What about any non-LGPS pension rights I
have?
If you have paid into another non-LGPS pension
arrangement or to the LGPS in Scotland or Northern
Ireland, you may be able to transfer your previous
pension rights into the LGPS (provided you are not
already drawing them as a pension). You only have 12
months from joining the LGPS to opt to transfer your
previous pension rights, unless your employer and
pension fund allows you longer.
What if I’m already receiving an LGPS
pension - will it be affected?
If you are already drawing a pension from the scheme,
some or all of which you built up before 1 st April 2014,
and you are re-employed in local government or by
an employer who offers membership of the LGPS you
must tell the LGPS fund that pays your pension about
your new position, regardless of whether you join the
scheme in your new position or not. They will let you
know whether your pension in payment is affected in
any way.
If you are drawing a pension from the scheme, all of
which you built up after 31 st March 2014, and you are
re-employed in local government or by an employer
who offers membership of the LGPS you do not need
to inform the LGPS fund that pays your pension as
there is no effect on your pension in payment. The
only exception to this is if you are in receipt of an
LGPS ill-health pension of the type that is stopped
if you are in any gainful employment, in which case
you must inform the employer who awarded you
that pension and they will let you know whether your
pension in payment should be stopped.
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SouthYorkshirePensionsAuthority
Contribution Flexibility
Flexibility to pay less
When you join the scheme you will be placed in the main section of the scheme.
However, once you are a member of the scheme you will be able to elect in
writing, at any time, to move to the 50/50 section if you wish.
The 50/50 section gives you the ability to pay half your normal contributions.
This flexibility may be useful during times of financial hardship as it allows you to
remain in the scheme, building up valuable pension benefits, as an alternative to
opting out of the scheme.
A 50/50 option form is available from your employer. If you have more than one
job in which you contribute to the scheme you would need to specify in which of
the jobs you wish to be moved to the 50/50 section.
If you elect for 50/50 you would be moved to that section from the next available
pay period. You would then start paying half your normal contributions and build
up half your normal pension during the time you are in that section. When you
make an election for the 50/50 section your employer must provide you with
information on the effect this will have on your benefits in the scheme.
If you were to die in service whilst in the 50/50 section of the scheme the lump
sum death grant and any survivor pensions would be worked out as if you were
in the main section of the scheme. If you are awarded an ill-health pension which
includes an amount of enhanced pension, the amount of enhanced pension
added to your pension account is worked out as if you were in the main section of
the scheme.
The 50/50 section is designed to be a short-term option for when times are tough
financially. Because of this your employer is required to re-enrol you back into
the main section of the scheme approximately three years from the date they first
have to comply with the automatic enrolment provisions of the Pensions Act 2008
(and approximately every three years thereafter). If you wished to continue in the
50/50 section at that point you would need to make another election to remain in
the 50/50 section.
There is no limit to the number of times you can elect to move between the main
and the 50/50 section, and vice versa.
SouthYorkshirePensionsAuthority
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