Planning Your Retirement - THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION ...

Total MembershipThe first important element usedin working out your benefits isyour total membership 1 .This normally includes:How long you have been amember of the LGPS worked outin years and days – not includingmembership for which you alreadyreceive a LGPS pension or hold anLGPS deferred pension.Membership purchased by atransfer into the LGPS fromanother scheme or pension plan.Any extra membership youhave bought with additionalcontributions or by convertingAVCs into membership.Any extra membershipyou are awarded, such asill health enhancement.Your Total Membershipcould be different to youractual calendar lengthmembership of the LGPS:If you have worked part-timeyour membership is reducedto its part-time equivalentlength to calculate retirementbenefits, although calendarlength is used to decide if youare eligible for a benefit.If you are a married man withmembership before 1 April 1972this will be converted to 89% ofits length unless you have electedto pay additional contributionsto convert it to its full length.If you are a high earner andyou joined the Scheme after31 May 1989 and before6 April 2006, you could onlypay contributions and haveyour benefits based on your payup to the Earnings Cap – thiswas £105,600 for 2005/6.The Earnings Cap was removedfrom 6 April 2006 and, if it affectedyou, your relevant membershipprior to then will be reduced.1Certain membership is not used to calculate your benefits but only to decide if you areeligible for a benefit – this should be detailed on your Certificate of Membership.8