while you are contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year to go before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

This section applies to you if:

You left employment after 31 March 2014 with an entitlement to a deferred benefit in the LGPS.
You were in the scheme on both 31 March and 1 April 2014 and have re-joined the LGPS after a continuous break of more than 5 years from active membership in a public service pension scheme since ceasing to be an active member of the LGPS in the employment to which the deferred benefit relates.

Action required

Your deferred pension account will automatically be transferred and added to your new active pension account. Your final salary scheme will no longer count as final salary membership and will instead be converted to an amount of earned pension in the career average scheme.

However, you can elect to keep your deferred benefit separate. If you wish to do so, this must be done within 12 months of re-joining the scheme and while you are still paying into the scheme. Speak with your employer if you wish to seek an extension to apply.

What to consider

You should think about the following scenarios when considering whether or not to keep your benefits separate.

Benefit calculations

If I combine my benefits

The membership you built up before 1 April 2014 in the final salary scheme will no longer count as final salary membership. Instead, your final salary membership will be converted to an amount of earned pension in the career average scheme. This will be added to your new active pension account along with the CARE pension you have already built up from 1 April 2014.

If I keep my benefits separate

They will remain as previously calculated and increase in line with inflation.

When benefits will be payable

If I combine my benefits

Your combined benefits will be payable at your Normal Pension Age under the CARE scheme, which will be the same as your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

If I keep my benefits separate

If you elect to keep your deferred benefits separate, then the date these are payable would remain the same, with your Normal Pension Age being age 65 for benefits built up to 31 March 2014. For benefits built up from 1 April 2014, your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Taking benefits early

If I combine my benefits

The combined benefits would be payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you have ceased your new employment. You can voluntarily choose to draw the combined benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

If I keep my benefits separate

The deferred benefits do not have to be drawn at the same time as the benefits from your new employment, even if you are still in your new employment at the time you wish to draw the deferred benefits. You can voluntarily choose to draw benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Rule of 85 protection

If I combine my benefits

The Rule of 85 will not continue to apply to the amount of earned pension bought when you combined your deferred pension, but the amount of earned pension bought will include an amount to compensate for the loss of Rule of 85 protection on that pension.

If I keep my benefits separate

If you have Rule of 85 protections, then these continue to apply to your deferred benefits only.

Redundancy or business efficiency cover

If I combine my benefits

If you are made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons when aged 55* or over, your benefits would be payable immediately and would include the value of the pension transferred from your deferred benefit.

If I keep my benefits separate

The benefits payable immediately would not include the value of your deferred benefit (because you elected to retain that as a separate deferred benefit).

*Age 57 from 6 April 2028.

Retiring on the grounds of ill-health

If I combine my benefits

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would include the value of earlier deferred benefits that have been transferred.

If I keep my benefits separate

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would not include the value of earlier deferred benefits. However, your separate deferred benefit may become payable if your former employer decides, based on an independent doctor's view, that you are permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left their employment and are unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years, whichever is sooner.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum

Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater. Please see the death benefit page for more information.

Annual Allowance Potential Tax Implications

You are advised to be aware of any potential tax implications around combining your deferred benefits with your new active pension account. In the unlikely event that a tax charge would apply, we would make you aware of the implications. Go to our Annual Allowance (AA) section for more details.

Transferring the value of your deferred benefit to another pension scheme

Please note that even if you choose not to combine your benefits, you will not be able to transfer the value of your deferred benefits to another pension scheme while you are contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year to go before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

The following applies to you:

You left employment before 1 April 2014 with an entitlement to a deferred benefit in the LGPS.
You re-joined the LGPS without having had a continuous break in active membership of a public service pension scheme of more than 5 years since ceasing to be an active member of the LGPS in the employment to which the deferred benefit relates.

Action required

You can choose one of the following options:

Option A: Combine your final salary membership: Elect to combine your pre-1 April 2014 final salary membership with your new active pension account so that it continues to count as final salary scheme membership.

Option B: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension: Elect to combine your deferred benefit with your new pension account to buy an amount of earned pension in the CARE scheme, which will be added to your new active pension account.

Option C: Keep your benefits separate: Elect to keep your deferred benefit separate from your new active pension account.

If you do not make an election within 12 months of re-joining and while you are still paying into the scheme, your deferred benefit will remain separate from your new active pension account.

What to consider

You should think about the following when deciding whether to keep your benefits separate.

