FAQs for Active Members

Your reference number is your National Insurance number.

If you have been in the Scheme for less than two years, you have not met the ‘vesting period’ and will be entitled to a refund of contributions. Once we have received the relevant documents from your employer, we will write to you regarding how to claim this.

If you have opted out of the pension scheme within 3 months of joining, your contributions will be refunded by your employer through payroll. 

The LGPS is a ‘defined benefit’ pension scheme. In a ‘Defined Benefit’ pension scheme your pension builds up, not based on how much you or your employer pays in - but instead uses a formula where a proportion of your pay each year, is added to your pension account.

As a Scheme member, your pension contributions are deducted from your pay each month. However, your employer meets the rest of the cost of providing your pension. The long-term funding aim of the Scheme is for members to pay one-third of the cost, with employers paying the other two-thirds.

You can find more information about how your pension is worked out here

There is also a helpful video here

The LGPS is a defined benefit pension scheme which means your pension is based on your salary and how long you pay into the Scheme. The LGPS provides you with a secure and guaranteed income every year when you stop working. Your pension is not affected by how well investments perform.

Your pension is worked out every year and added to your pension account. Each year, 1/49th of your pensionable pay is put into your pension account. At the end of the year the total amount of pension in your account is adjusted in line with changes in the cost of living. The current value of your pension benefits will be an annual pension amount payable from your Normal Retirement Date rather than a ‘pot value’.

If you require a value of your pension benefits for divorce purposes, please complete a request here

If you require a value of your pension benefits for transferring to another pension scheme, please visit here

Registered users can view their most recent Annual Benefit Statement in their secure 'MyPension' online account here

If you have not already registered for 'MyPension', you can do so here

The Fund no longer posts Annual Benefit Statements unless requested in writing, please write to us to request this.

Members who are actively contributing to the Pension Scheme should request their pension estimate from their employer in the first instance.

If your employer has the facility, they will run the estimate in-house using the Fund’s software and provide you with your expected figures directly.

If your employer does not have this facility, or if you pay Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs), they will complete an Estimate Request form confirming specific payroll data and send it to us. We will then prepare your estimate and send it to your home address.

Registered users can view the 'Pension Projector' in their secure 'MyPension' online account here

Once you have successfully logged in to your MyPension account, click on the Pension Benefits Area of your ‘MyPension’ dashboard, then click on ‘Benefit Projectors’, and finally ‘Pension Projector’.

The system will then calculate the value of your pension. However. the Leaving Date shown will be the day before you reach state pension age.

If you want to know the pension amounts payable if you wish to take them BEFORE your state pension age, you can then change the date in the ‘Leaving Date’ box and click the ‘Calculate’ box; the system will then recalculate to the date you’ve input.

You will then be able to use the 'slider' to choose the amount of tax-free cash you would like.

If you are considering retiring in the current financial year ending 31 March, you should request a Pension Estimate from your employer.

If you were a member of the LGPS at any time between 1 April 1998 and 30 September 2006, you may be protected under the 85-year rule.

You satisfy the 85-year rule when your age and length of LGPS membership add up to 85. Your age and Scheme membership are both measured in full years for this purpose. If you work part time, your membership counts towards the 85-year rule at its full calendar length.

You can read more information about the 85-year rule here

Once you receive your estimate; if you decide to retire, you will simply need to hand in your notice to your employer. Your employer will provide you a Retirement Claim form (LGP1b).

Please complete this form alongside any certificates requested (such as a photocopy of your birth certificate or passport) and provide this to Merseyside Pension Fund.

Once we receive both your Retirement Claim form and a leaver form from your employer (confirming your final payroll details and your terms of leaving) we will then be in a position to calculate and pay your pension benefits.

Yes, however conditions apply. If you continue working for your employer, you can only access your pension with your employer’s consent through the Flexible Retirement process and must be aged 55 or over.

Please note that Flexible Retirement is entirely at your employer’s discretion and there is no statutory right to access your pension under Flexible Retirement.

You can read more information about Flexible Retirement here

Yes, pay protections exist if you meet the criteria below – otherwise your final 12 months of pay will be used:

• Best of the last three years rule: The LGPS regulations allow the use of one of the previous two years' pay if it is higher than your final year's pay. Contact your employer if you believe this applies to you.
• Best three consecutive years average protection: If your pensionable pay was reduced (or pay increases restricted) within 10 years of leaving employment or retiring, you might be able to have your final pay calculated as the average of any three consecutive years’ pay ending on 31 March within the last 13 years.

Please contact your employer if you believe this applies to you.

No, the LGPS is a Defined Benefit pension scheme which has less flexibility than a Defined Contribution pension scheme.

You normally receive an annual pension alongside any lump sum you elect to receive.

Your employer will decide if your benefits can be paid early on grounds of ill heath.

To qualify for ill health retirement you would need to be first medically assessed by an independent registered medical practitioner. Your employer will be able to set this process up for you.

If you are granted ill health retirement your employer will notify the Pension Fund.

You can read more information about ill health retirement here

The LGPS provides valuable life cover and financial protection for your family. Your dependents will be paid a pension. A lump sum death grant may also be payable.

You can read more information about death benefits here