D

Designating body

Designating bodies are employers that can select employees for access to the LGPS. The main types of designating bodies are below, but there are others:

• town and parish councils
• voluntary schools
• foundation schools
• foundation special schools
• federated schools
• technical institutes.

Discretion

Discretion is the power given by the LGPS to choose how to apply the scheme rules in certain situations. Your employer and pension fund have the power to exercise different discretions.

Disqualifying gap

A disqualifying gap is a period of more than five years when you weren’t paying into the LGPS or any other public service pension scheme.