After you leave employment
What is a deferred benefit?
If you leave your job before retirement and you meet the two year vesting period, you will have deferred benefits in the LGPS. See the page on How your pension is worked out to find out how your deferred benefits are calculated. Your deferred pension will increase each April in line with the cost of living.
Will my deferred benefits increase?
Your deferred benefits adjust in line with inflation.
Transfers
Can I transfer my deferred benefits to another pension scheme?
You can transfer your deferred benefits to another registered pension scheme.
Transferring benefits cannot be made if you are 1 year within your normal pension date.
A transfer out of the LGPS is a major financial decision It requires careful consideration and can only be done after taking advice. If you are considering this, please read our Freedom and Choice Q & A for LGPS members
You also need to be aware of pension scams. More information can be found here: https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart/how-avoid-pension-scams
Re entering the Scheme
I have re-joined the LGPS. How does this affect my deferred pension?
If you re-join the LGPS, you must contact us and also the fund that you become an active member of. There are LGPS rules that we have to apply to your deferred benefits and if you do not provide us with any instructions, applying these rules may not be to your advantage. You can find more information on our website here
Accessing your benefits
When will my deferred benefits be paid?
New legislation was introduced from June 2019 which allows deferred members to access their benefits from age 55.
If accessed earlier than your Normal Pension Age, benefits will be reduced to account for being paid over a longer period.
When accessing your benefits, you will have the option to take a tax free lump sum.
To review the benefits that you may be entitled to, we would direct you to our online member service platform, SPFOnline.
You can also refer to our Guide to the LGPS which can be found in Publications within the Your Documents area of SPFOnline. This Guide has detailed information about retirement in a simple Q&A format.
Will my benefits be reduced if I take them before my Normal Pension Age?
Your deferred benefits will be reduced if you take them before normal pension age. From age 60, some or all of your benefits can be paid unreduced, if you have protection under The Rule of 85.
I want to take my deferred benefits. How do I inform Strathclyde Pension Fund Office?
You can access our Benefit Projector that allows you to estimate receiving your deferred benefits from age 55, by logging into your SPFOnline account.
Once you have calculated your benefits at your chosen retirement date and wish to proceed, send us an email to spfo@glasgow.gov.uk confirming the following information:
- Your Name
- National Insurance Number
- Date of Birth
- Date of Retirement
- Current Home Address
Please Note, you must give us 3 months notice of your intended retirement date.
How are my retirement benefits calculated?
From 1 April 2015 you build up a pension of 1/49th of your pay in your Pension Account each year.
Your Pension Account is revalued each year by the Consumer Prices Index up to your date of retirement.
The total pension in your Pension Account is adjusted at your date of retirement if you do not retire at your state pension age (min 65).
Up to 31 March 2015 the LGPS was a final salary pension scheme. This means the payment you get for service up to that date is based on your final year's pensionable pay and your total length of membership.
Up to 31 March 2009 the annual pension payment is worked out by dividing your final pay by 80 and multiplying this by your total membership.
To work out your lump sum for service up to 31 March 2009 divide your final salary by 80, multiply this by your total membership, and then multiply the final figure by 3.
For any service after 31 March 2009 to 31 March 2015, your annual pension will be worked out by dividing your final pay by 60, and you will have the option to take part of this as a lump sum.
How do I calculate an estimate of my pension benefits?
You can access our Benefit Projector that allows you to estimate receiving your deferred benefits from age 55, by logging into your SPFOnline account.
Can I convert pension to lump sum?
Yes, you can elect to take up to 25% of your overall pension pot as a tax free lump sum.
I am medically unfit to work. Can I receive my benefits?
It may be possible to take your deferred benefits at any age on the grounds of ill health. But this must be approved through occupational health, you will not be awarded any enhancement, however the benefits will not have a reduction.
SPFO must obtain a certificate from an independent registered medical practitioner qualified in occupational health as to whether in their opinion you are permanently incapable of your relevant employment because of ill-health and, if so, whether that condition is likely to prevent you from obtaining gainful employment (whether in local government or otherwise) before reaching your normal retirement age.
If you think payment of deferred benefits on the grounds of ill health could apply to you please contact us.
