• You can choose to pay a set percentage of your salary (up to a maximum of 50% of your pay), or a set amount.

• AVCs are flexible - you can easily change your payments, take a break, or stop paying at any time.

• You build up a personal fund with Scottish Widows. The size of this fund will depend on how much you've paid in, and how well investments have performed.

• Scottish Widows offer a number of different investment choices.

• You don't need to have a health check to pay AVCs.

• When your LGPS benefits start to be paid, your fund can be used to buy extra pension from Scottish Widows or another pension provider. You can also choose to take up to 25% of your fund as a tax free cash sum.

• If you leave and receive a WYPF pension straight away, then you can choose to buy extra pension through WYPF. Instead of buying extra pension with your fund, you could also consider taking some (or possibly all) of your fund as a tax free cash sum. (Subject to the tax limits at the time you retire.)

• Your employer will deduct these extra contributions from your salary and pay them over to Scottish Widows. These will attract tax relief if you pay tax.

Contact Scottish Widows on 0845 733 0805 for more details about the WYPF AVC Plan, or if you want to start paying.

Before reaching any decision, you should consider seeking Independent Financial Advice.