When you first join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), you have 12 months to elect to transfer previous pension rights in with your current membership. This can be pension rights held in other LGPS funds, private company pension schemes, personal pension schemes, stakeholder or AVC schemes. In certain cases your employer may allow a transfer after the 12 month deadline.

Combining Previous LGPS Pension Rights With Current Membership

However, the LGPS (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2010 now allow members, who elect before 1 October 2011, the chance to transfer in any LGPS pension rights currently held separately.

• Do you have deferred pension rights held in the Local Government Pension Scheme (either the Avon Pension Fund or another LGPS fund)?
• Are you an active member of the Avon Pension Fund?
• Is it more than 12 months since you joined the Avon Pension Fund?

If the answer to all of these questions is yes, then any deferred benefits held within an LGPS fund may be transferred in alongside your current period of membership with the Avon Pension Fund, and be calculated on your final pay when you leave or retire. Please note that this only applies to previous pension rights held in the LGPS, and not any other type of pension scheme.

This option is only available until 30th September 2011, you will not be allowed to transfer in at a later date (unless you leave and join the LGPS again in future employment with an organisation which has the LGPS as its occupational pension scheme).

There are a number of factors you need to consider if you are thinking of transferring in previous LGPS pension rights. For example, if the pay in your new job is unlikely to exceed the final pay in your old job plus inflation when you leave or retire, you may decide it is in your best interests to keep your benefits separate. Transferring in may also affect the earliest date these benefits are payable without reduction.

Further points to consider before deciding to combine benefits can be found on our website, or if you do not have access to the internet you can contact us. The Avon Pension Fund cannot offer advice on whether or not you should transfer, therefore you may wish to seek Independent Financial Advice before making a decision.

If you would like to investigate combining previous LGPS pension rights with your current pension benefits, please complete the Transfer Enquiry Authorisation Form on the bottom of this page. No transfer will be made until you have received the relevant details and then given authorisation to proceed.

LGPS 01B - Transfer Enquiry Authorisation - Option to Transfer in previous LGPS Rights Before 1st October 2011