Pensions for councillors

Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is open to all councillors elected to a local authority in Scotland who are under age 75.

All membership you have built up in the LGPS before 1 April 2015 will continue to be worked out using the rules of the scheme that were in place to 31 March 2015.

The LGPS for councillors is a defined benefit career average scheme and is guaranteed by law. The calculation of your final pension is based on the time you have been a member of the scheme and your average pay during your period of membership as a councillor.

From 1 April 2015 your pension in the LGPS will build up at 1/49th of your pensionable pay for each year. That pension amount is then revalued each year in line with inflation (it should be remembered that, while your CARE pension might be expected to increase each year, the pension amount could be reduced should there be negative inflation). The pay used to work out your pension each scheme year will be your pensionable pay in each year.

You will have the option to pay half your normal contributions in return for half your normal pension, this is called '50/50'.

Your entitlement to receive a pension will depend on your age. The pension can be taken in full at any time from normal pension age, but must be taken before attaining age 75.

How do I join and how much will it cost me?

On being elected as a Councillor, you will automatically become a member of the Scheme provided that you have not already attained age 75.

You are allowed to join the Scheme even if you are contributing to other pension plans.

You can elect to leave the Scheme at any time. However if you opt out more than once, you may be stopped from joining again in the future.

Your contribution to the Scheme is based on the level of the earnings you receive. The minimum contribution is 5.5.% of earnings.

As a scheme member, you will automatically get tax relief on your contributions.