The Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997

Other early leavers: deferred retirement benefits and elections for early payment

31.—(1) If a member leaves a local government employment (or is treated for these regulations as if he had done so) before he is entitled to the immediate payment of retirement benefits (apart from this regulation), once he is aged 50 or more he may elect to receive payment of them immediately.

(2) An election made by a member aged less than 60 is ineffective without the consent of his employing authority or former employing authority (but see paragraph (6)).

(3) If the member elects, he is entitled to a pension and retirement grant payable immediately.

(4) If the sum—

(a) of the member's age in whole years on the date his local government employment ends or the date he elects, if later,

(b) of his total membership in whole years, and

(c) in a case where he elects after his local government employment ends, of the period beginning with the end of that employment and ending with the date he elects,

is less than 85 years, his retirement pension and grant must be reduced by the amounts shown as appropriate in guidance issued by the Government Actuary (but see paragraphs (5) and (6) and regulation 36(5) (GMPs)).

(5) A member's appropriate employing authority may determine on compassionate grounds that his retirement pension and grant should not be reduced under paragraph (4).

(6) If a member who has left a local government employment before he is entitled to the immediate payment of retirement benefits (apart from this regulation) becomes permanently incapable of discharging efficiently the duties of that employment because of ill-health or infirmity of mind or body—

(a) he may elect under paragraph (1) before attaining the age of 50, and

(b) paragraphs (2) and (4) do not apply.

(7) If a member does not elect for immediate payment under this regulation, he is entitled to receive a pension and grant payable from his NRD without reduction.

(8) An election under paragraph (1) must be made by notice in writing to the member's Scheme employer.