Benefit calculations

Option A: Combine Final Salary benefits

Your pre-1 April 2014 membership will be attached to your new pension account, and the benefits in respect of that membership will continue to count as final salary membership. When you cease membership of the LGPS in your new employment, the benefits in respect of your pre-1 April 2014 membership will be calculated using your whole-time equivalent final pay in that employment.

Option B: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

Your pre-1 April 2014 membership will be converted to an amount of earned pension in the CARE scheme and added to your new active pension account along with the CARE pension you have already built up from 1 April 2014.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

They will remain as previously calculated and increase in line with inflation.

When benefits will be payable

Option A: Combine Final Salary benefits

For the pension built up in the final salary scheme (before 1 April 2014), your Normal Pension Age is protected at age 65. For the pension built up in the career average scheme (on or after 1 April 2014), your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Option B: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

Your combined benefits will be payable at your Normal Pension Age under the career average scheme, which will be the same as your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

The date your deferred benefits are payable will remain the same, with your Normal Pension Age being:

- Age 65, or
- If the deferred benefits relate to a period of membership that ended before 1 October 2006 and you were a member of the scheme before 1 April 1998, a date between 60 and 65.

Rule of 85 protection

Option A: Combine Final Salary benefits

If you have Rule of 85 protections, these protections will transfer to your new active pension account. However, the date you meet the Rule of 85 may move closer to your Normal Pension Age because the break in service between your previous period of membership and your new period of membership will not count towards the Rule of 85.

Option B: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

The Rule of 85 will not continue to apply to the amount of earned pension bought when you combine your deferred pension, but the amount of earned pension bought will include an amount to compensate for the loss of Rule of 85 protection on that pension.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

If you have Rule of 85 protections, these continue to apply to your deferred benefits only.

Taking benefits early

Option A & B: If I combine my benefits

The combined benefits would be payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you have ceased your new employment. You can voluntarily choose to draw the combined benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

The deferred benefits do not have to be drawn at the same time as the benefits from your new employment, even if you are still in your new employment at the time you wish to draw the deferred benefits. You can voluntarily choose to draw benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Redundancy or business efficiency cover

Options A & B: If I combine my benefits

If you are made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons when aged 55* or over, your benefits would be payable immediately and would include the value of the pension transferred from your deferred benefit.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

The benefits payable immediately would not include the value of your deferred benefit (because you elected to retain that as a separate deferred benefit).

*Age 57 from 6 April 2028.

Retiring on the grounds of ill health

Options A & B: If I combine my benefits

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would include the value of earlier deferred benefits that have been transferred.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would not include the value of earlier deferred benefits. However, your separate deferred benefit may become payable if your former employer decides, based on an independent doctor's view, that you are permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left their employment and are unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years, whichever is sooner.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum

Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater. Please see the death benefits page for more information.

Paying extra contributions

If you have paid AVCs, their accrued value will be linked to your ongoing employment if your main scheme benefits are combined. You can elect to keep your AVC separate, but you must inform the fund of this. Once the AVC is linked to your ongoing employment, it is considered a contract under the scheme rules in force at the time of the transfer.

If your previous service is held with another local authority, your AVC must be transferred to our in-house AVC provider through Pru. You will need to contact Pru to set an AVC Fund ready for your previous AVC value to be transferred in.

If you have previously contributed towards an Added Years contract or were paying Additional Regular Contributions (ARCs), please contact the Fund for more information on what will happen to these arrangements.

Annual Allowance Potential Tax Implications

You are advised to be aware of any potential tax implications around combining your deferred benefits with your new active pension account. You are most likely to be affected if you combine membership built up in the final salary section of the LGPS with your current pension account and your salary has increased significantly since leaving the scheme. If your LGPS pension savings exceed the standard allowance in any year ending 5 April, the Fund will contact you by 6 October to let you know. Go to our Annual Allowance (AA) section for more details.

Transferring the value of your deferred benefit to another pension scheme

Please note that even if you choose not to combine your benefits, you will not be able to transfer the value of your deferred benefits to another pension scheme while you are contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year to go before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

The following applies to you:

You left employment before 1 April 2014 with an entitlement to a deferred benefit in the LGPS.
You re-joined the LGPS without having had a continuous break in active membership of a public service pension scheme of more than 5 years since ceasing to be an active member of the LGPS in the employment to which the deferred benefit relates.

Action required

You can choose one of the following options:

Option A: Combine your final salary membership: Elect to combine your pre-1 April 2014 final salary membership with your new active pension account so that it continues to count as final salary scheme membership.

