If you are on reserve forces service leave, you can elect to:
- remain in the LGPS, or
- join the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.
Remaining in the LGPS
If you elect to remain in the LGPS, your pension is worked out using your assumed pensionable pay. If you receive any pay from your employer when you are on reserve forces leave, you will not pay pension contributions on this pay.
Your employer tells the Ministry of Defence (MoD) your assumed pensionable pay and the amount of contributions which should be deducted. The MoD deducts the contributions from you and pays this over to the LGPS, along with the employer contribution.
You will continue to build up your LGPS pension at the normal rate.
If you are paying additional contributions to increase your LGPS pension, find out what happens if you pay extra and you are absent from work?
Joining the Armed Forces Pension Scheme
If you elect to join the Armed Forces Pension Scheme whilst you are on reserve forces service leave, you leave the LGPS.
If you have more than 2 years membership in the LGPS, you are awarded a deferred benefit. View information about deferred benefits. You can choose to leave your deferred benefit in the LGPS or you may be able to transfer out to another pension arrangement. You may be able to transfer it to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme.
If you have less than 2 years membership in the LGPS, you may receive a refund of your contributions. View information about how a refund is calculated
When your reserve forces service leave ends, you can rejoin the LGPS. If your previous LGPS membership became a deferred pension and you have not transferred out, we aggregate it with your new pension. You can choose to keep your LGPS pensions separate.
You may be able transfer in your armed forces pension within 12 months of joining the LGPS.
As you left the LGPS, it is not treated as a break. You do not have the option to pay for lost LGPS pension.