Councillors
The Government has extended membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme to councillors and mayors (referred to as ‘elected members’) in England. This change gives access to the following elected members under age 75:
- All mayors and deputy mayors in England
- All councillors at principal councils in England
- All London Assembly members
Please note: Town and Parish councillors will remain ineligible for admittance to the LGPS.
The updated regulations come into force on 11 May 2026, aligning with the first Monday following the local elections.
You can find out more about the key features of the LGPS for councillors and mayors in this section and by visiting the LGPS website.
How do I join the LGPS?
If you are an eligible elected member and decide to join the LGPS, you will need to complete the Opt-in form and return it to your Council. Once the form is received, you will become a member of the LGPS from the beginning on the first day of the next pay period following the application. Please check your payslips to make sure the correct contributions are being taken. We will set up your pension record and write to confirm that you are a member of the Scheme.
If you receive an allowance or salary from more than one authority and want pension benefits from each role, you must complete a separate Opt-in form for each authority.
What do I pay?
As an elected member, you pay a percentage of your pensionable pay into the LGPS. Your contribution rate is based on how much you are paid. It’s currently between 5.5% and 12.5%. You can find out how much the Scheme costs using the contributions calculator.
You will receive tax relief on the contributions that you pay – these are deducted from your allowances before you pay tax. You can find out more information about pensionable pay on the LGPS website. The Council then pays the balance of the cost of providing your pension scheme benefits.
How are the benefits worked out?
1/49th of your pensionable pay is put into your pension account every year. The balance in your pension account is adjusted in line with the cost of living every April. When you retire, the balance in your pension account is the annual pension payable for life.
If you wish, you can give up part of your annual pension to get a lump sum when you take your benefits. You can take up to 25% of the value of your pension benefits as a lump sum. For every £1 of annual pension you give up, you will receive £12 as a lump sum. The lump sum is usually paid tax-free but there is a lifetime limit of £268,275 across all your UK pensions.
Can I pay more?
As an elected member, you can buy additional pension and buy back lost pension by paying additional pension contributions (APCs). However, the Scheme employer (Council) cannot share the cost, unless the arrangement is a qualifying additional pension arrangement (QAPA).
Alternatively, you can pay AVCs. However, you can only enter into a shared cost additional voluntary contribution arrangement (SCAVC) where it is a salary sacrifice SCAVC.
Can I transfer into the LGPS?
You can transfer into the LGPS from another public service pension scheme. However, any transfer-in of final salary benefits will not entitle you to final salary benefits in the LGPS, these will be converted into career average (CARE) benefits. You will generally have 12 months from joining the LGPS to opt to transfer your previous pension.
You cannot combine your membership as an elected member with membership as a non-elected member by choice. However, you can combine your previous councillor or elected membership of the LGPS with your new elected membership.
What happens if I leave before retiring?
If you leave the LGPS before you retire and have at least two years’ membership, your pension benefits will be deferred. This means they’ll be held for you until you are ready to retire,
If you leave with less than two years’ membership you may be able to claim a return of your contributions, less tax.
I am thinking about retiring, what do I need to do?
You can apply to retire and take your pension from as early as age 55 (this will increase to 57 from April 2028). However, a reduction will be applied if you take your pension before normal pension age. In cases of ill-health, there is no age limit. For more information on the retirement process, visit our Retirement page.
Please note: Elected members cannot take flexible retirement nor apply to retire by reason of redundancy or business efficiency.
This reflects the current legislation for councillors and mayors in the LGPS. We will provide updates and more information as and when it becomes available.
