The Government has extended membership of the LGPS to Councillors and Mayors in England. This change gives access to the LGPS to:
- all mayors and deputy mayors in England
- all councillors at principal authorities in England, and
- all London Assembly members
The change does not apply to town and parish councillors, who will remain ineligible for admittance to the LGPS.
The updated regulations come into force on 11 May 2026, aligning with the first Monday following the local elections.
Opting in to the Councillors Pension Scheme
From 11 May 2026 eligible elected members will be able to join the LGPS on an opt in basis, in accordance with regulation 3(6) of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013.
Once completed please return your opt-in form to your Payroll Department.
Introduction to the Councillors Pension Scheme
An introductory leaflet is available to download below:
Promotional leaflet for Councillors Pension Scheme:
Expression of Wish for payment of a Death Grant
Declaration of previous pension rights form
Where can I find out more?
More information relating to the Councillors Pension Scheme can be found on the LGPS member website:
Councillors and Mayors in England :: LGPS
Main differences in how LGPS rules apply to councillors and mayors
- Councillors and mayors are not employees, so they do not have an employer in the usual sense. Instead, the authority that pays their pensionable allowance or salary is treated as the LGPS Scheme employer and carries out the usual employer responsibilities, such as meeting part of the cost of benefits.
- If you are an elected member, you are not automatically put into the LGPS. You must actively opt in if you want to build up pension benefits.
- The rules around what counts as ‘pensionable pay’ are different for elected members.
- Membership as an elected member cannot be combined with membership as a non-elected member by choice.
- Elected members cannot flexibly retire.
- If you transfer final salary benefits from another public service pension scheme into the LGPS, these will be converted into career average (CARE) benefits rather than final salary benefits.
- Elected members are not protected by the LGPS underpin protections.
- The scheme employer cannot award extra pension to elected members or pay into a shared‑cost AVC for them, unless the AVC is set up as a salary‑sacrifice shared‑cost AVC.
- Scheme employers cannot share the cost of Additional Pension Contributions (APCs) for councillors unless the arrangement is a ‘qualifying additional pension arrangement’ (QAPA).