Actuarial guidance
Actuarial guidance issued by MHCLG relating to the LGPS in England and Wales. This page includes guidance issued under the LGPS Regulations 2013 and the LGPS (Transitional Provisions, Savings and Amendments) Regulations 2014 as well as guidance issued under previous regulations but which continued to have effect at any point on and after 1 April 2014.
Where a piece of guidance is labelled as a 'consolidated working copy', this document was provided for information in August 2015. It was not official guidance but a consolidation, prepared by GAD, of the original guidance (issued in March and April 2014) with amendments that were made after the original guidance was issued.
Query log
The LGPC Secretariat maintains a log of ongoing queries relating to matters covered in actuarial guidance. The current version of the log is available here. As new queries are added and existing queries are resolved or amended, the log will be updated accordingly. Administering authorities are asked to review the document before raising any queries directly with the LGPC Secretariat in case your query relates to a known issue.
» Additional pension
Elections on or after 1 April 2014
Guidance on the amount of contributions to be paid by a member purchasing additional pension under the LGPS Regulations 2013, or by an employing authority purchasing additional pension for a member under the LGPS Regulations 2013.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 1 March 2019 | 1 April 2019 | Guidance | Yes |
| 12 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 27 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
Elections on or after 1 April 2012 and before 1 April 2014
Guidance on the purchase of additional pension for elections between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2014 under the LGPS (Benefits, Membership and Contributions) Regulations 2007.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 14 March 2019 | 1 April 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Guidance Covering letter |
Yes |
| 14 April 2016 | 1 April 2017 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| 1 April 2012 | 1 April 2012 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
Elections on or after 1 April 2008 and before 1 April 2012
Guidance on the purchase of additional pension for elections on or after 1 April 2008 and before 1 April 2012 under the LGPS (Benefits, Membership and Contributions) Regulations 2007.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 14 March 2019 | 1 April 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Guidance Covering letter |
Yes |
| 14 April 2016 | 1 April 2017 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| 5 March 2013 | 1 April 2013 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
» Additional survivor benefit contributions
Guidance on the purchase of additional survivor benefits for elections made prior to April 2014 under the LGPS (Benefits, Membership and Contributions) Regulations 2007.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 5 August 2019 | 1 April 2020 | Factor spreadsheet Guidance Covering letter |
Yes |
| 24 November 2015 | 1 April 2016 | Guidance Amendments requested |
No |
| 12 September 2012 | 1 October 2012 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
» Annual allowance charges: calculation of Scheme Pays offset
Offset elections made on or after 1 April 2014
Guidance on the reduction of a member's pension rights following an election for an annual allowance charge to be met by the Scheme (election made on or after 1 April 2014.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 28 May 2019 | 21 June 2019 | Guidance Factor spreadsheet Covering letter |
Yes |
| 12 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| 1 April 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter Amendments - Nov 2014 (see section 8) |
No |
Offset election made prior to 1 April 2014
Guidance on the reduction of a member's pension rights following an election for an annual allowance charge to be met by the Scheme (election made prior to 1 April 2014).
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 14 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| 6 September 2012 | 1 April 2013 | Guidance Covering letter Amendments - Feb 2014 |
No |
» AVCs - purchase of additional pension
AVC contracts entered into on or after 1 April 2014
Guidance on the use of accumulated AVCs to provide additional pension under the Scheme where AVCs commenced on or after 1 April 2014.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 17 June 2019 | 21 June 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Covering letter Guidance |
Yes |
| 14 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 28 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter Amendments - Nov 2014 (see section 2) |
No |
AVC contracts entered into on prior to 1 April 2014
Guidance on the use of accumulated AVCs to provide additional pension under the Scheme where AVCs commenced prior to 1 April 2014.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 17 June 2019 | 21 June 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Covering letter Guidance |
Yes |
| 14 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance - updated version issued 7 June 2017 Covering letter |
No |
| 20 March 2012 | 21 March 2012 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
» Conversion of lump sum into pension
Guidance on the conversion of lump sum into pension under regulation 58(1) of the LGPS Regulations 1997.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 17 June 2019 | 21 June 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Covering letter Guidance |
Yes |
| 14 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| 2 October 2012 | 2 October 2012 | Guidance | No |
» Early retirement
Guidance on the reduction in benefits for members who retire before they have a right to take unreduced benefits, ie. on the voluntary early payment of pension.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 26 November 2018 | 8 January 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Guidance |
Yes |
| 18 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 28 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
» Flexible retirement
Guidance on flexible retirement and how any benefits under earlier regulations paid to a member on flexible retirement shall be taken into account in any subsequent calculation of his or her benefits.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 28 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
Yes |
| 31 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter Amendments - Nov 2014 (see section 5) |
No |
» Interfund transfers
Guidance on the transfer payment made from one fund to another when a member aggregates a past period of service with a current period.
