Annual Benefit Statement FAQs

Once you become a deferred member it is not possible to combine your pension records together to produce one annual benefit statement, as we are required to produce a statement for each record you have with NILGOSC.  However, if you re-join the Scheme you may have the option to combine your deferred benefits with your new active pension record within the first twelve months.

Most deferred annual benefit statements for 2024 have now been issued, other than there is a query.  Active annual benefit statements will be issued before 31 August 2024. If you have not received your active benefit statement by the middle of September please contact us.

If any of your personal details have changed or are shown incorrectly you can update them via your My NILGOSC Pension Online account. If you have chosen not to sign up to this service you can complete an LGS24 – Change of Circumstances Form (2.16MB PDF) or telephone us on 0345 3197 325. 

The deferred benefits you have in the Scheme are reviewed annually and increased to keep up with the cost of living.

Pension increases are based on the increase in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) in the year to the previous September. The CPI change to September 2023 was 6.7%.

In April 2016 the government simplified the state pension by replacing the existing basic State Pension and additional State Pension with the new single-tier State Pension.

As a result the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is no longer able to supply us with details of your state pension. You can receive an estimate of your new State Pension by contacting the Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175 for a statement or get one online at: www.gov.uk/check-state-pension.

The UK Government recently launched the ‘Check your State Pension Forecast’ digital service – Check your State Pension forecast – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Here you can find out how much state pension you could get and when you can get it. It also tells you how to check for and fill any gaps in your National Insurance record to help increase your State Pension. To use the service you will need to prove your identity using Government Gateway or register if you have not used it before.

Your benefits will be paid to you without any early retirement reductions on the date shown in the box entitled ‘The above benefits are payable from’ on your statement.  

You can choose to claim your benefits early; however they may be reduced as they will be paid for longer.  You can find more information here.

You can elect to retire and receive your deferred benefits from age 55 onwards. If you retire between age 55 and your NPA your benefits may be reduced to take account of their early payment and the fact that your pension will be payable for longer.

If you become ill before your deferred benefits are due to be paid, you may be able to access them immediately.  NILGOSC must be satisfied that your illness is permanent and would have resulted in your retirement on medical grounds if you still worked in the job which related to your deferred benefits. You may also have to have a reduced likelihood of being capable of undertaking another job before your normal retirement age.

No.  You must take your pension and lump sum at the same time.  

If you left the Scheme before 6 April 2006, you are unable to defer drawing your deferred benefits. We will pay your pension when you reach your Normal Pension Age (NPA).

If you left the Scheme after 5 April 2006, you have the option to delay payment of your deferred benefits after your NPA. If you draw your pension after your NPA, it will be increased for each day your pension is delayed beyond your NPA to reflect the fact that it will be paid for a shorter time. Your pension has to be paid by your 75th birthday. 

There are limits to how much pension you are allowed to give up for a bigger lump sum.  If you have registered for My NILGOSC Pension Online you can use the benefit projector to show the variations of lump sum that you can take.

Yes.  It is your responsibility to advise NILGOSC that you would like to claim your deferred benefits at least two months before the date which they become payable.

If you have deferred benefits with the Scheme you will not be able to have a refund of the contributions you paid.

You may be able to transfer the value of your pension to another occupational pension scheme, personal pension, stakeholder pension scheme, or you can leave your benefits in the Scheme until you reach your normal retirement age.

If you are thinking of transferring your benefits, particularly to a personal pension or money purchase arrangement, you should take independent financial advice and beware of unauthorised companies.  More information can be found on the following websites:

MoneyHelper – Transferring your pension

The Pensions Regulator – Who to Contact?

You may be able to transfer the value of your pension to another occupational pension scheme, personal pension or stakeholder pension scheme.

If you are thinking of transferring your benefits, particularly to a personal pension or money purchase arrangement, you should take independent financial advice and beware of unauthorised companies.  More information can be found on the following websites:

MoneyHelper – Transferring your pension

The Pensions Regulator – avoid pension scams

The new rules became law on 1 October 2023 and it is taking time to review the records of all eligible members.  If you are eligible, this year’s statement does not reflect any changes due to the McCloud remedy. For further information see The McCloud Remedy (Deferred Members)

You can only contribute to the Scheme if you are employed by a Local Government employer.  A list of the employers who participate in our Scheme can be found on the Current employers page.

If you re-join the Scheme you will begin to build up new pension benefits in addition to your deferred benefits.  We will give you the option to join these two sets of benefits together within twelve months of re-joining the Scheme.  For more information visit Re-joining the Scheme.

If you die before receiving your benefits, dependants’ pensions may be payable along with a Lump Sum Death Grant.  The value of the death grant depends on when you left the Scheme.  

• If you left from 1 April 2009 the death grant is five times the current value of your annual deferred pension
• If you left before 1 April 2009 the death grant is three times the current value of your annual deferred pension

From 1 April 2015 if you are also an active member of the Scheme the death grant payable will be the higher of that from your deferred membership or your active membership.  Both death grants will not be paid.

You can advise us who you would like to receive any death grant using your My NILGOSC Pension Online account.  You can also complete an LGS20 – Death Grant Expression of Wish Form (1.44MB PDF) and return it to us.

Pensions for eligible cohabiting partners were introduced from 1 April 2009 and only apply to deferred members who were active members in the Scheme from this date. If you wish for your cohabiting partner to receive a pension if you die your relationship has to meet certain conditions laid down in the Scheme’s regulations.