What is 'Linking' LGPS?

MakingUpGround

I have deferred benefits with LGPS for 6 years employment from 1998-2004.
I re-joined a different LGPS in 2017 and had 18 months employment on a fixed term contract. 
As far as I remember I didn't officially link them, but had to advise them of my previous LGPS membership. 

I don't understand what linking them is?

If I don't go into another LGPS within the next year does my shorter membership get refunded? I get a deferred statement from them. 

Silvertabby

MakingUpGround said:

I have deferred benefits with LGPS for 6 years employment from 1998-2004.
I re-joined a different LGPS in 2017 and had 18 months employment on a fixed term contract. 
As far as I remember I didn't officially link them, but had to advise them of my previous LGPS membership. 

I don't understand what linking them is?

If I don't go into another LGPS within the next year does my shorter membership get refunded? I get a deferred statement from them. 

Because the gap between your old and new LGPS records was more than 5 years they won't have been automatically linked.  Quite possible that it was in your best interests for them to have been kept separate. ie, if your current pensionable pay is less than your old pay plus 13 years of cost of living increases.

You wouldn't have been offered a refund of your latest contributions, despite leaving before the 2 year vesting period.  Instead, your 1998 to 2004 service will show on your new record as 'unaggregated service'.  This won't affect the benefits due from your latest record, nor will it give any R85 protections, but it does mean that you will have actual pension rights despite having less than 2 years service.

MakingUpGround

Silvertabby said:

MakingUpGround said:

I have deferred benefits with LGPS for 6 years employment from 1998-2004.
I re-joined a different LGPS in 2017 and had 18 months employment on a fixed term contract. 
As far as I remember I didn't officially link them, but had to advise them of my previous LGPS membership. 

I don't understand what linking them is?

If I don't go into another LGPS within the next year does my shorter membership get refunded? I get a deferred statement from them. 

Because the gap between your old and new LGPS records was more than 5 years they won't have been automatically linked.  Quite possible that it was in your best interests for them to have been kept separate. ie, if your current pensionable pay is less than your old pay plus 13 years of cost of living increases.

You wouldn't have been offered a refund of your latest contributions, despite leaving before the 2 year vesting period.  Instead, your 1998 to 2004 service will show on your new record as 'unaggregated service'.  This won't affect the benefits due from your latest record, nor will it give any R85 protections, but it does mean that you will have actual pension rights despite having less than 2 years service.

Thank you, that's the term I was searching for, and the answer I hoped for