Join or re-join the LGPS

To be able to join the LGPS, you need to be under the age of 75 and work for an employer that offers membership of the Scheme.

If you are eligible, you will automatically join the Scheme on the date your employment begins, unless your contract for employment is for less than three months.

If your contract is for less than three months, you can elect to join the Scheme by completing an opt in form. If you don’t elect to join, you may automatically join if:

• your employer extends your contract so that it is for three months or more. You will join the Scheme from the next pay period after your employer extends your contract
• your employer must enrol you into the Scheme under automatic enrolment provisions, for example if you are an eligible job holder (over the age of 22, under State Pension Age and earning more than £10,000 a year)

If you’re not sure whether you are a member of the Scheme, you can also check your payslips to see if LGPS contributions are being deducted.

The amount you pay to be a member of the Scheme will depend on your pensionable pay. See 'how much will you pay' for more information.

If you previously chose to opt out of the LGPS, you will be able to opt back in again at any time, as long as you are still eligible for LGPS membership.

When you complete the opt-in form, you will be brought into the main section of the Scheme.

However, you can choose to join or re-join in the 50/50 section of the Scheme. In the 50/50 section, you pay half the standard contribution rate, in exchange for half the normal pension build up.

If you wish to join or re-join in the 50/50 section, you will also need to complete the contribution flexibility form.

For more details, see how to pay less into your pension

Once your employer has processed your request, they will begin deducting contributions from the next available pay period.

If you submit the form after the monthly payroll has closed, you may not be entered into the Scheme until the following month.

Check your payslips for confirmation that contributions are being deducted.

If you have any questions about how long it takes to process your request, contact your employer.