If you leave the scheme with two years’ membership or more, and before you’re entitled to get your pension, the pension benefits you’ve built up will become 'deferred benefits'. Deferred benefits are increased each year in line with the Consumer Prices Index.
You can leave your deferred benefits with us and take them as a pension later in life, or you can transfer them to another pension scheme at any time.
Deferred pensions up by 3.8% in 2026
The 3.8% increase on deferred benefits was applied from 6 April 2026. This increase is based on the value of the Consumer Prices Index on 30 September in the previous year.
If you left your job part way through the year you won’t get the full increase this year. Increases on your deferred benefits usually start building up from the day after the date you left the pension scheme. You’ll start to get the full increase from next year.
You can claim your deferred pension benefits at any time between age 55 and 75.
When can I claim my deferred benefits?
Your deferred benefits are paid at your normal pension age unless you decide to
We'll send you a retirement pack just before your normal pension age. The pack will include a form that you need to fill in and return so we can pay your deferred benefits.
Your normal pension age is the same as your state pension age (with a minimum of age 65).
If you left the scheme before April 2014 your deferred benefits will be payable unreduced from age 65 or in some cases from age 60.
Read more about the final salary scheme rules here.
*Changes to retirement ages
The UK Government has announced that the earliest age you can take your pension will increase from age 55 to 57 with effect from 6 April 2028. This does not apply if you have to take your pension early due to ill health.
You could be protected from this increase if you joined the LGPS before 4 November 2021. You could also be protected if you transferred a previous pension into the LGPS if certain conditions are met. However, you will only be able to use this protection when you take your LGPS pension if the LGPS rules allow you to take your pension before age 57.
The UK Government makes the LGPS rules. It has not yet confirmed if it will allow members who qualify for protection to take their LGPS pension before age 57, from 6 April 2028.
How do I claim my deferred benefit?
You can claim your deferred benefits from age 55*, you can call, write or email us to request we send you a retirement pack.
You should always look at your deferred benefit statement before contacting us, as this will show you the current value of your benefits.
We will also contact you about 3 months before you reach your normal pension age asking if you would like to claim your benefits.
*Changes to retirement ages
The UK Government has announced that the earliest age you can take your pension will increase from age 55 to 57 with effect from 6 April 2028. This does not apply if you have to take your pension early due to ill health.
You could be protected from this increase if you joined the LGPS before 4 November 2021. You could also be protected if you transferred a previous pension into the LGPS if certain conditions are met. However, you will only be able to use this protection when you take your LGPS pension if the LGPS rules allow you to take your pension before age 57.
The UK Government makes the LGPS rules. It has not yet confirmed if it will allow members who qualify for protection to take their LGPS pension before age 57, from 6 April 2028.
What happens if I become ill before I start getting my pension?
If you become permanently too ill to work at any age we may be able to pay your benefits on health grounds. You need to apply in writing to your former employer who will undertake a health assessment.
What happens to my deferred benefit if I die?
If you die while your pension benefits are still deferred there will likely be a death grant payable to your nominated beneficiaries (or estate) and possibly a survivor pension(s).
You can read more about death benefits here.
It's important you keep an eye on how much your benefits are worth so you can plan your retirement.
Your yearly deferred benefit statement shows you how much your benefits are currently worth. Log in to your pension account to see your statements.
We produce statements during the summer and we'll email you when yours is available if you’ve registered for our online services.
If you've opted out of electronic communications we'll post it to you when it's been produced.
Your statement now includes any additional calculations for McCloud remedy. For more information about the McCloud Remedy click here.
Keeping your information safe - using AI to understand your Deferred Benefit Statement
To help protect you from fraud and identity theft, never upload or paste personal information into AI tools (for example, ChatGPT, Gemini or similar services), because this information could be stored, shared and used by AI tools. You may also not get accurate information as they can often mix up different pension schemes or miss important details.
This includes documents such as your Deferred Benefit Statement, as well as payslips, your National Insurance number, date of birth, home address, email address, phone number, bank details, and screenshots of your online pension account.
If you’d like help understanding your benefits, please use the information on our website or your online pension account. If you can’t find the information you are looking for, contact us instead.
Remember: AI can be great for helping you understand complex subjects like pensions, but if you have any specific questions to do with your LGPS benefits, please visit the our website directly. This is the best way to make sure you’re reading correct, and up to date information.
Contact us for a quote when you decide to claim your benefits. We will also send you some forms to fill in and a booklet explaining your benefits.
Remember, you can claim your benefits from your 55th birthday.
We will supply you with an estimate for each pension/deferred pension record you have with us, free of charge within a 12 month period.
Changes to retirement ages
The UK Government has announced that the earliest age you can take your pension will increase from age 55 to 57 with effect from 6 April 2028. This does not apply if you have to take your pension early due to ill health.
You could be protected from this increase if you joined the LGPS before 4 November 2021. You could also be protected if you transferred a previous pension into the LGPS if certain conditions are met. However, you will only be able to use this protection when you take your LGPS pension if the LGPS rules allow you to take your pension before age 57.
The UK Government makes the LGPS rules. It has not yet confirmed if it will allow members who qualify for protection to take their LGPS pension before age 57, from 6 April 2028.
Keeping your records up to date
It's important you keep your contact details and personal information up-to-date.
Home address - you can call, write or email us with your new details.
Email and phone number - log in or register for our online services where you can update these details securely and hassle free. If you've chosen not to use our online services you can call, write or email us with your new details.
Also keep your death grant expression of wish (nomination details) and if applicable cohabiting partner details up to date. You can read more about these here.
There are some strict time limits in the LGPS that restrict when you can transfer other pension benefits into the LGPS and where from. Read about your options here.
Linking to other LGPS membership
Your deferred benefits can be linked to newer LGPS records either in the same fund or in another fund. If you left your job after April 2014 this happens automatically.
If you have a deferred benefit in the scheme you can choose to transfer your benefits to another UK pension scheme or in some cases an overseas scheme.
But bear in mind that your deferred benefits are valuable retirement savings that keep pace with the cost of living both before and after you start drawing them.
You should consider carefully the benefits and risks of transfers and be aware of pension scams at all times. If in doubt, seek independent financial advice.
In this section
Forms to download
Your opinion is important to us. If you would like to complete our short survey please click here.
