Sector guidance

Local Government Pension Guidance

Clear pension guidance for local government professionals, helping you understand the LGPS and your options.

Your sector

Understanding your local government pension

The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a career average defined benefit scheme that builds your pension based on your earnings throughout your career. Understanding how the scheme works, what benefits you have accrued, and what options are available requires clarity about the rules and your service history.

The LGPS has specific features around early and late retirement, transfers, and how benefits are calculated. If you have worked in local government across different periods or moved between local authorities, understanding how your pension has built up is important for accurate planning.

Local government employees often have questions about how career changes, part-time work, or breaks in service affect their pension. Having a clear understanding of these areas helps you make better decisions about your career and retirement.

Our approach

How we support you

Understanding your position

We help you understand how your LGPS pension works, how your benefits have been building, and what your current position means for your retirement planning.

Exploring your options

We explain the retirement options available to you, including age considerations, benefit calculations, and any decisions that may be relevant to your circumstances or career stage.

Ongoing support

We provide ongoing guidance as your career progresses, helping you stay informed about your pension as your situation or the scheme rules change.

Key areas

Key things to consider

Understanding how the LGPS career average system works and how your pension is calculated

Knowing your retirement age options and the implications of early or late retirement

Understanding how career moves between local authorities or breaks in service affect your pension

Reviewing your contribution rate options and what they mean for your pension

Planning for retirement and understanding what income your LGPS pension will provide

What you gain

What you gain from guidance

A clear understanding of how your LGPS pension works and what you have built up

Confidence in the retirement decisions you are considering and their long-term impact

Clarity about how your career choices affect your pension over time

Ongoing access to guidance as your circumstances or the LGPS rules evolve

Important guidance notice

No part of your Membership is intended to or will provide regulated financial advice, financial planning, investment advice, pension transfer advice, tax advice, legal advice or personal financial recommendations. You remain responsible for your own decisions and for conducting your own due diligence. We recommend you seek advice where required from a suitably qualified and authorised professional.

Membership Content is provided for general educational and guidance purposes only and should not be treated as financial, legal or tax advice, or as a personal recommendation to take or avoid any particular action. You must always check your relevant scheme information and seek professional advice where required before making important decisions.