Option B: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension: Elect to combine your deferred benefit with your new pension account to buy an amount of earned pension in the CARE scheme, which will be added to your new active pension account.

Option C: Keep your benefits separate: Elect to keep your deferred benefit separate from your new active pension account.

If you do not make an election within 12 months of re-joining and while you are still paying into the scheme, your deferred benefit will remain separate from your new active pension account.

What to consider

You should think about the following when deciding whether to keep your benefits separate.

Benefit calculations

Option A: Combine Final Salary benefits

Your pre-1 April 2014 membership will be attached to your new pension account, and the benefits in respect of that membership will continue to count as final salary membership. When you cease membership of the LGPS in your new employment, the benefits in respect of your pre-1 April 2014 membership will be calculated using your whole-time equivalent final pay in that employment.

Option B: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

Your pre-1 April 2014 membership will be converted to an amount of earned pension in the CARE scheme and added to your new active pension account along with the CARE pension you have already built up from 1 April 2014.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

They will remain as previously calculated and increase in line with inflation.

When benefits will be payable

Option A: Combine Final Salary benefits

For the pension built up in the final salary scheme (before 1 April 2014), your Normal Pension Age is protected at age 65. For the pension built up in the career average scheme (on or after 1 April 2014), your Normal Pension Age is linked to your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Option B: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

Your combined benefits will be payable at your Normal Pension Age under the career average scheme, which will be the same as your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

The date your deferred benefits are payable will remain the same, with your Normal Pension Age being:

- Age 65, or
- If the deferred benefits relate to a period of membership that ended before 1 October 2006 and you were a member of the scheme before 1 April 1998, a date between 60 and 65.

Rule of 85 protection

Option A: Combine Final Salary benefits

If you have Rule of 85 protections, these protections will transfer to your new active pension account. However, the date you meet the Rule of 85 may move closer to your Normal Pension Age because the break in service between your previous period of membership and your new period of membership will not count towards the Rule of 85.

Option B: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

The Rule of 85 will not continue to apply to the amount of earned pension bought when you combine your deferred pension, but the amount of earned pension bought will include an amount to compensate for the loss of Rule of 85 protection on that pension.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

If you have Rule of 85 protections, these continue to apply to your deferred benefits only.

Taking benefits early

Option A & B: If I combine my benefits

The combined benefits would be payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you have ceased your new employment. You can voluntarily choose to draw the combined benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

The deferred benefits do not have to be drawn at the same time as the benefits from your new employment, even if you are still in your new employment at the time you wish to draw the deferred benefits. You can voluntarily choose to draw benefits from as early as age 55*, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Redundancy or business efficiency cover

Options A & B: If I combine my benefits

If you are made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons when aged 55* or over, your benefits would be payable immediately and would include the value of the pension transferred from your deferred benefit.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

The benefits payable immediately would not include the value of your deferred benefit (because you elected to retain that as a separate deferred benefit).

*Age 57 from 6 April 2028.

Retiring on the grounds of ill health

Options A & B: If I combine my benefits

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would include the value of earlier deferred benefits that have been transferred.

Option C: If I keep my benefits separate

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would not include the value of earlier deferred benefits. However, your separate deferred benefit may become payable if your former employer decides, based on an independent doctor's view, that you are permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left their employment and are unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years, whichever is sooner.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum

Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater. Please see the death benefits page for more information.

Paying extra contributions

If you have paid AVCs, their accrued value will be linked to your ongoing employment if your main scheme benefits are combined. You can elect to keep your AVC separate, but you must inform the fund of this. Once the AVC is linked to your ongoing employment, it is considered a contract under the scheme rules in force at the time of the transfer.

If your previous service is held with another local authority, your AVC must be transferred to our in-house AVC provider through Pru. You will need to contact Pru to set an AVC Fund ready for your previous AVC value to be transferred in.

If you have previously contributed towards an Added Years contract or were paying Additional Regular Contributions (ARCs), please contact the Fund for more information on what will happen to these arrangements.

Annual Allowance Potential Tax Implications

You are advised to be aware of any potential tax implications around combining your deferred benefits with your new active pension account. You are most likely to be affected if you combine membership built up in the final salary section of the LGPS with your current pension account and your salary has increased significantly since leaving the scheme. If your LGPS pension savings exceed the standard allowance in any year ending 5 April, the Fund will contact you by 6 October to let you know. Go to our Annual Allowance (AA) section for more details.

