Councillors who were members before this date can remain contributors until their term of office ends, when their benefits will then go on hold. Councillors with benefits on hold will continue to receive annual benefit statements.

Your benefits on hold are normally payable in full at your normal pension age (NPA). From 1 April 2014 your NPA is linked to your State Pension age (but with a minimum of age 65). The NPA for benefits built up before 1 April 2014 is age 65 (in almost all cases). You do not have to take your deferred pension benefit at your NPA, you can take it at any time between the ages of 55 and 75, though if you take it early you will normally have reductions. Your benefits on hold can be paid in full before your normal retirement date on the grounds of ill health of for compassionate reasons. If this is something you would like to enquire about please contact your former employer. For further information on Councillors pensions please visit the LGPS website.