You have LGPS benefits in your own right if you have been awarded a share of your ex-spouse or ex-civil partner's pension rights following a pension sharing order. You are known as a 'Pension credit member'.
Your benefits are held in the Fund until they become payable. They increase with the cost of living whilst they are held. You are provided with an annual pension payable from your normal pension age for the rest of your life. It increases with the cost of living.
If you were awarded your pension share before 1 April 2014, your benefits are payable in full at age 65. You can opt to receive your benefits from age 55 but with a reduction for being paid earlier. You are not permitted to convert your annual pension to provide a lump sum.
If you were awarded your pension share after 1 April 2014 and your ex-spouse or ex-civil partner has membership before 1 April 2014 only, your benefits are payable in full at age 65. You can opt to receive your benefits from age 55 but with a reduction for being paid earlier. You are not permitted to convert your annual pension to provide a lump sum.
If you were awarded your pension share after 1 April 2014 and your ex-spouse or ex-civil partner has membership after 1 April 2014, your benefits are payable in full at your State Pension age (SPa), but is at least age 65. You can opt to receive your benefits from age 55 but with a reduction for being paid earlier. You can opt to delay payment up to age 75 with an increase for being paid later. You may be permitted to convert some of your annual pension to provide a lump sum depending on the legislation in place.
Informing you about the value of your benefits
Details of the value of your benefits are provided at the time of divorce or dissolution. You receive a statement each year from us showing their current value.
Death before benefits are paid
If you die before your benefits become payable, a lump sum death grant of 3 times your annual pension is payable. As the administering authority, we have absolute discretion over who receives any lump sum death grant but it is helpful if you let us know your wishes. Complete the expression of wish for payment of death grant form
Transferring benefits
You may be able to transfer the value of your pension credit to another qualifying pension scheme or arrangement, excluding other LGPS funds, at any time up to 1 year before your normal pension age.
LGPS benefits in your own right
If you are paying, or have paid, into the LGPS in your own right, you are not able to aggregate your pension credit with your own LGPS pension.
Already in receipt of your pension credit
If you are already in receipt of your pension credit benefits, find information about a pensioner member receiving a pension