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Eligibility for Admission to the Scheme

General

An employee is only eligible to join the pension scheme if they have a contract of employment which lasts at least three months.

An employee with a contract of less than three months who subsequently has their contract extended so that in total his employment contract is for at least three months, is entitled to join the pension scheme from the date that the contract is extended. Only if the employee is employed by body listed in Schedule Two, Part One of the 2008 Regulations does he have the option to backdate his contributions to the start of the first contract. Such a request must be made within three months of becoming eligible to join the scheme (or such longer period as their employer may allow).

Normally, any employee is eligible to join the Scheme, unless specifically excluded as described in the section Excluded Employees below. The Regulations adopt a "fit for work, fit to join the Scheme" approach and there is no provision for medicals to be requested.

Generally, all employees of Scheme Employers automatically become members of the Scheme. However, a small number of employing bodies, formally known as "Resolution Bodies", can designate which employees are allowed access to the LGPS. All such employees must automatically become members of the Scheme, although they may opt-out.

Admission bodies will have included in their admission agreements the groups of employees who will be offered membership of the Scheme. Such qualifying members must elect to join the Scheme and are not to be automatically enrolled. This election is covered by their completion of the scheme joiner form.

Excluded Employees

Generally, if a person's employment entitles him to belong to another public service pension scheme, or would so entitle him were it not for his age, that employment does not entitle him to be a member.

A person may not become a member after the day before his 75th birthday.

Opting Out

Employees may opt-out of the scheme, and if they do so within the first three months of employment they are treated as if they had never been in the Scheme and you should refund their contributions to them (see paragraph 6.4 regarding opting-out after three months).

The 1997 Pension Scheme Regulations stated that a person who has opted-out more than once may only rejoin the Scheme again if his employer or future employer consents. However, with effect from 1st April 2008 members are allowed to opt-out and then rejoin whenever they wish (all such requests must be made in writing). Any previous policies on the subject of allowing a member to rejoin the Scheme must be deleted.

Employees With More Than One Contract Of Employment

Where a person holds separate employments under one Scheme employer, the Regulations apply as if each employment is with a different employer. Each employment in respect of which an employee is an active member must therefore be treated separately for all scheme and administrative purposes.

Continuing Eligibility

An employee who has joined the Scheme will remain a member whilst in your employment unless he chooses to opt-out of it.

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