Introduction

This guide provides information about the LGPS for councillors and mayors in England who are eligible to join the Scheme from 11 May 2026.

This guide does not cover LGPS benefits built up:

  • as an employee
  • as a councillor in Wales
  • as a councillor or elected mayor in England, the Mayor of London or as a member of the London Assembly for a term of office that began on or before 1 April 2014.

Separate guides are available for these benefits.

Pension terms

An explanation of pension terms throughout this publication can be referenced at A to Z of pension terms.

Further information and disclaimer

This guide is for councillors and mayors in England and reflects the provisions of the LGPS and overriding legislation as at May 2026.

The national website for members of the LGPS is www.lgpsmember.org Much of the information on the website is written for employees in England and Wales. The LGPS rules apply differently in some areas for councillors and mayors in England. For more information, see https://www.lgpsmember.org/home/councillors-and-mayors-in-england.

This guide cannot cover every personal circumstance for councillors and mayors in England. For example, it does not cover: rights that apply to those whose benefits are subject to a pension sharing order following divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership members whose pension benefits increase in any tax year by more than the standard annual allowance or the tapered annual allowance.

You can find out basic information about the annual allowance in the tax section of the LGPS member website.

In the event of any dispute over your pension benefits, the appropriate legislation will prevail. This short guide does not confer any contractual or statutory rights and is provided for information purposes only.