The table below shows the different types of retirement from LGPS Councillor.
Please note: The table mentions the current minimum retirement age of 55. (In LGPS Councillor, special terms apply that mean you may be able to start receiving pension from age 50).
The UK Government has announced that the earliest age you can take your pension will increase from age 55 to 57 with effect from 6th 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 in England and Wales before 4th November 2021. 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 6th April 2028.
| Normal retirement |
Normal retirement age is between age 60 and 65. You can see your normal retirement age on the deferred pension statements that you receive from the Clwyd Pension Fund each year.
If you start to take your pension at your normal retirement age, you will receive the full amount with no reductions.
|
|---|
| Early retirement (Consent needed) |
If you want to start taking your deferred pension between ages 50 and 55, you may be able to receive your pension straight away, as long as your ex-council agrees.
The pension will be reduced because you are taking it early. The earlier you go, the lower your pension will be. Your retirement pack will give you the details.
If your ex-council agrees to pay your benefits before age 55, there may be a tax charge on your pension benefits.
|
|---|
| Early retirement (No consent needed) |
You can start to take your deferred pension anytime between age 55 and normal retirement age. The pension will be reduced because you are taking it early. The earlier you go, the lower your pension will be. Your retirement pack will give you the details. |
|---|
| Late retirement |
You can take your deferred pension later than normal retirement age if you want to, as long as you take it before age 75. The pension will be slightly higher because you are taking it later than expected. The later you go, the higher the pension will be. |
|---|
| Ill health retirement |
You can take ill health retirement at any age but you would need to ask your ex-council if your deferred pension can be paid to you on the grounds of ill health.
They will ask an independent doctor to give a medical opinion on if you qualify for ill health retirement. They will consider, for example, whether or not you are permanently incapable of doing the role you used to have with them. They will then tell you if you can receive your pension straight away.
If you qualify for ill health retirement, your deferred pension is payable to you for life. It is not reduced even if you are taking it early. However, the amount you receive is only based on the pension you built up while paying LGPS Councillor contributions.
If, at the date of your ill health retirement, you have a life expectancy of less than one year, we may turn your pension into a one-off lump sum of five times the amount of your annual pension value
|
|---|
If you opted out of paying contributions but remain a councillor past retirement age, you cannot receive your pension straight away. You have to stop being a councillor, or reach age 75 if earlier, to receive your pension.