Transferring the value of your deferred benefit to another pension scheme

Please note that even if you choose not to combine your benefits, you will not be able to transfer the value of your deferred benefits to another pension scheme while you are contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year to go before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

This category applies to you if:

You have left an employment before 1 April 2014 with an entitlement to a deferred benefit in the LGPS; and
You re-joined the LGPS again having had a continuous break in active membership of a public service pension scheme of more than 5 years since ceasing to be an active member of the LGPS in the employment to which the deferred benefit relates.

Action required

You have the following options:

Option A: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension: Elect to combine your deferred benefit with your new pension account to buy an amount of earned pension in the CARE scheme, which will be added to your new active pension account.

Option B: Keep your benefits separate: Elect to keep your deferred benefit separate from your new active pension account.

If you do not make an election within 12 months of re-joining and while you are still paying into the scheme, your deferred benefit will remain separate from your new active pension account.

What to consider

You should think about the following when deciding whether to keep your benefits separate:

Benefit calculations

Option A: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

Your previous deferred benefit will be combined with your new active pension account, and the membership you built up before 1 April 2014 in the final salary scheme will no longer count as final salary membership. Instead, the value of benefits built up before 1 April 2014 in the final salary scheme will buy an amount of earned pension in the career average scheme, which will be added to your new active pension account.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

They will remain as previously calculated and increase in line with inflation.

When will benefits be payable

Option A: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

Your combined benefits will be payable at your Normal Pension Age under the career average scheme, which will be the same as your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

The date your deferred benefits are payable will remain the same, with your Normal Pension Age being:

Age 65, or
If the deferred benefits relate to a period of membership that ended before 1 October 2006 and you were a member of the scheme before 1 April 1998, a date between 60 and 65.

Rule of 85 protection

Option A: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

The Rule of 85 will not continue to apply to the amount of earned pension bought when you combine your deferred pension, but the amount of earned pension bought will include an amount to compensate for the loss of Rule of 85 protection on that pension.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

If you have Rule of 85 protections, these continue to apply to your deferred benefits only.

Taking benefits early

Option A: If I combine my benefits

The combined benefits would be payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you have ceased your new employment. You can voluntarily choose to draw the combined benefits from as early as age 55, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

The deferred benefits do not have to be drawn at the same time as the benefits from your new employment, even if you are still in your new employment at the time you wish to draw the deferred benefits. You can voluntarily choose to draw benefits from as early as age 55, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Redundancy and business efficiency cover

Option A: If I combine my benefits

If you are made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons when aged 55 or over, your benefits would be payable immediately and would include the value of the pension transferred from your deferred benefit.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

The benefits payable immediately would not include the value of your deferred benefit (because you elected to retain that as a separate deferred benefit).

Retiring on the grounds of ill health

Option A: If I combine my benefits

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would include the value of earlier deferred benefits that have been transferred.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would not include the value of earlier deferred benefits. However, your separate deferred benefit may become payable if your former employer decides, based on an independent doctor's view, that you are permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left their employment and are unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years, whichever is sooner.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum

Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater. Please see the death benefits page for more information.

Paying extra contributions

If you have paid AVCs, their accrued value will be linked to your ongoing employment if your main scheme benefits are combined. You can elect to keep your AVC separate, but you must inform the fund of this. Once the AVC is linked to your ongoing employment, it is considered a contract under the scheme rules in force at the time of the transfer.

If your previous service is held with another local authority, your AVC must be transferred to our in-house AVC provider through Pru. You will need to contact Pru to set an AVC Fund ready for your previous AVC value to be transferred in.

If you have previously contributed towards an Added Years contract or were paying Additional Regular Contributions (ARCs), please contact the Fund for more information on what will happen to these arrangements.

Annual Allowance Potential Tax Implications

You are advised to be aware of any potential tax implications around combining your deferred benefits with your new active pension account. If your LGPS pension savings exceed the standard allowance in any year ending 5 April, the Fund will contact you by 6 October to let you know. Go to our Annual Allowance (AA) section for more details.

Transferring the value of your deferred benefit to another pension scheme

Please note that even if you choose not to combine your benefits, you will not be able to transfer the value of your deferred benefits to another pension scheme while you are contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year to go before reaching your Normal Pension Age.

