We provide an Annual Benefit Statement (ABS) at the end of August. It provides a personalised illustration of your benefits in the LGPS. Read FAQs about your ABS or watch a video about your ABS.
From August 2024, your ABS is available to view on MyPension Online only. Create an account or log in to MyPension Online You can view your ABS figures and use the online projectors. Find your ABS document in the 'Documents and uploads' box on your dashboard.
You can request to receive a paper copy of your ABS. Complete the opt out of digital communication form
Change of home address and email
It is important that you tell us when you change your home address or email address. Create an account or log in to MyPension Online to edit your address yourself. Alternatively you can tell us to update your pension account - complete the online change of home address and email form
Please ensure that you tell your employer your new address. They provide data to us electronically. If they hold your old address, it will overwrite on your pension account.
Information in your ABS
Your ABS includes information about:
- The value of your pension benefits at the previous 31 March. It includes how your pension is revalued in line with the cost of living. Find out about the revaluation of pension from 1 April 2014
- A projection of your pension benefits to your normal pension age.
- The death grant lump sum payable should you die in service. You can nominate someone to receive this. Create an account or log in to MyPension Online to view or edit your nominations yourself. Alternatively you can let us know to update your pension account - complete the online expression of wish for payment of death grant form
- Your CARE pensionable pay at the previous 31 March. This is provided by your employer. It is used to calculate your pension for that scheme year. You should check this is correct and contact your employer if you have a query.
- Your final salary pensionable pay at the previous 31 March. This is provided by your employer. It is used to calculate your pension up to 31 March 2014. You should check this is correct and contact your employer if you have a query. Create an account or log in to MyPension Online to view your pensionable membership, which is used to calculate your pension up to 31 March 2014.
- Details of where to find the Kent Pension Fund report and accounts. Read the report and accounts
- The Annual Allowance. Most pension savings will not exceed the annual allowance. Find out about the Annual Allowance
- The Lump Sum Allowance. Most member’s lump sums will be less than the lump sum allowance. Find out about the Lump Sum Allowances
State Pension information
Your ABS will not include information about your State Pension. Visit the GOV.UK website for information about your State Pension
Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC’s) information
Your ABS will not include information about AVCs. Your AVC provider sends a separate illustration.
Converting annual pension to lump sum
You can convert some of your pension to a lump sum. Find out about converting pension to lump sum
More than one job
We send an ABS for each job you pay into the scheme. You have a separate pension account for each job. If you leave one of the jobs, your pension accounts may be aggregated. We will write to you to let you know. Find out about aggregating pension accounts
Casual and zero hour contracts
If you are a casual or zero hour contracted employee, we send an ABS to you even if you have not worked in the last financial year.
If you did not work, some of the figures on your ABS will show as zero. Some figures will show when you previously built up pension. As long as you remain employed on your casual or zero hours contract and do not opt out of the scheme, you continue to be a member of the LGPS with the benefits that apply.
Over 55 and thinking of taking your pension
It is important to note that your ABS is for illustration purposes only. It is based on the information we hold on your record up to the previous 31 March.
If you are within 6 months of your anticipated retirement date and you are over age 55, you should ask your employer to request an estimate for you. Your employer must request this as they send us your up to date pay figures. An estimate provides details of the options available to you. It tells you the reductions to your pension if you are retiring before your normal pension age. Find out about reductions to your pension if you retire early at your request
We provide a free pre retirement course to scheme members who have contributed to the LGPS and are within 10 years of retirement. Find out about the free pre retirement course
Survivor’s pension
A survivor’s pension is automatically payable to a spouse or civil partner.
A survivor pension is payable to your cohabiting partner if they meet certain qualifying conditions. On your death, we ask your eligible cohabiting partner to provide 2 documents from 2 years before, and within 3 months of your death. This is required as proof that your relationship met the conditions. Documents of proof include:
- utility bills
- bank account statements
- mortgage, lease or tenancy agreements.
Find out about death in service
Help with your ABS
If you have a query, please refer to the explanatory notes on your ABS. If you still do not find your answer, complete the online ABS enquiry form
McCloud judgement and your ABS
When the LGPS changed from a final salary to a career average pension scheme in 2014, protections for older scheme members were introduced.
Similar protections were provided in other public sector pension schemes. The Court of Appeal ruled that younger members of the Judges’ and Firefighters’ Pension schemes have been discriminated against because the protections do not apply to them. The government confirmed that there will be changes to all main public sector schemes, including the LGPS, to remove this age discrimination. This ruling is often called the ‘McCloud judgment’.
Any impact of the McCloud judgment will not be reflected in your 2024 Annual Benefit Statement, but will be included in future Annual Benefit Statements where applicable. If you qualify for protection it will apply automatically - you do not need to make a claim.
The Local Government Association (LGA) have produced information about the McCloud remedy for members. It includes key dates, FAQs, and an online tool to find out if you are affected. Find out about the McCloud remedy in the LGPS for members
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) (now called Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) have produced a factsheet summarising the McCloud judgement and the changes the government are making to the LGPS. Read the factsheet about the McCloud judgement and your LGPS pension