The LGPS changed to a career average scheme in 2014. Pension built up in the remedy period between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2022 is protected for qualifying members. This protection is known as the underpin. Underpin protection ended earlier if you left the Scheme or reached age 65 before 1 April 2022.
The underpin ensures that protected members get a pension that is at least as good as they would have received if the Scheme had remained a final salary scheme until 2022.The underpin removes the discrimination found in the McCloud court case.
You are protected by the underpin if you:
- were an active member of the LGPS or another public service pension scheme before 1 April 2012
- were a member of the LGPS in the remedy period – 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2022
- were under your 2008 Scheme Normal Pension Age (generally age 65) during all or part of the remedy period, and
- have not had a gap in active membership of a public service pension scheme of more than 5 years.
You are not protected by the underpin if you left the Scheme or reached age 65 before 1 April 2014.
If you are protected, we will perform an underpin check when you take your pension. We will check that the pension you have built up in the career average scheme during the remedy period is at least as good as you would have built up in the final salary scheme. If it isn’t, your pension will be increased.