Vesting Period

The vesting period is the length of time that you must be an active member of the LGPS to qualify for benefits in the Scheme. The vesting period in the LGPS is two years. You can meet the vesting period with less than two years’ membership in certain circumstances.

You will meet the two year vesting period if you:

• have been a member of the LGPS in England and Wales for two years
• transferred a pension into the LGPS from a different occupational pension scheme or from a European pensions institution and the length of service you had in that scheme plus your period of LGPS membership is more than two years
• have transferred pension rights into the LGPS from a pension scheme or arrangement in which you were not allowed to have a refund of contributions
• have previously transferred pension rights out of the LGPS to a pension scheme abroad – to a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme
• already hold a deferred benefit or you are receiving a pension from the LGPS in England and Wales, other than a survivor’s pension or a pension credit member’s pension
• paid National Insurance contributions as a member of the LGPS and you stop paying into the LGPS in the tax year that you attain State Pension age
• stop paying into the LGPS at age 75
• die in service.