Councillor members
Elected Members Post 11 May 2026
If you’re an elected member (councillor or mayor), you will be able to opt in to the LGPS in England from 11 May 2026, provided you are under age 75. Town and Parish councillors are not eligible for membership.
If you are appointed to and receive allowances from another authority (Fire and Rescue Authority/Combined Authority), they are treated as a scheme employer in relation to that allowance. You will hold separate pension accounts for each eligible authority that pays you an allowance or salary directly.
Joining the Scheme
If you'd like to join the Scheme, you will need to opt in.
You can do so by:
- completing the opt-in form
- returning it to the relevant authority (contact found at the bottom of the form)
If you are appointed to and receive allowances from another authority, you will need to complete a separate form for each appointment.
Once your form has been received by your employing authority, you will join the Scheme and start paying contributions from the next pay period.
You can opt out at any time in the future.
Rules about scheme membership
In March 2014, the government brought in legislation which meant that existing councillor members of the LGPS in England ceased to be a member of the scheme at the end of the term of office which they were serving on 1 April 2014, or age 75, whichever was the earlier.
The Government also decided to exclude membership of new councillors in the new LGPS between 1 April 2014 and 11 May 2026.
Death Grant nominations
In some cases a death grant may be payable to a nominated person(s) or charitable trust.
You can tell us who you would like to nominate via your My Pension Online account, or by completing an expression of wish form PDF,468KB