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NILGOSC News: Members

My employer has issued a letter asking for expressions of interest for voluntary redundancy. Do I need to contact NILGOSC?

No. At this stage, there is no obligation for you to request voluntary redundancy and your employer has no obligation to make you redundant if you put in a request. If you make a request and your employer is considering the redundancy, it will ask for quotations on your behalf.

Will purchasing additional pension change my 85 year rule date?

No.  Purchases of additional pension have no effect on your 85 year rule date.

Can I give up some additional pension at retirement to buy additional lump sum?

Yes, it is possible to give up additional pension at retirement to provide extra lump sum, subject to tax limits.

If I choose to buy additional pension now, can I buy more at a later date?

Yes, as long as the total amount does not exceed £9,158 per year (2026/27 limits). It should be remembered that the cost of any later purchases of additional pension will depend on your age at that time.

Could the monthly payments change?

It is possible that your monthly payments could change in the future.  The actuary may change the rates or the government could change the method of increase.  These changes would affect both new applicants and members who are already buying additional pension.  These changes will normally apply from 1 April following the change and we […]

What if I am on unpaid leave?

If you are on unpaid leave or child-related leave you must continue to make the contributions to buy additional pension.

What if I stop contributing before the end of the payment period?

If you stop contributing, leave or retire before the end of the payment period you will receive a pension based on the contributions made up until the date they ceased.  If you retire early on ill-health grounds the contract is deemed to have been paid in full.

How does my additional pension build up?

At the end of every Scheme year the proportion of additional pension that you have bought in that year is added to your pension account.  The value of pension in your pension account is revalued each year to keep up with cost of living increases.  Once in payment the additional pension will get the same […]

APCs when you die

If you die in service then no benefits from your Additional Pension Contributions (APC) contract will be payable. This is because the amount of extra pension you buy is for you only. It is not used in the calculation of the lump sum death grant or any survivor’s or children’s benefits. If you die after […]

When is my additional pension paid?

The additional pension is paid at the same time as you receive your main Scheme benefits. If you retire early and draw your benefits before your Normal Pension Age or you are retired on redundancy or business efficiency grounds before your Normal Pension Age the additional pension that you have bought will be reduced for […]

How do I apply to buy additional pension?

Once you have decided what you want to purchase, having used the APC calculator you should either print off or download the APC application form (LGS27A – Election to pay Additional Pension Contributions to Boost Pension (787KB PDF) or LGS27B – Buying Lost Pension (824KB PDF).  If you are buying ‘lost’ pension you should contact your employer […]

Covering Lost Pension

Covering pension ‘lost’ due to authorised unpaid leave If you are off work with permission and are receiving reduced or no pay e.g. a few days of unpaid leave or a career break, you and your employer must pay pension contributions for the first 30 days of your absence if the absence is for 30 […]