Linking previous LGPS membership

Can I link my previous LGPS membership to my current membership?

The rules about linking other LGPS membership changed on 1 April 2014. The new rules are complicated and depend on what previous membership you have. Some members need to elect if they want to link previous membership. Other members need to elect if they want to keep previous membership separate – otherwise the membership will be automatically linked.

An election must usually be made within the first 12 months of rejoining the scheme, or leaving a job that overlaps with your current job – but your current employer can extend this time limit while ever you are still paying into the scheme in your current job.

Membership will be automatically linked for members who haven’t built up enough membership to keep separate benefits.

Your employer will let us know if you have rejoined the scheme, or left a job that overlaps with your current job. We will then write to you about your linking options or let you know that your membership has been automatically linked.

If you’ve received a letter from us about linking options – it will direct you to read the Linking Membership Fact Sheets on our website, for the linking types that are available to you.

If you paid extra contributions in your old job, please also read the fact sheet - Paid extra contributions before

For more information click on the 'Linking Type' link in the table below to take you to the relevant Fact Sheet.