Your contribution rate depends on how much you are paid but it’s currently between 5.5% and 12.5% of your pensionable pay. If you elect for the 50/50 section of the Scheme, you would pay half the rates listed below.
The rate you pay depends on which pay band you fall into. When you join, and every April afterwards, your employer will decide your contribution rate. If your pay changes throughout the year and takes you into a different pay band, your employer may decide to review your contribution rate.
Here are the pay bands and contribution rates that apply from 1 April 2024.
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £17,600 | 5.5% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £17,601 to £27,600 | 5.8% | 2.9% |
| 3 | £27,601 to £44,900 | 6.5% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £44,901 to £56,800 | 6.8% | 3.4% |
| 5 | £56,801 to £79,700 | 8.5% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £79,701 to £112,900 | 9.9% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £112,901 to £133,100 | 10.5% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £133,101 to £199,700 | 11.4% | 5.7% |
| 9 | £199,701 or more | 12.5% | 6.25% |
The contribution rates and pay bands will be reviewed periodically and may change in the future.
You can use the LGPS Contributions Calculator to work out the percentage you will pay and the cost to you each pay period, before and after tax relief. You can also show the cost if you were to move to the 50/50 section of the LGPS.
Your employer currently pays the balance of the cost of providing your benefits in the LGPS. Every three years an independent review is undertaken to calculate how much your employer should contribute to the Scheme.
Yes, there is an option known as 50/50. In the 50/50 section you pay half the normal contributions and build up half the normal pension during the time you pay reduced contributions. See the section on paying less.
As a member of the LGPS, if you earn enough to pay tax, your contributions will attract tax relief when deducted from your pensionable pay. There are restrictions on the amount of tax relief available on pension contributions.
If the value of your pension savings increases in any one year by more than the standard annual allowance of £60,000 (increased from £40,000, on 6 April 2023), you may have to pay a tax charge. Most people will not be affected by the annual allowance. Find out more about the tax rules which could affect your pension.
Pay bands and contribution rates that applied from April 2023.
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £16,500 | 5.5% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £16,501 to £25,900 | 5.8% | 2.9% |
| 3 | £25,901 to £42,100 | 6.5% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £42,101 to £53,300 | 6.8% | 3.4% |
| 5 | £53,301 to £74,700 | 8.5% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £74,701 to £105,900 | 9.9% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £105,901 to £124,800 | 10.5% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £124,801 to £187,200 | 11.4% | 5.7% |
| 9 | £187,201 or more | 12.5% | 6.25% |
Pay bands and contribution rates that applied from 1 April 2022.
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £15,000 | 5.5% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £15,001 to £23,600 | 5.8% | 2.9% |
| 3 | £23,601 to £38,300 | 6.5% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £38,301 to £48,500 | 6.8% | 3.4% |
| 5 | £48,501 to £67,900 | 8.5% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £67,901 to £96,200 | 9.9% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £96,201 to £113,400 | 10.5% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £113,401 to £170,100 | 11.4% | 5.7% |
| 9 | £170,101 or more | 12.5% | 6.25% |
Pay bands and contribution rates that applied from 1 April 2021.
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £14,600 | 5.5% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £14,601 to £22,900 | 5.8% | 2.9% |
| 3 | £22,901 to £37,200 | 6.5% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £37,201 to £47,100 | 6.8% | 3.4% |
| 5 | £47,101 to £65,900 | 8.5% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £65,901 to £93,400 | 9.9% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £93,401 to £110,000 | 10.5% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £110,001 to £165,000 | 11.4% | 5.7% |
| 9 | £165,001 or more | 12.5% | 6.25% |
Pay bands and contribution rates that applied from 1 April 2020.
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £14,600 | 5.5% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £14,601 to £22,800 | 5.8% | 2.9% |
| 3 | £22,801 to £37,100 | 6.5% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £37,101 to £46,900 | 6.8% | 3.4% |
| 5 | £46,901 to £65,600 | 8.5% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £65,601 to £93,000 | 9.9% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £93,001 to £109,500 | 10.5% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £109,501 to £164,200 | 11.4% | 5.7% |
| 9 | £164,201 or more | 12.5% | 6.25% |
Pay bands and contribution rates that applied from 1 April 2019.
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £14,400 | 5.5% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £14,401 to £22,500 | 5.8% | 2.9% |
| 3 | £22,501 to £36,500 | 6.5% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £36,501 to £46,200 | 6.8% | 3.4% |
| 5 | £46,201 to £64,600 | 8.5% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £64,601 to £91,500 | 9.9% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £91,501 to £107,700 | 10.5% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £107,701 to £161,500 | 11.4% | 5.7% |
| 9 | £161,501 or more | 12.5% | 6.25% |
Pay bands and contribution rates that applied from April 2018.
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £14,100 | 5.5% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £14,101 to £22,000 | 5.8% | 2.9% |
| 3 | £22,001 to £35,700 | 6.5% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £35,701 to £45,200 | 6.8% | 3.4% |
| 5 | £45,201 to £63,100 | 8.5% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £63,101 to £89,400 | 9.9% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £89,401 to £105,200 | 10.5% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £105,201 to £157,800 | 11.4% | 5.7% |
| 9 | £157,801 or more | 12.5% | 6.25% |
Pay bands and contribution rates that applied from April 2017.
| Band | Actual pensionable pay for an employment | Main section contribution rate for that employment | 50/50 section contribution rate for that employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to £13,700 | 5.5% | 2.75% |
| 2 | £13,701 to £21,400 | 5.8% | 2.9% |
| 3 | £21,401 to £34,700 | 6.5% | 3.25% |
| 4 | £34,701 to £43,900 | 6.8% | 3.4% |
| 5 | £43,901 to £61,300 | 8.5% | 4.25% |
| 6 | £61,301 to £86,800 | 9.9% | 4.95% |
| 7 | £86,801 to £102,200 | 10.5% | 5.25% |
| 8 | £102,201 to £153,300 | 11.4% | 5.7% |
| 9 | £153,301 or more | 12.5% | 6.25% |