LGPS pension

Silvertabby

littleD said:

Hi, sorry for the late response @Silvertabby I joined in 2001 and am 66 this year - thank you for the advice

You are very welcome - but please don't use the 'A' word - the mods don't like it !

littleD

hi, having had a chance to look over the conversations (and my paperwork) it would seem reasonable to take my pension after my 66th birthday on my current hours of work and then go for flexi hours after this. Recommendations would be appreciated on how  the process works, do I just confirm my retirement date with work and the LGPS to obtain  my pension and then carry on at work at reduced hours, re-joining the scheme when I'm able to? Or is there a particular process that needs to be followed. I need to get this straight in my head before meeting with HR to discuss further @Silvertabby may have previous experience of such procedures - thanks a lot.

Silvertabby

littleD said:

hi, having had a chance to look over the conversations (and my paperwork) it would seem reasonable to take my pension after my 66th birthday on my current hours of work and then go for flexi hours after this. Recommendations would be appreciated on how  the process works, do I just confirm my retirement date with work and the LGPS to obtain  my pension and then carry on at work at reduced hours, re-joining the scheme when I'm able to? Or is there a particular process that needs to be followed. I need to get this straight in my head before meeting with HR to discuss further @Silvertabby may have previous experience of such procedures - thanks a lot.

Flexi retirement, even when there are no strain costs involved, is still at your employer's discretion, so you will need to get their approval first.  You can't just tell your LGPS that you want to draw your benefits but carry on working reduced hours - to access your benefits you must either retire completely, or gain official approval for flexi retirement.

Assuming you have done this, your employer will submit your authorised flexi retirement paperwork to your LGPS, who will then set the ball rolling.

You will be brought back into the pension scheme in respect of your new, lower hours, contract automatically.  You could opt out, but why would you?  

P.S.  Just in case anyone else asks, you won't need to accrue the usual 2 years vesting period in your new post in order to qualify for actual pension benefits.

littleD

Thank you so much, that has been really helpful.