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The Local Government Pension Scheme

Additional Pension Contributions
There may be times when you may need to consider adding to your pension in the LGPS. This could be because you joined later in your career or have had a career break and want to buy extra pension. Or perhaps you have had an unpaid absence and wish to buy back the lost pension. Buying lost pension is particularly important if you have pre 1st April 2014 membership and wish to protect your benefits in a number of different circumstances.
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  • You can pay Additional Pension Contributions (APCs) either regularly over a number of complete years or as a one-off lump sum
  • The maximum amount of annual pension you can buy is £6,822 (for 2018/19). This figure will increase each year in line with the cost of living.
  • See below for more details plus links to pages where you can obtain quotes and get application forms.
  • Any extra or lost pension bought through Additional Pension Contributions will be reduced if drawn earlier than your Normal Pension Age (except for ill-health retirements) and increased if drawn later than your Normal Pension Age.
 You can only use this calculator to buy lost pension if all of your period of absence was after 31st March 2014. Please contact Warwickshire Pension Fund if this is not the case.
Please remember to sign the form before sending it to Warwickshire Pension Fund, PO Box 3, Shire Hall, Warwick, CV34 4RL or emailing it to pensions@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Buy Extra Pension

Why use the extra pension option?



Use this option if you are in the main section of the pension scheme and want to buy extra annual pension by paying Additional Pension Contributions (APCs). This option is not available if you are in the 50/50 section of the pension scheme.

You can choose to buy extra pension by spreading payment of the additional pension contributions over a number of complete years or by making a one-off lump sum payment. However, if you are a year or less from your Normal Pension Age (NPA) under the scheme you can only pay by means of lump sum.

If you choose to spread the payments, the Additional Pension Contributions would be deducted from your pay each pay period and attract automatic tax relief. The extra pension you buy will be added to your pension account in equal instalments over the number of years of the agreement.

Your employer can choose to share the cost of the extra pension to be bought. If this is the case please ensure you have obtained written confirmation of the share to be paid by your employer prior to making an application for APCs.

Warwickshire Pension Fund will require a satisfactory medical questionnaire to be completed by your GP before your application to purchase extra pension is accepted.

Buy Lost Pension

Why use the lost pension option?



Use this option if you have a period of leave of absence due to authorised unpaid leave, unpaid additional child related leave or a trade dispute. As you will not have earned any pensionable pay the pension you would have built up during the period has been lost.

You can however buy back the amount of lost pension by paying Additional Pension Contributions (APCs). You can do this regardless of whether you are in the main or 50/50 sections of the pension scheme.

Buying back the whole of the lost pension will ensure the period of leave of absence is included when calculating certain protections if you were a member of the scheme before 1 April 2014. For example if you are a member to whom the Underpin or the Rule of 85 apply.

You can choose to buy the lost pension by spreading payment over a number of complete years (unless you are within 1 year of your Normal Pension Age or the total cost is £50 or less) or by means of a one off lump sum. Your employer will meet two thirds of the cost of buying back lost pension other than for an absence due to a trade dispute, provided you apply within 30 days of the end of the absence period (or such longer period as your employer may allow).
Please ensure you read the terms and conditions before making an application for APCs
Please ensure you read the terms and conditions before making an application for APCs
Copyright © 2018 Local Government Association Warwickshire version 1.4

Using this Calculator: You can get a quote and print an application form to either buy extra pension or buy lost pension using this calculator. If you have any queries when using this calculator please contact Warwickshire Pension Fund. Please note that no personal details are stored on this website or shared with any other party. You are responsible for any application that you make and any application form which you sign and submit to Warwickshire Pension Fund.