To qualify for benefits in the LGPS, you must be an active member for two years. This is the qualifying period. It is sometimes called the vesting period.

You can meet the qualifying period with less than two years’ membership in certain circumstances. You will meet the qualifying period if you:

• have been a member of the LGPS in England and Wales for two years
• transferred a pension into the LGPS from a different occupational pension scheme or from a European pensions’ institution and the length of service you had in that scheme plus your period of LGPS membership is more than two years
• have transferred pension rights into the LGPS from a pension scheme or arrangement in which you were not allowed to have a refund of contributions
• have previously transferred pension rights out of the LGPS to a pension scheme abroad – to a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme
• already hold a deferred benefit or you are receiving a pension from the LGPS in England and Wales, other than a survivor’s pension or a pension credit member’s pension
• paid National Insurance contributions as a member of the LGPS and you stop paying into the LGPS in the tax year that you attain State Pension age or later
• stop paying into the LGPS at age 75
• die in service.