Get help with decisions about your pension

While we are able to answer your questions about the Scheme, we are unable to provide you with advice on decisions related to your LGPS pension.

We always recommend you obtain independent financial advice wherever possible before making a choice that could impact on your LGPS pension benefits, particularly if you are thinking about:

• Thinking of opting out
• Paying less into your pension
• Leaving your LGPS employment before you retire
• Combining LGPS accounts
• The retirement process
• Increasing your pension benefits

MoneyHelper is a government-backed organisation that helps people to understand their money and pension options.

You can call them free of charge on 0800 011 3797 or use their webchat facility.

The website also has lots of useful guides explaining how pension works and the different types of pension schemes.

If you need advice on making decisions about your pension, you could choose to seek the help of a qualified Independent Financial Adviser.

There may also be occasions, such as where you are transferring an LGPS pension out, that you are required to obtain financial advice.

When looking for a financial adviser, you should make sure that you choose someone who is Registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

If you use an advisor who is not registered with the FCA, then you won’t have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if things go wrong. You can check the register on the FCA website

Different types of advisors provide advice on different types of pensions. You should make sure the adviser you choose is qualified to provide advice on defined benefit pensions and the LGPS.

Finding the right financial adviser may seem daunting. We recommend you read the following resources to help you know what to look for:

• Financial Advisers (MoneyHelper)
• Choosing a financial advisor (MoneyHelper)
• What to ask an adviser (FCA) 
• Finding an adviser (FCA) 

You can ask a financial adviser to contact us on your behalf about your pension. However, we must be supplied with a letter of authority dated within 3 months of your request. For your security, we will write to you directly to confirm we have been contacted by an adviser about your pension.

Find out about Avoiding pension scams