Whether you're early in your career or starting to think about life after work, the following information aims to help you make sense of your pension.

The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is available to all non-teaching employees under age 75 working in local government. Eligible employees are usually automatically enrolled in the Scheme. It is a defined benefit pension scheme, which means your pension is based on your salary and length of service, not on investment performance.

Some of the key features of the LGPS are summarised below:

  • Defined Benefit: Your pension is calculated using a set formula, giving you a guaranteed income in retirement.
  • Career Average Scheme: Since 2014, pensions are based on your career average salary, not your final salary*.

    *If you joined the LGPS before 31 March 2014, you would have been a member of a final salary scheme. This means your annual pension income for this period is calculated using your final year’s salary or your highest annual salary within the last three years of employment (your full-time equivalent pay is used if you worked part-time).  
  • Employer Contributions: Your employer pays a significant portion of the cost – often double or more than what you contribute.
  • Tax Relief: Contributions are taken from your pay before tax, reducing your taxable income.
  • Flexible Retirement Options: You can take your pension from age 55 to 75. Reductions may apply depending on when you retire.
  • Lump Sum Option: You can take part of your pension as a tax-free lump sum.
  • Death in Service Benefits: Includes a lump sum payment and pensions for dependents if you die while still working.

To nominate who you would like to receive a death grant in the event of your death, please go to Beneficiary nomination form.

Local Pensions Partnership Administration (LPPA) is the name of the administrator of the Lancashire County Pension Fund.

LPPA can support you if:

  • You’re planning to retire and need help understanding your pension options.
  • You’ve changed jobs and want to transfer your pension.
  • You need to update personal details (e.g., address, marital status).
  • You want to nominate a beneficiary for your pension.
  • You’re looking to increase your contributions or understand your annual benefit statement.

LPPA also offers free online training sessions on important topics including "Making Sense of Retirement" and "Making Sense of Your Pension". Please head to the Member Training section of the LPPA website to secure your place.

LPPA's Member 'Help Hub' contains useful information, FAQs, forms and videos. LPPA also offer a secure online portal called PensionPoint where you can view, update and download information about your pension (please refer to the next section for further information).

You can contact LPPA's Contact Centre on 0300 323 0260 (Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4pm) or by completing the member contact form on the Contact us page of the LPPA website.

PensionPoint is a secure online portal, where you can view, update and download personal information about your pension. If you register for PensionPoint, once LPPA knows you wish to retire, they will calculate your benefits and email you to confirm the process and to advise an online retirement form is ready to be accessed through your secure account. This is the quickest way to complete your retirement application.

How to register for PensionPoint

  1. Visit the PensionPoint registration
  2. Register your details by following the on-screen instructions.
  3. Log in and view your pension information as often as you like.

Need a helping hand?

To help you get started, visit LPPA's dedicated PensionPoint useful resources page with tips on how to register, log in and navigate the site.

You can also watch these two-minute videos:

For information on tax and your pension, please visit the dedicated LPPA webpage: Tax and your pension - Local Pensions Partnership Administration.