Currently paying in
Elected members
About the scheme
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) provides retirement benefits for councillors and mayors ("elected members") in England who are under age 75. The scheme is secure, with benefits guaranteed by legislation, meaning they are not affected by stock market fluctuations.
Key benefits
- Tax relief - Contributions qualify for tax relief
- Flexible contributions - Option to pay more or use the 50/50 scheme
- Life cover - Financial protection for your family
- Ill health protection - Early access if seriously ill
- Annual increases - Pension rises with cost of living
Who can join?
You can join the LGPS if you receive an allowance or salary from a local authority such as a county council, district council, unitary authority, or combined authority.
Elected members are not contractually or automatically enrolled into the LGPS. You must actively opt in if you want to build up pension benefits.
How to join
Please visit our LGPS forms page and select the ‘Membership form’.
If you have any problems, please contact us - pensions@warwickshire.gov.uk
If you hold multiple elected roles, you must complete a separate application for each position.
The details
Contributions
Your contribution rate is based on your earnings and ranges from 5.5% to 12.5% of your pensionable pay.
Pensionable pay includes:
- Basic allowance
- Special responsibility allowance
- Salary and relevant allowances
Your employer pays the remaining cost of the scheme.
You can find out how much the scheme costs using the LGPS contributions calculator
Your pension
Each year, you build up pension based on 1/49 of your pensionable pay. This builds into a pension payable for life and increases annually with inflation.
You may exchange part of your pension for a tax-free lump sum (up to 25%).
| Year | Pension built | Total pension |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | £500 | £550.50 |
| 2023/24 | £510.20 | £1,131.77 |
| 2024/25 | £551.02 | £1,711.40 |
| 2025/26 | £561.22 | £2,358.98 |
LGPS - How your pension is worked out
Retirement
- You can take your pension from age 55 (rising to 57 from April 2028)
- Benefits may be reduced if taken early
- Your pension is paid for life and increases annually
If you leave before retirement
If you leave with at least two years' membership, your pension will be deferred and held for you until you are ready to retire, which you can do from age 55 onwards. The earliest age that you can take your pension will increase from age 55 to 57 from 6 April 2028.
If you leave with less than two years membership, you may receive a refund of contributions (subject to tax).
Transfers
You may transfer pension rights into the LGPS from other schemes, usually within 12 months of joining.
Any transfer-in of final salary benefits will not entitle you to final salary benefits in the LGPS, you will receive an equivalent amount added to your pension account instead.
