If you left the LGPS before 1 April 1998

Overview

Your deferred pension benefits are payable in full at your normal pension age (NPA). If you’re considering taking your deferred benefits now, your NPA is 60. In the past, NPA for members who left the LGPS before 1 April 1998 was between age 60 and 65.

You must take your benefits from your NPA if they’re not already being paid.

Early payment of deferred benefits at your request

You can choose to take your deferred pension benefits from age 55. You don’t need your former employer’s consent to take your pension early. See the section on Taking your pension early to find out how your benefits will be reduced.

The Government has announced the earliest age that you can take your deferred pension will increase from age 55 to 57 from 6 April 2028. This won’t apply to ill health retirements.

Early payment of deferred benefits on compassionate grounds

You can ask your former employer to pay your pension benefits early on compassionate grounds. If your former employer agrees, your benefits won’t be reduced for early payment. This is a discretion and you can ask your employer what their policy on this is.

Early payment of deferred benefits due to permanent ill health

You can apply for payment of your deferred benefits because of your health at any age. Your former employer would need to consider whether you’re permanently incapable of doing the job you were working in when you left the LGPS. If your application is successful, your pension benefits will be paid immediately and wouldn’t be reduced for early payment.