Joining, Leaving and Benefits

A Simple Guide to the Local Government Pension Scheme  | 'Into Retirement' - a guide for those about to retire

Leaving Options

 

Actual service

Summary of options on leaving the Scheme

Under 3 months without any Transferred Service

3 or more months or any Transferred Service

Refund

YES

NO

Transfer

YES

YES

Preserved Benefits

NO

YES

However, if you joined the LGPS before 1 April 2004, leave before the 1 April 2006 and at the date of your leaving you have more than 3 months but less than 2 years membership you can elect for:

(i) preserved benefits (which can be transferred out), or 

(ii) a refund of your contributions in lieu of the preserved benefits,

Full details of the above options will be sent to you by the Avon Pension Fund.

If you have less than three months' Actual Service,  you can instead choose to leave your contributions in the LGPS in  order to take a transfer to another pension scheme at a future date.

If you do not ask the Pension Department to hold your contributions, a refund will be made automatically one year after you leave the Scheme.

If you opt out of the LGPS while remaining in employment with a Scheme employer, you will be entitled to the same range of options described in this section, apart from certain restrictions on transfers.

A period of notice applies if you want to opt out. The effective date would normally be the end of the pay period following receipt of notification