Returning to work if you are being paid a pension from the LGPS

Pension contributions before April 2014

If you built up any pension in the LGPS before 1 April 2014, take payment of your pension and then return to work in local government, or with an employer who offers membership of the LGPS, you must tell the LGPS fund that pays your pension about your new job.

You must do this whether or not you join the LGPS in your new job. The LGPS fund that pays your pension will then let you know whether your pension in payment is affected in any way.

Pension contributions after 2014

If you have only built up pension in the LGPS from 1 April 2014, take payment of your pension and then return to work in local government, or with an employer who offers membership of the LGPS, you do not need to inform the LGPS fund that pays your pension about your new job.

There will be no effect on your pension in payment, unless you are in receipt of a tier 3 ill health pension benefit.

Tier 3 ill-health benefit

If you are being paid a tier 3 ill-health pension (which is of the type that is stopped if you take up any gainful employment), your pension may be affected if you return to work.

You must inform the employer who awarded you the ill-health pension if you take up employment (whether in local government or elsewhere). They will let you know whether the payment of your pension should be stopped.

Flexible retirement

If you have flexibly retired your pension will not be subject to reduction or suspension whilst you continue to work for the employer that allowed you to take flexible retirement.

However, if you leave that employer and then return to work in local government, or with an employer who offers membership of the LGPS, and part of your pension in payment is in respect of pension you built up prior to 1 April 2014, you must tell the LGPS fund that pays your pension about your new job.

You must do this whether or not you join the LGPS in your new job. They will let you know whether your pension in payment is affected in any way.