Westminster leaflets and guides

Local Government Association (LGA)
Hampshire Pension Services
LGPS website

For more details about the LGPS see: 

And for common queries about pensions, such as:

- Pensions and the cost of living crisis
- Strike action and your pensions
- McCloud court case, see:

For information about your annual allowance and lifetime allowance:

Money Helper

Money Helper - Money helper is a website backed by the government which gives free, clear and impartial guidance on money and pensions. Select the "Pensions & Retirement" section and you will find help on auto-enrolment, building a pension, pensions and tax, state pension, retirement and much more.

Money Midlife MOT - this provides an easy to use tool aimed at those between the ages of 45 and 65. It helps you assess your current financial situation and plan for the future.

Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA)

Retirement Living Standards - These standards show you what life in retirement looks like at three different levels and can help you picture the kind of lifestyle you could have in retirement.

Annual Benefit Statements

For information about your annual benefit statement including:

  • Frequently asked questions
  • A slideshow explaining your statement

see: Annual benefit statement information

or for additional notes about your statement see: Annual benefit statement notes

The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO)

The TPO is an independent organisation set up in law to investigate complaints or disputes about pension schemes. Before TPO will investigate a complaint, you must first try to resolve matters with the party you think are at fault. You can do this through your pension scheme’s complaints procedure.

TPO offer several factsheets explaining how their service works:
Complaining to the party at fault
How TPO investigates complaints
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the TPO service

If TPO considers a complaint can be resolved informally it will be passed to their Resolution Team:
The Resolution Team

For a complaint in relation to an ill health pension, see:
Ill-health pensions

And for a complaint regarding the McCloud age discrimination case see:
TPO approach to McCloud age discrimination complaints 

What to do if you have been scammed:
Dealing with scams

 

Topping up your State Pension

If you contributed to the LGPS before 6 April 2016, you may not be entitled to receive the full State Pension. This is because the LGPS was a contracted out pension scheme until 5 April 2016. If you contributed to any contracted out pension scheme then your State pension may be reduced.

If you need information about the state pension or how to increase the State Pension benefits you will receive see:

The new State Pension: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you have any queries relating to your State Pension you will need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions.