Rule of 85; am I eligible?

JeffRipley

I am interested in taking my LGPS pension early under the Rule of 85. I have sufficient length of service to do this, but when I changed jobs in 1993, I withdrew my pension contributions. Does service completed before that time still count? If not, then I won't be eligible

hyubh

JeffRipley wrote: »

when I changed jobs in 1993, I withdrew my pension contributions.

What do you mean by this exactly - you didn't meet the vesting period (i.e., minimum length of membership to get a deferred pension) in the old job alone, so when having to choose between keeping the old membership separate in order to get a refund and combining to keep the reckonable service you opted for the former...? If so I think you reset the clock for the 85 year rule, but the people who administer your pension should be able to confirm - give them a call or drop them an email on Monday.

bilbo51

It isn't the number of years of service that is significant. It is the number of years of scheme membership. If by 'withdrew my pension contributions' you mean that you withdrew from the scheme, then you have lessened your number of years of scheme membership and it's this reduced figure you need to plug into the Rule of 85 calculation. You need to take advice from the scheme admin.

System

JeffRipley wrote: »

I am interested in taking my LGPS pension early under the Rule of 85. I have sufficient length of service to do this, but when I changed jobs in 1993, I withdrew my pension contributions. Does service completed before that time still count? If not, then I won't be eligible

Hi

AGE plus 25 years service.

If you took a refund in 1993 then this wipes out all LGPS membership/benefits etc etc.

This was when the membership period had a 2 year minimum I believe.

So to get 25 years service for 2015 you would had to have been a member since 1990 continuously.

A refund in 1993 wipes out all LGPS rights whichever authority has them..

JeffRipley

Thanks all.