This category applies to you if:

You have left an employment before 1 April 2014 with an entitlement to a deferred benefit in the LGPS; and
You re-joined the LGPS again having had a continuous break in active membership of a public service pension scheme of more than 5 years since ceasing to be an active member of the LGPS in the employment to which the deferred benefit relates.

Action required

You have the following options:

Option A: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension: Elect to combine your deferred benefit with your new pension account to buy an amount of earned pension in the CARE scheme, which will be added to your new active pension account.

Option B: Keep your benefits separate: Elect to keep your deferred benefit separate from your new active pension account.

If you do not make an election within 12 months of re-joining and while you are still paying into the scheme, your deferred benefit will remain separate from your new active pension account.

What to consider

You should think about the following when deciding whether to keep your benefits separate:

Benefit calculations

Option A: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

Your previous deferred benefit will be combined with your new active pension account, and the membership you built up before 1 April 2014 in the final salary scheme will no longer count as final salary membership. Instead, the value of benefits built up before 1 April 2014 in the final salary scheme will buy an amount of earned pension in the career average scheme, which will be added to your new active pension account.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

They will remain as previously calculated and increase in line with inflation.

When will benefits be payable

Option A: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

Your combined benefits will be payable at your Normal Pension Age under the career average scheme, which will be the same as your State Pension Age (minimum age 65).

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

The date your deferred benefits are payable will remain the same, with your Normal Pension Age being:

Age 65, or
If the deferred benefits relate to a period of membership that ended before 1 October 2006 and you were a member of the scheme before 1 April 1998, a date between 60 and 65.

Rule of 85 protection

Option A: Convert your final salary membership to CARE pension

The Rule of 85 will not continue to apply to the amount of earned pension bought when you combine your deferred pension, but the amount of earned pension bought will include an amount to compensate for the loss of Rule of 85 protection on that pension.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

If you have Rule of 85 protections, these continue to apply to your deferred benefits only.

Taking benefits early

Option A: If I combine my benefits

The combined benefits would be payable at the same time and cannot be paid until you have ceased your new employment. You can voluntarily choose to draw the combined benefits from as early as age 55, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

The deferred benefits do not have to be drawn at the same time as the benefits from your new employment, even if you are still in your new employment at the time you wish to draw the deferred benefits. You can voluntarily choose to draw benefits from as early as age 55, usually at a reduced rate to account for early payment.

Redundancy and business efficiency cover

Option A: If I combine my benefits

If you are made redundant or lose your job for business efficiency reasons when aged 55 or over, your benefits would be payable immediately and would include the value of the pension transferred from your deferred benefit.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

The benefits payable immediately would not include the value of your deferred benefit (because you elected to retain that as a separate deferred benefit).

Retiring on the grounds of ill health

Option A: If I combine my benefits

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would include the value of earlier deferred benefits that have been transferred.

Option B: If I keep my benefits separate

Any benefits paid early due to ill-health would not include the value of earlier deferred benefits. However, your separate deferred benefit may become payable if your former employer decides, based on an independent doctor's view, that you are permanently incapable of the job you were working in when you left their employment and are unlikely to undertake other gainful employment before your Normal Pension Age or for at least three years, whichever is sooner.

Other key areas to consider

Death in Service lump sum

Only one lump sum life cover amount is payable from the LGPS, either for your deferred benefit or active pension account, whichever is greater. Please see the death benefits page for more information.

Paying extra contributions

If you have paid AVCs, their accrued value will be linked to your ongoing employment if your main scheme benefits are combined. You can elect to keep your AVC separate, but you must inform the fund of this. Once the AVC is linked to your ongoing employment, it is considered a contract under the scheme rules in force at the time of the transfer.

If your previous service is held with another local authority, your AVC must be transferred to our in-house AVC provider through Pru. You will need to contact Pru to set an AVC Fund ready for your previous AVC value to be transferred in.

If you have previously contributed towards an Added Years contract or were paying Additional Regular Contributions (ARCs), please contact the Fund for more information on what will happen to these arrangements.

Annual Allowance Potential Tax Implications

You are advised to be aware of any potential tax implications around combining your deferred benefits with your new active pension account. If your LGPS pension savings exceed the standard allowance in any year ending 5 April, the Fund will contact you by 6 October to let you know. Go to our Annual Allowance (AA) section for more details.

Transferring the value of your deferred benefit to another pension scheme

Please note that even if you choose not to combine your benefits, you will not be able to transfer the value of your deferred benefits to another pension scheme while you are contributing to the LGPS or if you have less than one year to go before reaching your Normal Pension Age.