The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) covers employees working in local government and for other organisations that have chosen to participate in it. To be able to join the LGPS, you need to be under age 75 and work for an employer that offers membership of the Scheme.

If you are employed by a body such as a town or parish council or by a non-local government organisation which participates in the Scheme, you can only join if your employer nominates you for membership of the Scheme.

If you start a job in which you are eligible for membership you will automatically join the Scheme unless your contract of employment is for less than three months. If your contract is for less than three months, you can elect to join by completing an opt-in form.

If you don’t elect to join, you may still become a member automatically if your employer:

• extends your contract so that it is for longer than three months, you will join the Scheme from the pay period after your contract is extended.
• must enrol you into the Scheme under the Government automatic enrolment provisions. Your employer must do so if you are an eligible jobholder, unless your employer decides to postpone the date you join. 

An eligible jobholder is a worker who is age 22 or over, under State Pension Age who earns more than £10,000 a year. 

If you join the Scheme, you have the right to opt out. You can complete an opt out form once you have started your employment.

How will I know that I have joined the LGPS?

On joining the LGPS, relevant records and a pension account will be set up and an official notification of your membership of the LGPS will be sent to you.

If you have more than one employment in the Scheme, a pension account will be set up for each one. 

You should check your payslip to make sure that pension contributions are being deducted.

What you I need to do when you join?

When you join the Scheme, your employer should tell you about the digital starter 'pack' which provides you with all the information you require as a new member of the LGPS:

Employees Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme

The LGPS is a valuable part of the pay and rewards package of employees who are entitled to join the Scheme. You can take control by choosing to pay more or less into your pension. This guide covers who can join the LGPS and the main benefits of the Scheme.

Death Grant Expression of Wish form

This form gives you the opportunity to express your wish as to who would benefit from the payment of three years’ pay, should you die in service, or the balance of 10 years worth of your pension, should you die under age 75 but within 10 years of retiring.

Survivor's Pension - Notification of your eligible Cohabiting Partner

If you are not married or part of a registered civil partnership, but currently living with a ‘partner’, you can, by completing the Cohabiting Partners Notiification for Survivor’s Pension form, name a ‘survivor’ who, in the event of your death and provided the required criteria are satisfied at the tie of your death, would be eligible to receive a Survivor’s Pension payable for life.

Membership form

This form needs to be completed and returned to the Fund. It allows you to apply to keep your current membership separate from previous spells in the LGPS. Similarly, if you have ever paid into another pension scheme, you can apply to transfer into the LGPS. Both applications must be made within 12 months of joining.