Can I take a lump sum after age 55 without accessing all of my pension?
You cannot release any part of your benefits before retirement, however upon retirement you can elect to take up to 25% of the capital value of your benefits as a tax-free lump sum. The remainder must be paid as an annual pension.
How does Freedom and Choice in pensions affect LGPS members?
Reforms offering greater flexibility, 'Freedom and Choice', in the way that individuals aged 55 and over can access their defined contribution (DC) pensions became effective on 6 April 2015.
As the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a public sector defined benefit (DB) scheme, 'Freedom and Choice' does not apply to it.
However, before retiring, members do have the right to transfer their pension rights out of the LGPS to a DC arrangement offering 'flexible benefits'.
As a transfer out of the LGPS is a major financial decision requiring careful consideration and can only be done after taking advice, we suggest that any members contemplating this course of action first read our Freedom and Choice Q&A (PDF) [60KB] for LGPS members.
How do I request for my deferred benefits to be paid?
You can access our Benefit Projector that allows you to estimate receiving your deferred benefits from age 55, by logging into your SPFOnline account.
Once you have calculated your benefits at your chosen retirement date and wish to proceed, send us an email to spfo@glasgow.gov.uk confirming the following information:
- Your Name
- National Insurance Number
- Date of Birth
- Date of Retirement
- Current Home Address
Please Note, you must give us 3 months' notice of your intended retirement date.
Accessing my deferred pension after state pension age?
You can choose to take your deferred benefits after your Normal Pension Age, but you must take them before you are 75.
If you take your benefits after your Normal Pension Age, your benefits are increased.
What is my State Pension Age?
You can check your state pension age Here.
What happens if I die before accessing my deferred pension?
If you die before accessing your deferred benefits, a lump sum death grant is paid, as well as a spouse's / qualifying partner's pension and children's pensions, where appropriate.
To protect your loved ones, you can make and update your nominations using SPFOnline.
If you fail to nominate someone for the death grant, it might take longer for it to be paid and the person receiving it might also have to pay inheritance tax.
It is your responsibility to tell us if you change your mind over who you want to receive the death grant.
If you have separate rights as an active and a deferred / pensioner member, the death grant payable is the higher of the death grants. These amounts will not be added together.
There is no need to nominate your husband, wife, civil partner, or dependent children for a pension payable on your death.
Amending Personal Details
Change of address
Login to SPFOnline, when on your dashboard address details can be updated on the section 'Your Personal Details' and selecting edit.
If you are an active member of the scheme, please notify your employer of any changes to personal details as they provide details on a monthly basis which can overwrite changes you make.
Marital Status
Login to SPFOnline,, where you can upload a copy of the relevant certificate by navigating to your dashboard > Your documents > Document Upload.
Once your certificate has been uploaded to our system, your details will be amended accordingly.
Nomination
Tell us who you would like to receive any lump sum payable on your death.
By making a nomination on SPFOnline or supplying us with a Nomination Form you will be telling us who you would like us to pay any lump sum death benefit to.
Please note that it is your responsibility to tell us if you change your mind over who you want to receive this.
Pension Update
Where can I find my pension update?
Your deferred pension update is now available by logging into SPFOnline. This is located in 'Your Documents' section of your dashboard and is available in summer.
If you are not registered for SPFOnline, you can Sign Up here
Deferred members who prefer hard copies have been mailed with their pension update to the home address we hold on our records.
You must keep us informed when you move home address.
My pension update does not show a lump sum amount?
Only members who joined the scheme prior to 01/04/2009 receive an automatic lump sum.
Are pension debits deducted on my statement?
Pension debits are not shown in the yearly pension quoted on your statement. The current value of any debits are calculated in the 'How we have calculated your benefits' area of your statement.
Are my Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) shown on my statement?
No, your pension update does not show your Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs).
I have other periods of membership with SPF?
You will receive a Pension Update for each period of membership held in the scheme.
If you are currently contributing to the scheme your Pension Update for this period of membership will be available in August and if you have deferred benefits your Pension Update will be available in June.
In Touch
Where can I find In Touch?
The current In Touch newsletter can be located on the SPFO website here by navigating to the Publication Section>Members>Newsletters> In Touch.
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