Should I Merge two pots from the same provider?

Silvertabby

claire1a said:

Sorry yet another post because now I’m thinking what happens if I go part time towards retirement and am only on 15k and that will be my final salary... I’m better off keeping them separate... I can’t see me being the director of a company and earning mega bucks towards the end of my working life (and if I am then I’ll be earning and saving loads so any money I loose I will gain but really can’t see that happening), more I will go part time and become a recluse with 12 cats lol (currently on two so I’m building up my clan)

Don't worry about going part time.  The final salary link still uses your whole time equivalent - ie, £30K.

Back in the days of final salary, part timers pensions were calculated on whole time equivalent salaries - with service being pro - rata'd

ie.  One years calendar service:  18.5 hours on actual salary of £15 K.  Pension calculated using whole time salary of £30K but only 6 months pensionable service accrued. 

Now that the LGPS is using CARE the (whole time) final salary link is still used but service doesn't count - with CARE it's the pensionable pay that is used to calculate the pension.

Silvertabby

claire1a said:

Last post for tonight I promise! (Can you tell I have anxiety lol) so just reread my deferred benefits statement. It says on her my final salary pay is £14k (not sure how that’s worked out as I was on more than that in 2013/2014) and my annual final salary pension would just be £1500. 

My care pension at date of leaving was £1318. 

So my annual pension at date of leaving is £2811...

does this change things as that’s pretty low lol

Query that £14K.  If you were full time on £27K then something near that is what I would have expected to see.  Making your final salary pension alone more like £3K. 

That could be why your new LGPS is pushing you to combine - they think you are on a much higher salary now. 

xylophone

It says on her my final salary pay is £14k (not sure how that’s worked out as I was on more than that in 2013/2014) 

As Silvertabby says, as you know that your final salary was getting on for double that sum, that looks very odd indeed.

Certainly worth asking for an explanation.