An
Active Member is one who is still working and paying pension contributions.
Find out what's happening to your pension from 1 April 2009 when the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) changes in our new section LGPS09 .
In July and August 2007 we carried out a survey of a sample of active members and asked them what they thought of our service. You can read the results here. Most members found our staff helpful and polite and our information prompt and reliable.
Some members asked for more personalised communication and more input into scheme changes. We will continue to hold roadshows with employers so that you can talk to us face to face, as well as send your annual pension forecast. This year, forecasts were posted in September: the earliest possible after data has been received from employers and checked.
The Local Government Pension Scheme rules are set by the Scottish Government. You can give your input on scheme changes to the SPPA.
Do you know how much money you will have when you retire? Try out Standard Life's interactive retirement planner to see how much you need to save. Just enter the user name 'LGPS'. It also tells you what funds you can choose from if you want to pay additional voluntary contributions to top up your pension.
The Local Government Pension Scheme is guaranteed by law. The pension you get when you retire is based on your final year's pay and the number of years you have been a member of the Scheme. New members pay 6% of their pay into the Scheme. In fact, it costs you less than this because you do not pay the tax you would have paid on that 6%. You also pay lower national insurance because you are not paying towards the State Second Pension (S2P). Your employer pays the rest of the contributions needed to guarantee your benefits.
You can leave the Scheme at any time. If you leave with less than two years' membership, and don't have a Local Government Pension Scheme pension in Scotland, you can get a refund of your contributions. However, refunds cannot be paid until a month after you have left the Scheme.
You can find out more about the benefits the Scheme provides and how you pension is calculated on the Local Government Pension Scheme website.
Who can join
the Local Government Pension Scheme?
What
benefits does the scheme provide?
How
much does my employer contribute to the scheme?
What
communication can I expect about my pension?
How can
I change who receives my death benefits?
How
can I request an estimate of my pension?
Can
I pay more to increase my benefits?
How can
I notify you of a change in my circumstances?