Another LGPS pension transfer question - historic

xylophone

 If your wife is 100% sure that she didn't originally opt out, then you may wish to push for employer error - but it won't be easy to prove and, even if successful, she would still have to pay her 7 years worth of contributions. 

https://democracy.npt.gov.uk/Data/Personnel Committee/20031002/Agenda/$PERS-021003-REP-HS-U.doc.pdf

HISTORY OF CHANGING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO JOIN THE LGPS

1. LGPS Pension Scheme is only available to employees of local authorities and admitted bodies.

2. Prior to 6th April 1988, Membership of the LGPS was

 Compulsory

 On commencement for officers who worked 30 or more hours per week. 

 After 1year’s continuous service for manual workers who worked 30 or more hours per week

 Optional – for part time employees who worked 15 or more but less than 30 hours per week.

The above category were given the right to join in April 1986. If they chose to join they could buy back previous service at special terms.

1. From 6th April 1988 to March 1990

    Existing members could opt-out

2. 
    All new employees who were eligible for membership but had to elect to join

3. From April 1990

   •   The one year qualifying period for manual workers was removed

   •   All eligible employees automatically brought into scheme but part timers still

     had to elect to join

   •   Anyone could opt-out

4. From 17th August 1993

   •   Employees who worked under 15 hours per week eligible to join

   •   The employees had to elect to join the scheme and could buy back previous

     service to 1st January 1993.

5. From 2nd May 1995

    All employees automatically brought into scheme  Exception – casuals – who still have to elect to join  All employees can still opt-out.

PERS-021003-REP-HS-U 

I now notice that your very first post  states

Here's the facts:

From Dec 1990 to Oct 2000 my wife was employed at the Housing Corporation. 

If the above link is correct, she should have been automatically admitted into the LGPS.  However, she could choose to opt out and perhaps did so.

Nevertheless, it does seem odd that she wasn't approached in May 1995 - perhaps she was and chose to opt out.

With regard to 1997, the only significance of that year for contracted out schemes (like LGPS) was the ending of the GMP system and the introduction of the Reference Scheme Test.

https://techzone.abrdn.com/public/pensions/Tech-guide-section-92b-rights

I suppose that this may have prompted another  approach by LGPS?

Or perhaps your wife  was automatically opted in at that point?


As it does appear that your wife was contracted in between December 1990 and May(?) 1997, she will have accrued some SERPS.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Earnings-Related_Pension_Scheme

hyubh

xylophone said: 

With regard to 1997, the only significance of that year for contracted out schemes (like LGPS) was the ending of the GMP system and the introduction of the Reference Scheme Test.

https://techzone.abrdn.com/public/pensions/Tech-guide-section-92b-rights

I suppose that this may have prompted another  approach by LGPS?

Hmm, that wouldn't explain the 'Having commenced employment with an admitted body' language. Maybe the Housing Corporation's pension liabilities were consolidated into Westminster LGPS at that point...? Clutching at straws admittedly (the 1986 scheme regs refer to the Housing Corporation as a potential admission body for an LGPS fund, not mentioning City of Westminster specifically, language that is essentially repeated in the 1995 and 1997 scheme regs).