At a Glance
✓ You may be eligible for a refund if you have less than 2 years of membership.
✓ A number of conditions must be met before a refund can be paid.
✓ Statutory deductions, including tax, apply to all refunds.
✓ Contact us if you would like to apply for a refund.
Can I get a refund of my contributions?
If you leave the LGPS with less than 2 years of qualifying membership, you may be eligible for a refund of your pension contributions.
However, a refund can only be paid if the specific conditions below are met.
Who is eligible for a refund?
You must normally:
- Have less than 2 years of qualifying membership.
- Not have transferred certain previous pension rights into the LGPS.
- Not rejoin the LGPS within one month and one day of leaving the relevant employment.
- Not rejoin the scheme before the refund has been paid.
- Not have previously transferred LGPS benefits overseas.
- Not have any other LGPS benefits in England and Wales.
Important: If you receive a refund after failing to disclose other LGPS benefits, this could extinguish your entitlement to those benefits.
Additional less common rules also apply in certain circumstances. We will let you know if any of these affect your entitlement to a refund.
What deductions will be made?
The law requires certain deductions to be made before a refund can be paid.
- Tax - All refunds are subject to a tax deduction of 20% on the balance remaining after any other statutory deductions.
- Certified Amount - In some cases, an amount may be deducted in respect of state pension rights. This deduction is not Income Tax and cannot be reclaimed.
How do I claim a refund?
If you believe that you are eligible for a refund of your contributions, please contact us and we will provide the relevant forms and information.