In March 2015, DCLG issued a letter clarifying the relevant date to be used in interfund transfers.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 14 April 2016 | MHCLG transitional guidance | Guidance - updated version issued 31 May 2017 clarifying the relevant date to be used in an interfund transfer (see bulletin 158 for details) Covering letter |
Yes |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 1 April 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
» Late retirement
Guidance on late retirement increases to benefits payable after normal pension age.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 28 June 2019 | 1 September 2019 | Guidance Factor spreadsheet Covering letter |
Yes |
| 18 April 2016 | 4 January 2017 | Guidance Covering letter |
Yes |
| 26 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
» Lifetime allowance
Guidance on the calculation of the capital value of a member's LGPS benefits in order to compare the capital value against the member's lifetime allowance and to make adjustments where relevant.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 18 February 2019 | 1 April 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Covering letter Guidance |
Yes |
| 16 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| August 2015 | N/A | Guidance | No |
| 31 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
» Lump sum commutation
Guidance on calculating the capital value of a member's accrued rights, for the purposes of determining the maximum lump sum the member may take at retirement.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 26 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter Amendments - Nov 2014 (see section 3) |
Yes |
» Pension credits
Debited member has been a member of the LGPS on or after 1 April 2014 and the transfer date is on or after 1 April 2014
Guidance on the calculation of the pension credit for the former spouse or civil partner (the "pension credit member") following a divorce proceeding (where the debited member has been a member of the 2014 Scheme and the transfer date is on or after 1 April 2014).
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 1 March 2019 | 1 April 2019 | Guidance | Yes |
| 12 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 26 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter Amendments - Nov 2014 (see section 6) |
No |
Debited member left the LGPS prior to 1 April 2014 or the transfer date is prior to 1 April 2014
Guidance on the calculation of the pension credit for the former spouse or civil partner (the "pension credit member") following a divorce proceeding (where the debited member left the LGPS prior to 1 April 2014 or the transfer date is prior to 1 April 2014).
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 19 December 2018 | 8 January 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Guidance |
Yes |
| 12 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| 5 October 2012 | 5 October 2012 | Guidance | No |
» Pension debits
Transfer date is on or after 1 April 2014
Guidance on the debit applied to a member's pension following a pension sharing order where the transfer date is on or after 1 April 2014.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 11 June 2020 | 1 November 2020 | Guidance Factor spreadsheet |
No |
| 19 December 2018 | 8 January 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Guidance |
Yes |
| 14 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 28 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
Transfer date is prior to 1 April 2014
Guidance on the debit applied to a member's pension following a pension sharing order where the transfer date is prior to 1 April 2014.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 11 June 2020 | 1 November 2020 | Guidance Factor spreadsheet |
No |
| 19 December 2018 | 8 January 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Guidance |
Yes |
| 14 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 4 March 2013 | 7 March 2013 | Guidance Covering letter Amendments - Nov 2014 (see section 6) Amendments - Feb 2014 |
No |
» CETVs on divorce
Factors and guidance for cash equivalent transfers on divorce. The guidance documents dated before 1 November 2020 should be read in conjunction with the guidance document Pension sharing following divorce: Calculation of Cash Equivalent dated 8 April 2011.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 11 June 2020 | 1 November 2020 | Guidance Factor spreadsheet Covering letter, Transitional measures |
No |
| 9 November 2018 | 19 November 2018 | Factor spreadsheet Covering letter Guidance |
Yes |
| 14 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter (April 2016) MHCLG Non-club GMP addendum letter – 13 March 2018 Non-club GMP addendum – effective from 13 March 2018 |
No |
| 18 January 2012 | 1 January 2012 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
» Probation service transfer
Guidance to determine the transfer share that applies when the administering authority changes in connection with probation service arrangements.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 1 June 2014 | 1 June 2014 | Guidance Covering letter |
Yes |
» Transfer credits - conversion of accumulated AVCs (regulation 66(8))
Guidance on the conversion of accumulated AVCs to transfer credits under regulation 66(8) of the LGPS Regulations 1997.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 17 June 2019 | 21 June 2019 | Factor spreadsheet Covering letter Guidance |
Yes |
| 10 February 2017 | 24 February 2017 | Guidance Covering letter |
No |
| 24 August 2011 | 1 September 2011 | Guidance Covering letter Transfer factors |
No |
» Transfers - individual incoming and outgoing
For Club transfers, the public sector transfer Club memorandum and other associated documents can be found under Other Government documents.
Relevant date is on or after 1 April 2014
Guidance on the earned pension credited to a member's pension account where a transfer value has been accepted and in respect of transfers out of the LGPS.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 8 April 2020 | 1 November 2020 | Guidance Factor spreadsheet Covering letter Transitional measures |
No |
| 19 November 2018 | MHCLG transitional guidance | Factor spreadsheet Covering letter - Club and CRA adjustment factors Covering letter - Nov 2018 Guidance MHCLG Non-club GMP addendum letter – 13 March 2018 Non-club GMP addendum – effective from 13 March 2018 |
Yes |
| 8 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Guidance Covering letter - April 2016 Factors - from March 2017 Factors - to March 2017 MHCLG Non-club GMP addendum letter – 13 March 2018 Non-club GMP addendum – effective from 13 March 2018 |
No |
| 28 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter Factors - Feb 2012 Amendments - Nov 2014 (see section 1) |
No |
Non-Club transfers where relevant date is prior to 1 April 2014
Guidance on individual incoming and outgoing non-Club transfers with relevant dates prior to 1 April 2014
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 26 March 2010 | 6 May 2010 | Guidance Covering letter Factors - Feb 2012 |
Yes |
» Trivial commutation
Guidance on the calculation of the amounts payable on the trivial commutation of a member's pension.
Dated |
Operative date |
Document(s) |
Extant? |
| 15 April 2020 | 1 November 2020 | Guidance Factor spreadsheet Covering letter Transitional measures |
No |
| 14 April 2016 | 29 April 2016 | Factor spreadsheet Guidance Covering letter |
Yes |
| August 2015 | N/A | Consolidated working copy | No |
| 28 March 2014 | 1 April 2014 | Guidance Covering letter Amendments - Nov 2014 (see section 4) |
No |
