If you are in receipt of a pension from the fund (as a pensioner or a dependant), please find this year’s Pension Increase letter in My Pension. Once logged into your account, the letter can be found under ‘Documents and Uploads’ and then ‘Fund documents and forms’.
The Local Government Association (LGA) have released Bulletin 277 | LGA, which provides a commentary for administering authorities and employers in England on the introduction of English councillors and mayors (referred to as ‘elected members’) to the LGPS by the LGPS (Amendment) (Elected Member Pensions) Regulations 2026 | GOV.UK.
Please take the time to read through the bulletin, which provides an overview of relevant topics and the differences between elected members and non-elected members in the LGPS.
The LGA have also produced two leaflets which can be used in welcome packs and targeted communications with new and existing councillors and mayors. These are attached and are in Microsoft Word format so can be adapted as required.
If elected members wish to join the LGPS they will need to elect to do so and I have attached a form to be used for this purpose.
The new rules take effect from 11 May 2026, so this will be the earliest date that someone can elect to join the scheme. Therefore, forms should not be circulated before this date.
As the rules allow entry from beginning of the next payroll cycle after their election to join, then the earliest that they will be able to join will be from 1 June 2026.
The elected members will need to complete and return the form to their authority who must arrange for contributions to be deducted.
As is currently the case, monthly data will need to be submitted through i-Connect. However, it appears that elected members may need to be treated slightly differently which may require a separate submission. I am waiting for guidance from our systems provider on this point and I will provide an update when further information is known.
Do not submit Councillor contributions through i-Connect yet.
Continue to submit ‘regular’ LGPS contributions through i-Connect as normal.
If you have any questions about the changes, please email stuart.wells@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 6944
© 2026 Leicestershire County Council