A forum for open discussion on communities and local government policy.

New-look Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) post-consultation

Following the overwhelming success of the first LGPS discussion forum, we have launched a second thread. The statutory consultation has now concluded and following the laying of the Regulations in April 2007, the new-look scheme will come into force on April 1 2008.

All documents concerning the LGPS are available via the links on the scheme’s website.

Primarily, this forum will give you the opportunity to talk to other members across England and Wales and to pose questions about scheme reforms. However, as with the previous forum, it is not possible to comment on individuals’ pensions queries – the forum is designed for discussion about the new-look LGPS coming into force on April 2008. If scheme members have specific, personal queries, they should approach their local authority’s pension manager.

In the six months (until 28 September 2007) that this forum will be active, officials will answer questions on aspects of the LGPS (Benefit) Regulations where appropriate. Although included in the FAQ section of the LGPS website, such queries may include:

What is contained in the Regulations?
What happens next?
Who can I talk to about my pension?

We hope that you enjoy participating in this forum and look forward to reading your comments.

previous discussion

This fourm has moved

Posted by Admin on 29/08/2007 - 09:29

Dear Participant,

This discussion forum has now moved to our new ‘Have your say’ area.

Thanks for all your contributions so far. Please keep them coming!

We apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to hearing from you on our new website.

Best wishes

Admin Team
Communities and Local Government

We're moving ...

Posted by Charlotte Hine-... on 23/08/2007 - 20:44

Thank you to all of you who continue to contribute to the LGPS discussion forum. As the Admin Team’s post below says, the forum is set to be revamped and we’ll have a new-look discussion board.

Those recently-posted questions that haven’t yet been answered will form the basis of the first threads in the new forum. In the meantime, please bear with us whilst we make the necessary changes. It is unlikely that your new posts will be approved until mid-September due to the holiday period but the all questions will be saved and approved as soon as possible after this.

Many thanks, and we look forward to seeing you on the new discussion pages!

Charlotte and the LGPS Team

LGPS

Posted by gwm on 22/08/2007 - 10:03

Will any worked examples be provided showing how individuals pensions/gratuities compare before and after the introduction of new scheme.
The latest information I have differs from that given to me via Hampshire County Council and the Association of Colleges, each time the scheme seems to get progressively less attractive!!

Part-time staff to contribute at FTE rate

Posted by rozabbit on 20/08/2007 - 14:00

Why, under the new scheme, should part-time staff have to pay the FTE rate?
Many part-time staff will be carers of someone at one end of the age spectrum or the other, they will not receive FTE recognition but years of service are halved
e.g. 25 years part-time equals 12.5 years FTE at the end of employment.
Many will not have been able to pay into the scheme as part-time employees under previous rules!

Topic space changing

Posted by Admin on 20/08/2007 - 10:56

Updated 24/08/07

Dear Participants,

This discussion forum will close very briefly on Tuesday 28 August 2007 and relaunch as part of our new website on Wednesday 29 August 2007. All current discussions will continue on the new ‘Have your say’ area of our relaunched website, with the discussion history to date available as a PDF download.

Archived discussions will also be moved to the new site.

You will receive an email with your new username and password and the URL to login.

We apologise for any inconvenience and look forward to hearing from you on our new website.

Best wishes

Admin Team
Communities and Local Government

payment of pension at age 50

Posted by ghudson on 13/08/2007 - 10:12

Is it correct that anyone who reaches the age of 50 before 31st March 2010(with enough service)can have thier pension paid in full if made redundant?. Is it also correct that from 1st april 2010 these people will have this elibility withdrawn and not protected?.

Certificates of Protection

Posted by mikew1 on 08/08/2007 - 13:28

What are the Transitional arrangements for existing scheme members who have certificates of protection where pensionable pay has been reduced as a result of factors beyond their control?

Mike W

AVC Accrued benefits

Posted by Nick on 06/08/2007 - 13:10

It has been stated (in bold) by the moderator that "All benefits accrued in the existing scheme before 1 April 2008 will be protected". Does this include the right of AVC contributors who started their contracts prior to 13 November 2001 to convert their funds into scheme membership when they retire or reach the age of 50 in the future, even if this is after 1 April 2008?

Reply to July 2007 Posts

Posted by Charlotte Hine-... on 02/08/2007 - 15:49

Derickherd, 02.07.07 and 31.07.07 raises the issue of ill-health retirement provisions in the both the current and future LGPS. The pre- and post-1 April 2008 ill-health retirement provisions are markedly different. In the existing scheme, ill-health retirees must have a minimum of 5 years’ membership of the LGPS. Their benefits are then enhanced up to a maximum equivalent of 20 years’ service. In the new scheme, the qualifying period is 2 years’ membership, in either or both schemes. Ill-health retirees’ pensions will be enhanced to make sure that their benefits are the same as if they had retired at 65.

Benefits are calculated as any pension would normally be calculated for members that have membership of both schemes, i.e. all benefits accrued up to and including 31 March 2008 will be fully protected, including the lump-sum and added to benefits accrued after this date on the new rates. Both figures will be caluculated in relation to your pay at the time of retirement.

New Look LGPS - DCLG Responses

Posted by Anon on 31/07/2007 - 19:11

Unusually for me, I find myself in a position of making a complaint due to an apparent lack of a DCLG response to my question dated 2nd July 2007 in relation to Ill Health Retirement. I have tried very carefully to keep the question general rather than personal but is any member of DCLG actually dealing with the consultation questions posted on the website at the current time?

Unfortunately, having found myself in a postion with a terminal illness, I have tried the general (DCLG) route without response and have also tried the local pensions Manager in more specific terms (6 Weeks without a response). Can any DCLG official please advise how a member in my position can get a timely response from anyone at all?

Sorry to use cliche speak but is there anyone out there?? Timing of responses and their impact on some very key decisions are important to some members of this scheme who have not volunteered for the LGPS changes but have to deal with them anyway.

Clarity of some of these issues is vital and with the greatest of respect, the current response times are absolutely awful.