2 off LGPS Pensions - CETV question

whatdayisit

My wife has 2 separate Pensions with North Yorks and Northumberland. She has 'taken' the Northumberland on with 25% tax free. 
When we asked North Yorks for a CETV they said she already has taken a pension.
Are they joined and therefore no CETV can be given or are they separate and we are entitled to a CETV from North Yorks? 
Thanks for your help.

hyubh

whatdayisit said:

My wife has 2 separate Pensions with North Yorks and Northumberland. She has 'taken' the Northumberland on with 25% tax free. 
When we asked North Yorks for a CETV they said she already has taken a pension.
Are they joined and therefore no CETV can be given or are they separate and we are entitled to a CETV from North Yorks? 
Thanks for your help.

This is correct, though 'joined' in the sense that the LGPS in England and Wales is registered as a single pension scheme. This overrides the fact the two memberships have not been aggregated from the point of view of the scheme's own rules (which is the usual sense of 'joined' in the LGPS). The national LGPS Members site mentions this restriction in its Freedom and Choice page - https://www.lgpsmember.org/your-pension/thinking-of-leaving/freedom-and-choice/

whatdayisit

Thank hyubh. I thought I'd post this when you first responded.