LGPS for elected members - employer guidance

From 11 May 2026, elected councillors and mayors in England can choose to join the LGPS. 

As an employer, you have new responsibilities when an elected member opts in.

This page explains who is eligible, how joining works, and what you need to do.  

Who is eligible

From 11 May 2026, the following elected members can opt in to the LGPS,  provided they are under age 75.

Councillors

  • County Councils.
  • District and unitary councils.
  • London Borough councils.

Mayors 

  • Mayors of single authorities, whom eligibility is through their role as a councillor.

Town and parish councillors are not eligible.

Joining the LGPS

Elected members are not automatically enrolled. 

  • They must opt in by applying in writing.
  • Membership starts from the first day of the next payment period after you receive the application.
  • Membership cannot be backdated.
  • The earliest application date is 11 May 2026

Please use the starter form to notify us of elected members that have opted into the scheme. 

If an elected member receives allowances from more than one eligible body, they must submit a separate application for each body.

Employer status and multiple roles

Where an elected member receives allowances paid directly by another eligible body, that body is treated as the Scheme employer for LGPS purposes. 

This means:

  • Each body has its own employer responsibilities.
  • The elected member will hold separate pension accounts for each role. 
  • Each employer must provide data and pay contributions for its own account. 
Contributions

Elected members pay employee contributions in the same way as other LGPS members, based on annual pensionable pay. 

As the employer:

  • You pay employer contributions at your exisiting certified rate.
  • You do not need a separate contributions rate for elected members unless there is a material impact on liabilities, which is expected to be unlikely. 
Pensionable pay for elected members

Elected members are office holders, not employees. Their pensionable pay is defined differently.

Pensionable pay include:

  • Basic allowance
  • Special responsibility allowance
  • Relevant allowances. 
  • Any salary paid, where applicable.

Pensionable pay does not include:

  • Travel and subsistence allowances.

Where an elected member participates in a salary sacrifice shared cost AVC, you must calculate pensionable pay as if the sacrifice had not taken place. 

Assumed pensionable pay

Assumed pensionable pay applies to elected members where they receive reduced or no pensionable pay because of:

  • Sickness or injury.
  • Reserve forces leave, if they choose to remain in the LGPS. 

You:

  • Pay employer contributions on the assumed pensionable pay. 
  • Collect employee contributions on any pensionable pay actually paid. 

Child-related leave provisions do not apply, as elected members are not employees.

50/50 section

Elected members can choose to move into the 50/50 section of the LGPS. 

If they do, you must move them back to the main section at the start of the first pay period after:

  • Your automatic re-enrolment date, or
  • They go into no pay because of sickness or injury.

Member election to join 50/50 section form

This is a scheme rule and does not form part of an automatic enrolment exercise.

Additional pension and AVCs

Elected members can buy extra pension and pay AVCs. However, your role is limited.

You:

  • Must not contribute towards buying additional pension. 
  • Must not pay extra contributions to AVCs.
  • Can only share the cost of AVCs where they are set up through salary sacrifice, and only up to the amount of pay sacrificed. 

You cannot award additional pension to an elected member.

Aggregation of benefits

Aggregation rules for elected members are more restricted. 

Key points for employers:

  • Elected membership can usually only be aggregated with other elected membership.
  • Elected and non-elected LGPS membership cannot be combined. 
  • Some deferred refunds must be aggregated automatically. 

Appendix B of the LGPC Bulletin 277 LGPS (Amendment) (Elected Member Pensions) Regulations 2026 provides a table of aggregation options. 

Retirement and leaving office

Elected members have access to most LGPS retirement options, with key differences. 

You should note that:

  • Redundancy and business efficiency provisions do not apply.
  • Flexible retirement is not available.
  • You cannot waive early retirement reductions. 
  • Ill health retirement applies, with modified processes to reflect elected office. 
Breaks in service and re-election

Where an elected member is re-elected with no genuine break and the Scheme employer is unchanged, membership is expected to be treated as continuous. 

If there is a genuine break in service:

  • A new pension account must be created. 
  • Normal rules on aggregation and additional contributions apply. 
What you need to do

For newly elected members from 11 May 2026, you should:

  • Make elected members aware that LGPS membership is optional. 
  • Provide them access to the opt in form and promotional leaflet. 
  • Set up elected members separately on payroll and pensions systems. 
  • Ensure pensionable pay is calculated using the correct allowances and set the relevant employee contributions rate using the annual rate of pensionable pay. 
  • Provide a starter notification to Hampshire Pension Services within 10 working days following the month in which the member starts in the scheme.