The cost of membership is between 5.5% and 7.5% of the pay you receive for the contractual hours you work. The rate you pay depends on which standard pay band you fall into.

How is my contribution rate determined?

• If you work part-time your rate will be based on the whole-time pay rate for the job, although you will only pay contributions on the pay you actually earn.

• If you have no contractual hours of employment, contributions are deducted on all the pay you receive (up to the full-time hours for the job).

• The contribution rate for those existing members who are currently paying 5% will be increased on a phased basis, bringing their rate into line with all other scheme members from 1st April 2011. For details see the 'Protected contribution rates' table below.
  
  

The real cost is usually even less because pension contributions attract tax relief and National Insurance contributions are normally lower for most people under state pension age.

These salary bands are uprated each April in line with the cost of living by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Standard pay band tables

2012/2013

Band	Range	Contribution Rate
1	£0 - £13,500	5.5%
2	>£13,500 - £15,800	5.8%
3	>£15,800 - £20,400	5.9%
4	>£20,400 - £34,000	6.5%
5	>£34,000 - £45,500	6.8%
6	>£45,500 - £85,300	7.2%
7	> £85,300	7.5%

2011/2012

Band	Range	Contribution Rate
1	£0 - £12,900	5.5%
2	>£12,900 - £15,100	5.8%
3	>£15,100 - £19,400	5.9%
4	>£19,400 - £32,400	6.5%
5	>£32,400 - £43,300	6.8%
6	>£43,300 - £81,100	7.2%
7	>£81,100	7.5%

2009/2010 and 2010/2011

Band	Range	Contribution Rate
1	£0 - £12,600	5.5%
2	>£12,600 - £14,700	5.8%
3	>£14,700 - £18,900	5.9%
4	>£18,900 - £31,500	6.5%
5	>£31,500 - £42,000	6.8%
6	>£42,000 - £78,700	7.2%
7	>£78,700	7.5%

2008/2009

Band	Range	Contribution Rate
1	£0 - £12,000	5.5%
2	> £12,000 - £14,000	5.8%
3	> £14,000 - £18,000	5.9%
4	> £18,000 - £30,000	6.5%
5	> £30,000 - £40,000	6.8%
6	> £40,000 - £75,000	7.2%
7	> £75,000	7.5%

Protected contribution rates

Date from	Contribution Rate
1 April 2008	5.25%
1 April 2009	5.50%
1 April 2010	6.50%*
1 April 2011	Relevant rate from standard pay band table

* If the relevant rate from the Standard pay band table is lower than 6.50%, the lower rate will be applied.

A copy of the above tables are available for you to download and print from the Scheme guides/leaflets page.